by L C Lang
I nodded. “Thanks. I will keep that in mind. Right now, I am not sure what I will do with them. I have to think about this.”
I gathered the gemstones and put them back in the jewelry bag. Then I put the bag in my messenger bag. I thanked Mike again and then walked out the door. I flipped the strap of my messenger bag around my neck and held onto the bag tightly while I headed back to my Cherokee.
As I walked, I wondered what to do. If all three bags are rough gemstones, what is the pink rock? Is it a gemstone too? I had thought of showing Mike the pink rock, but decided that was not a good idea. I will see what the other jeweler says about it.
One thing is very clear. I need to get a safe deposit box. Tomorrow.
CHAPTER 16
I got back to my Cherokee and got inside. I still cannot believe the worth of the gemstones. Now I know the pink rock is also a gemstone. What is it and how much is it worth? I am almost dreading to find out, but regardless, I do have to find out.
I put the address of the other jewelry store in my GPS. Then I started my Cherokee, waited for a lull in the traffic and then pulled out. The store is a few blocks north of the downtown area. The area is mostly residential, but has pockets of businesses.
Fifteen minutes later, I found an open parking spot close to the front of the store. I took a deep breath, grabbed my keys and my messenger bag, and got out, locking my truck. Then I walked towards the store.
I stopped at the front door. What am I going to find here? More answers I hope. I am still dreading what I will find out, but I have to know what Benton was doing. So far, I am finding information, but I am still missing something. A key piece of information that explains everything. Finding out what the pink rock is will be important. Then I have to figure out what to do next. I took a deep breath and opened the door. Then I stepped inside.
The store is about the same size as the last one. Not very big, but just as I found in the last jewelry store, this store also carries high-end and expensive jewelry. I walked to the back counter. This time, there is more space behind the counter before the door that leads further back. Storage area, probably. Still, there is a small table with a light on it. This time, no one is sitting at the table.
Just then, a woman came from the back room. She is in her late twenties and has long blonde hair. She is wearing a dark blue skirt that stopped three inches above her knees, a white silk shirt, and a short dark blue jacket. She approached the counter on stilettos with four-inch heels. No way could I walk in those.
“How may I help you?” the woman sweetly asked.
“Do you have someone here who works with gemstones?”
She nodded. “Yes, we do. Mr. Hanover is the owner and he designs and makes jewelry with gemstones he gets in. He is on the phone right now. Can you wait just a few moments? I doubt he will be on the phone much longer.”
I nodded. “Yes, I can wait.”
While I waited, I began getting nervous. To quell my nervousness, I began walking around the store, looking at the displays. Although the jewelry is expensive, how much do they actually sell? Although, the residences in the area looked expensive, so maybe some of those people do come here.
Then I stopped in front of one piece. It is a necklace and looked to be designed, not manufactured. Inside is a pink chip, with diamond chips around it. The vividness of the chip looked a lot like the pink rock I have. Could it be? There is no description of what the pink chip is in this necklace, but it was delicate looking and very pretty. The two thousand dollar price tag was more than I wanted to pay.
Just like the other store, the jewelry here is also expensive. I wondered how much they actually sell. However, considering the residences I passed by, they looked expensive themselves. So, maybe they do get in a lot of business.
Finally, ten minutes later, a man came through the door from the back. I assumed this is Mr. Hanover, so I headed back to the counter. The man is tall, has light brown hair and intense looking hazel eyes, is muscular and looks to be in his early forties. He is wearing a white silk shirt with a dark red tie and black slacks. He smiled at me as I approached the counter.
“I am Nick Hanover, the owner of the store. I understand that you are looking for someone who works with gemstones?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir, I am.” I reached my hand into a side pocket of my messenger where I had put the pink rock, took it out, and laid it on the counter. “I inherited my grandmother’s house and as I was going through her things, I found this. At first, I thought it was just a pretty rock, but now I am not so sure. Do you know what it is?” Then I held my breath.
Nick Hanover pulled a loupe out of his pants pocket, put it on his eye and picked up the stone, looking at it carefully. I watched him closely. His facial expression changed when he first saw the rock and it intensified the longer he looked closer at it. Finally, he sat the rock down and took the loupe out of his eye. Then he looked at me and nodded.
“What you have here is a very desirable and valuable gemstone. The color is a very vibrant pink.” He picked up the rock again. “What this is, is a pink diamond, worth about ten to twenty thousand dollars per carat. And this stone will polish to three carats.”
I sucked in my breath. Is he kidding me? Ten to twenty thousand dollars per carat and this stone is three carats. That one gemstone comes to thirty to sixty thousand dollars. Oh. My. God. And I have quite a few more of them, all the same size. What was Benton Williams involved in?
Finally, I blew out my breath and looked at him. “Really? It has that much value?”
Hanover nodded. “Yes, it does.”
I shook my head. “Where do the pink diamonds come from?”
“Australia is a good source of them, but these pink diamonds come from Russia.”
Russia? How does he know that? “That is amazing.” I looked up to see Nick Hanover intently looking at me.
“Where did your grandmother get them?” he asked. His voice had changed. Now he is more demanding.
“I have no idea. I do know at some point my grandparents extensively traveled abroad, but I have no idea where they went.” Okay, that is a lie. My grandparents never went on any vacations. Day trips to a park, picnics, but no long vacations. And definitely no traveling abroad.
“What do you plan to do with it?”
What am I going to do with it? “I have no idea. I am going to have to wrap my head around the idea that I have something this valuable.”
“If you decide to sell, I would give you a good price for both of them.”
I nodded, taking the pink diamond from him and putting it into my messenger bag. Then I flipped the strap around my neck. “I will have to think about that, but I will keep you in mind. Thank you for your help.”
We said goodbye and then I headed for the door, clutching my messenger bag tightly. I felt Nick Hanover’s eyes on me all the way out the door. I made my way to my Cherokee and got inside. When I looked back at the store, Nick Hanover is looking at me out the front window. Why, I have no idea, but my guess is that he would love to have this rough pink diamond. Not a chance.
I pulled out of the parking space. While I drove, my mind is racing and my stomach is growling. I need lunch and caffeine. After a few minutes, I found a McDonalds. I went through the drive-thru, placed my order and paid for it, and then I picked up my order at the last window. I parked in an empty parking space. Then I took a long drink. I looked at my canvas messenger bag and made a quick dollar count. Unless I am wrong, I have about a hundred and fifty thousand dollars of gemstones in there. My mind could not even compute the value of the other four bags I had left at home.
What I have to do now is head home. I have a lot of research to do. But, the first thing I need to do is to find which bank offers safe deposit boxes. No way am I keeping all of these gemstones in my house any longer than I have to.
CHAPTER 17
When I got home, I backed into the garage and then closed the garage door. I got out and headed inside the house. It is now
one o’clock. The value of the gemstones is still bothering me, in more ways than one. I knew I should do it today, but I will wait until tomorrow to go to a bank. I have too much research to do to take the time. So, I took the jewelry bag out of my messenger bag, along with the one pink diamond, put them in my filing cabinet with the rest of the bags, and then locked it. For today, they will be safe. Tomorrow morning I will definitely find a bank here in town where they can be stored safely. At least until I can figure out what to do with them.
Once that was done, I finished off my drink, rinsed out the plastic cup and put it in the recycling bin. Then I walked back into my office. Now what can I do? My mind is still reeling from what both jewelers had told me. Benton Williams was definitely importing gemstones inside the rugs. That is the only explanation. More than likely, they are illegally. I have no idea who was sending them to him, or what he did with the gemstones after he retrieved them from inside the rolled up rugs. I need to look at those tickets in the manila envelopes again. Somehow, I have to figure out what the codes and the numbers mean. Maybe I can find a clue. That would be nice, but I am not holding my breath. Something is still missing.
Then a thought crossed my mind. It was something Detective Donovan told me. Someone put Benton in my shed the night after I moved here. Why had I not heard that? Maybe he was right that that this all happened during the middle of the night. But, why my shed? That still did not make sense.
Then I had another thought. When Sandy came over the other day, I had forgotten to ask her if she had heard anything night I moved in. Now would be a good time to go talk to her. Although, I knew with three small children Sandy probably did not have much time for herself, much less get out of the house. So, I decided to make some chocolate chip cookies to take to them. Then I can visit with her. Might as well get to know my neighbors. Especially those who actually like me at this point. Maybe it is a good idea to forget about the research I need to do. At least for a little while.
An hour later, with a paper plate full of warm chocolate cookies in hand, I walked out my front door, locking the door behind me. With my keys and cell phone in my jeans pocket, I walked to the sidewalk and then made my way to the sidewalk that led to Sandy’s front door.
Before I knocked on the door, I heard the three children yelling inside the house. It sounded like they were on a rampage. I shook my head. Sandy definitely needs a break. I knocked on the door. A few moments later, the oldest child, Marie, opened the door.
“Yeah?” Marie asked, her right hand on her hip, while the other hand held onto the door.
“Is your Mommy home?” I asked.
Marie nodded, turned around and yelled, “Mom! It’s the lady next door.”
I shook my head and stifled a giggle. At least she remembered me. A moment later, Sandy came rushing to the door, with her youngest, Bobby, dressed only in a diaper and clutching her shirt to the point that he was about to uncover one of her boobs. He is sniffling with tears running down his face. Sandy blew out her breath when she saw me.
“Looks like you are having a stressful day,” I said. Sandy looked like she had just lost her last nerve. Marie was now with her younger sister and it did not sound like they are getting along very well. I would be on my last nerve too if I had to listen to that all day.
Sandy nodded. “I am so glad you came over. Another adult in the house will be a blessing right now.”
I held up the covered paper plate of cookies. “How about a bribe for the kids? Warm chocolate chip cookies.”
“Oh, thank you.” Sandy sighed. Then she opened the door wider, loosened her son’s hand, and then readjusted her shirt. She gave him a look that said, forget it, you aren’t getting any right now.
I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. The living room looked like a tornado had hit. Toys are everywhere. The middle child, Caroline, is now jumping on the couch and laughing. Sure does not pay to have good furniture, at least not until the kids grow up a few more years. While I would love to have a baby, I am not sure I want to deal with this. At least not three kids under the age of five years old.
Sandy sat Bobby on a blanket on the floor and handed him a toy to play with. Then she grabbed Caroline from off the couch and stood her on the floor. She sternly reminded Caroline that jumping on the furniture is not allowed. Then she told her to play nicely with Marie.
Sandy blew out her breath and then invited me to sit on the couch, which I did and sat the paper plate on my lap. Sandy also sat down and then had both of the girls stand in front of her. She explained that I had brought some homemade cookies, but they had to sit quietly and eat a cookie, or they would not get one. They both nodded and promised they would good. I took the foil cover off the paper plate and then held out the plate. Both girls took two cookies and then sat down near Bobby and ate their cookies. I held the plate out to Sandy, who also took two cookies. She leaned against the back of the couch and blew out her breath again. I took two cookies and then sat the plate down on the coffee table in front of us.
“Bad day?” I asked.
Sandy nodded. “Yes, it has been. Must be a full moon. The natives have been restless since they got up this morning. I was serious when I said I was glad to have another adult in the house. Bob left early because he had to be in court this morning.”
“So, he missed all of this?” I asked.
“Yes. Usually, he does not go in until nine o’clock.”
“Hopefully, they will settle down after this.”
“I sure hope so. I haven’t gotten anything done today at all. I have had to chase all three of them today.” Sandy took a big bite of the cookie. “This is really good,” she said after she had swallowed. Then she broke off a large piece of her cookie and handed it to Bobby, who was trying to get the two girls’ cookies.
“I am glad you like them. You can keep the rest. Use them as a bribe if you have to.”
Sandy laughed. “I may just have to do that. So, what do I owe the visit?”
I would love to tell her that I just came over to visit, but she figured that was not the case, which it was not. Oh well, might as well get to what I wanted to ask her.
“Yes, you are right. What I wanted to ask you is if you heard any noises in my shed the day I moved in.”
Sandy thought for a few moments. “It is a wooden building, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “Yes, it is. But, the gate to get into the back yard squeaks badly. I am sure when my father put my grandmother’s tables and chairs inside the shed, that he locked the door. But, when I went to see what was in the shed and I found it unlocked. So, someone picked the lock. I hadn’t heard anything, so I am hoping maybe you or your husband might have heard the noise of the gate.”
Sandy narrowed her eyes at me. “I heard he was sitting in a chair. Is that where you found him?”
I nodded. “Yes, he was. Even had one leg crossed over the other one too. When I first saw him, I thought someone was actually sitting in the chair. Then I realized he was dead and someone had posed him like that. I am just trying to figure out when someone put Benton in there. I found out he had only been dead about twenty-four hours, so I was here then.”
Sandy nodded. “I am a light sleeper because of the kids, but I don’t remember anything at the moment.”
“Detective Donovan suggested it may have been in the middle of the night when everyone is probably in deep sleep.”
“You could be right. Although, after Marie was born, I don’t think I have had any deep sleep since then.”
I laughed and shook my head. “You may not until after they begin going to school.”
Sandy sighed. “I am looking forward to that day.” She paused a moment and then ate another cookie. Then she looked at me. “I will ask Bob when he gets home tonight. I will let you know if we think of something. How about we exchange cell phone numbers. That way if you need help with something you can just call me.”
I nodded. “That is a good idea. And you can call me if you need help
too. Or if you need another adult in the house.”
“I might have to do that if they don’t settle down. I am already dreading their teenage years.” Sandy pulled her cell phone out of her pants pocket. I gave Sandy my cell phone number and then I entered hers into mine. She paused a moment and then she looked at me. “I was going to ask you before. What kind of work do you do? I noticed you have been gone for several hours today.”
“Yes, I did have somewhere I had to go today. Actually, I work from home.”
Sandy nodded. “I wondered what you were going to do with the tea room. I saw you had furniture delivered. Is that your office now?”
I nodded. “Yes, it is.”
“So, what kind of work do you do?”
Sandy was anxiously looking at me. I wondered if I could tell her the truth. Then again, what else could I do? People are going to find out soon enough anyway. Finally, I nodded.
“Okay, I can tell you. For the time being, don’t tell anyone. When I lived in Indianapolis, I worked for my father. He used to work for the police department here in town. Then he got a job with the Metro police and worked there several years. After a shoot-out about ten years ago and he was injured, he decided to retire from the police department. He bought a building and started his own private investigation agency. After I graduated college, he offered me a job. I worked with him for five years before he finally decided to permanently retire a month ago.”
“What kind of work did you do there?”
I took a deep breath. “I am a licensed private investigator.”
Sandy’s eyes got big. “Really? Is that what you have been doing the last couple of days?”
I nodded. “Yes, but unofficially. Hannah Williams seems determined that I am her husband’s girlfriend and I killed him after a lover’s quarrel. I am just trying to prove to her that I have never met him and find out who really killed him.”
