Page 49 of Marriage and Murder
“We need to take H into custody as soon as we possibly can.” Stokes rose and made for the door. “Let me summon the troops, and we can make a more detailed plan.” He opened the door and left, before closing the door behind him.
Studying Henry and Madeline, Barnaby remarked, “The one reassuring aspect of the incident last night is that it proves H is still in the area. For whatever reason, he hasn’t decamped.”
“And,” Penelope said, “that’s yet another reason for us to do our utmost to find him today.”
Stokes returned, leading O’Donnell, Morgan, Phelps, and Connor. As Stokes shut the door behind Connor, he explained, “In a case like this, the more heads the better, and it will help if all of us know the details of our plan and our goal.”
Barnaby nodded and waited while the newcomers joined Price in taking up stances against the wall on either side of the door, then for their benefit, Barnaby briefly explained about the bracelet and necklace and the substitution of paste for the bracelet’s original set of aquamarines, all presumably at the behest of the mysteriousH, who was their prime suspect in Viola Huntingdon’s murder. “By locating the jeweler who did the work, we hope to learn H’s identity. The town’s five potentially shady jewelers are expected to be at their stalls in the market today. Mallard named them as Hatchard, Jacobs, Kimble, Millbank, and Conrad. All five have stalls in the market’s central row.”
Penelope added, “According to Swithin, one of the town’s premier jewelers, the three more likely to be our target—meaning the jeweler who executed the commission for H and made the necklace and switched the bracelet’s aquamarines for paste—are Conrad, Kimble, and Jacobs.”
Morgan raised a hand and, when everyone looked his way and Stokes arched a brow, asked, “How do you propose to approach each jeweler?”
O’Donnell added, “Being in uniform, Morgan and I will need to play least in sight.” The sergeant’s shrewd gaze came to rest on Stokes. “And begging your pardon, sir, but you should as well. We’re all too identifiable as police.”
Stokes grimaced, then looked at Penelope and Madeline. “Perhaps you two and Barnaby should play the same charade you used with the four minor jewelers yesterday.”
Penelope described to the others how she and Madeline had pretended to be looking for a piece similar to the necklace in design—thus checking whether the jeweler’s work was of the right ilk—with Barnaby following and surreptitiously inquiring about replacing stones with paste.
While Penelope spoke, Madeline drew the necklace and bracelet from her reticule and laid both pieces out on the table so all could see them.
Morgan and O’Donnell stepped forward to examine the jewelry. After a moment, Morgan shook his head and looked at Stokes. “I don’t think that charade will work, sir. Dodgy jewelers are always on their guard and wary and careful over who they deal with.”
O’Donnell nodded. “They wouldn’t stay in business long if they weren’t.”
Morgan transferred his gaze to Penelope. “That’s why I think that, after clapping eyes on you, ma’am, and Miss Huntingdon, no market jeweler who dabbles in illicit commissions is going to believe a gentleman like Mr. Adair is going to attempt to give you or Miss Huntingdon a piece with paste instead of stones.”
Penelope stared at Morgan, then grimaced and conceded, “In that, I fear you might well be right.”
“I was thinking,” Morgan went on, glancing back at the trio still hugging the wall, “that Connor would be much more believable if he asked about aquamarines. Not paste.” Morgan looked at Stokes and Barnaby. “The real ones. The jeweler who switched the stones out mostly likely still has them, waiting for the right customer to sell them on.”
Looking distinctly eager, Connor came forward to look at the jewelry.
Penelope studied him critically. Her groom-cum-guard was dressed in entirely ordinary clothes, neat and plainly good quality. More, he’d proved over the years that he could speak well, in a gentlemanly fashion, if required.
Connor looked up and said, “Even better—and perhaps more believable—I could say my master is looking for a good set of aquamarines.” He nodded at the bracelet. “I could describe the general size of the stones and see if the jeweler bites.”
O’Donnell added, “If this dodgy jeweler replaced the stones only a month or so ago, then the odds are that he still has them, but is starting to feel keen to offload them. They must represent a certain amount of cash to him, and he’ll want to make the trade.”
A short and lively discussion ensued, the upshot being that all agreed going after the real aquamarines might well be their best means of identifying which jeweler was the one involved.
Penelope stated, “Aquamarines are not a popular choice these days, so I agree it’s very likely the jeweler who made the substitution still has the real stones.”
“And,” Stokes said, “if a jeweler does produce a set of real aquamarines, we can step in and check the stones against the bracelet. If the stones fit, he’ll be our man.”
Everyone was enthusiastic about the ploy.
“If I might suggest,” Barnaby said, “it would smooth our way if Penelope and Madeline, attended by me and Henry, gopast the stalls first. The ladies can cast their eyes over each jeweler’s wares”—he looked at Penelope and Madeline—“as if you’re considering buying, and so determine whether any of the jewelers has the right style and skill to have fabricated the necklace. From all we’ve heard, it’s quite fine and rather distinctive work.”
Penelope pounced on the idea. “That’s an excellent notion. That way, Connor won’t need to approach all five jewelers in his search for real aquamarines.”
Stokes looked at Connor. “Can you tell real stones from paste?”
Connor blinked, clearly surprised to have been asked, then replied, “I’ve been working for the Adairs for four years. I know how real jewels sparkle and gleam. Paste doesn’t do that.”
Barnaby chuckled. “Regardless, once Connor gets offered real stones—and they will be real if the jeweler scents a good deal—then we can close in and confirm before we ask the jeweler in question how he came by the stones.”
“That should be interesting,” Stokes observed, clearly looking forward to the moment. He looked around the gathering. “Right, then. Any further questions, or are we ready to depart for Salisbury market?”
