Cora Flash and the Diamond of Madagascar (A Cora Flash Children's Mystery, Book 1)

by TOMMY DAVEY

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  "Can you make this quick?" snipped Abigail.

  "Do you have somewhere to be?"

  "Obviously not, since we're all stuck in this tin can together. I'm going the same place as everyone else."

  "My point exactly. I will not keep you longer than I have to. I'm sure there are things you would rather be doing than sitting here talking to me."

  "You've got that right."

  "Tell me about your self, Abigail."

  She stared at him. "Is this a date?"

  He laughed a little, even though her question seemed to make him slightly uncomfortable. "No, I assure you, it is not. I am just curious about where you are going and why you are taking the train. What brings you here today?"

  She rolled her eyes and brushed the bangs out of her eyes before answering. "I’m going to visit my father. My parents are divorced and my father moved back to Topaz Mountain after the split. He grew up there, so every year I spend a few weeks with him. It's the only time of year I get to see him."

  "And why did you decide to take the train?" he asked.

  "My dad works for the company. Well, he used to, anyway. He was a train engineer for almost thirty years. He was injured a few years ago when some idiot drove his truck across the tracks and stalled."

  "My goodness," said the inspector. "And what happened?"

  "The engine clipped the back of the truck, and it spun around a few times. The guy in the truck was fine, just a few bruises and the scare of his life. But my dad ended up losing his balance in all the commotion and fell over, busting his right shoulder. He is still in pain and is on disability. He wants to go back to his old job, but I don't know if he'll ever be able to. For now, he collects tickets at the station in Topaz Mountain."

  "And so you get a discounted fare because he works for the train company?"

  "You got it. I can go anywhere I want practically for free. And it's a pretty quiet ride, pretty uneventful. Usually."

  My leg was beginning to cramp. In order to fit under the cart, I had to tuck my knees under me, which was no easy feat. And at that particular moment, one of my legs had begun to fall asleep. I would have to try and stretch it out at some point, but was not sure I had enough room under the tablecloth to move it far enough.

  "Are you in school, Abigail?"

  "Yes. I'm studying Physics at Braemar."

  Braemar University was one of the best schools in the country. Based on the school's reputation, Abigail was a bright girl. In all likelihood, she was probably the smartest person on the train.

  "That must be a lot of work for you."

  "It's okay," she said. "I'm managing."

  "You were in the dining car early this morning, weren't you?"

  "I didn't sleep very well last night, so I couldn't wait for it to open. That guy beat me to it, though."

  "You mean Mr. MacEvoy?"

  "Yeah, him," she said. "The weird guy. He's always so nervous."

  If anyone else had been in the car with the inspector and Abigail, they would have seen an eleven-year-old leg stick out briefly on one side of the cart. Luckily, neither the Inspector nor Abigail appeared to have noticed my extension.

  "Did you see anyone else as you made your way to breakfast?"

  "No," she replied. "Just Willy. He was walking in the hallway as I passed by."

  Dabruzzi was suddenly interested. "In the hallway of the next car? The sleeper car?"

  "Yeah, he was making his way up to the front of the car. We had to squeeze by each other in the hallway to get by. People must have been much skinnier when they built these trains."

  "Did he say where he was going?"

  "No, but I didn't ask. I know Willy from way back when. He has worked for the rails as long as my dad. He knew me since I was a little girl. When my parents were still together. He came to the wedding, I think."

  "So you just passed by without saying anything?"

  "Of course not," she said, a little insulted. "He said good morning. Good morning, Minnie, he said to me. He always called me Minnie because I used to carry around a Minnie Mouse doll that my dad got me when we went to Disney World. It was the last family vacation we took together and I carried it around with me for the longest time."

  "When you went to the dining car, did you say anything to Mr. MacEvoy?"

  "No," she snapped. "I'm not here to make friends. I just wanted to get my breakfast and be done with it. I have no interest in chit-chatting my way across the country. I wanted to eat and get back to my book. There are enough people talking all the time, I don't need to join in."

  "Don't you find it helps to pass the time when you can talk with other people?"

  "I talk with other people all day. At school, at home, at my part-time job. Sometimes all I think I do is talk, talk, talk. I need some quiet time."

  "Abigail, did you notice if the door to Mr. Sloane's compartment was open when you passed by?"

  "I can't really say that I noticed one way or the other. No one came into the hallway from any of the compartments, that much I can say." Abigail paused for a second and then changed her gaze to an intense stare. "You know, if there was anyone here who I would suspect, it would be Mr. Sloane himself."

  "Mr. Sloane? But it's his diamond. Why on earth would he fake a robbery?"

  "Because," Abigail sneered, almost condescendingly, "no one would suspect him. An inside job. Why would anyone suspect him if he was the one crying foul? He probably has the diamond stashed somewhere in his compartment."

  "Ah, you are already mistaken there. Don't you remember I said I searched his compartment? The diamond was most definitely not there."

  "Oh," she said in a disappointed tone. She clearly thought she had figured it out. "Then he already got rid of it. It's somewhere else on this train, or he threw it off to someone else who was waiting for him."

  "I have considered this. Not necessarily in the context of Mr. Sloane, mind you, but as a method of disposing of the gem. However, I think it would be utterly foolish for anyone to throw the diamond out into the farmlands we have been passing through. It would be next to impossible to recover."

  "So you think it's still on the train?"

  "Yes, I do."

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  "I have no reason to steal that diamond," said Willy.

  "As I have said to the others, I am not accusing or implicating anyone in the crime. I am just trying to figure out where everyone was and if they may have seen anything."

  "I see. I have been thinking about this morning over and over, but I can't think of anything that would help your investigation. I wish I had seen something."

  The inspector asked, "How well do you know Abigail?"

  "Abby? Oh, I've known her since she was born. I worked with her father for years and years, before that terrible accident. I still keep in touch with her father; in fact we are going to have dinner the day after tomorrow, at Topaz Mountain. She's a good girl, smart as a whip."

  Willy paused for a moment, as if he were thinking that Dabruzzi might be accusing her of the crime.

  "Inspector!" he exclaimed. "Don't tell me you think Abby had something to do with this?"

  "I have not heard any evidence to suggest she is involved. However, I must take everything into consideration."

  "I don't like you accusing her of anything, Inspector. She is one of the brightest young ladies you will ever meet. Everyone should wish they had a daughter like her. I love that girl like my own, and I know her well enough to know she is not in any way involved in this theft."

  "I certainly hope not. It would be an awful shame for such a bright young lady to risk her promising future."

  "I should say so. It would be a terrible, terrible shame," Willy agreed.

  "Do you know anyone else on the train, Willy? Can you vouch for anyone else's character?"

  "Gee, I don't think so," he said after considering the question for a moment. "We have so many people travelling these lines. Not as many as before, mind y
ou, but enough that I can't keep track of them. Some people look familiar, but I don't know anyone else by name."

  "At what time," Dabruzzi began his next question, "did you start your day?"

  "Six thirty. I get up at six and start setting out placemats for the breakfast. It used to be a job for two of us, once upon a time. Now, it's just me. So I get up a little earlier and prepare things. I set out the tablecloths, the cutlery, and start cooking things. You know."

  "I see. And was there anything out of the ordinary this morning? Did anything strike you as odd?"

  "Nothing. In fact, it was quite a boring morning. Nothing unusual happened at all. Made the juice, started to brew the coffee. Same as every other day."

  "And who was the first person to enter the dining car this morning?"

  "That's easy," replied Willy. "Mr. MacEvoy. He was in the car even before eight o'clock."

  "How is that possible?"

  "I usually unlock the door a few minutes early, around ten to eight. I know some people like their coffee as soon as they wake up, so I try to accommodate them. And it's nice to sit and have coffee a few minutes before the stampede begins, you know?" Willy gave a little a laugh. "So I opened the door a few minutes before, and then left to get some of the croissants out of the fridge. I forgot to take them out earlier. When I returned, Mr. MacEvoy was already in the room. Just sitting there, all by himself."

  "And did he ask for anything?"

  "He did. And now that I think of it, this is a bit strange. He asked for some sunflower seeds."

  "I see. Bird food."

  "Yeah. Bird food. I thought that was an awfully strange thing to request for breakfast, but ‘To each his own,’ my dad used to always say."

  "Did you have it?"

  "Oh my, no, certainly not. He took an herbal tea instead. And some toast with jam. Is that important?"

  "Probably not, no," said Dabruzzi. "Was he alone for just a few minutes, then?"

  "Yes, I suppose so. No more than five. I returned shortly after he sat down, and then he was soon joined by Abigail, I believe."

  "Willy, do you have a key to each of the compartments?"

  "No, I do not. They lock from the inside. The only person with a key is the conductor, way up in the engine car. He is the only person other than the assigned passenger who can unlock the rooms, and even then, only if it’s an emergency."

  I made a mental note of this trivial detail, thinking it might come in handy later in my investigation.

  "Willy, the night before the diamond disappeared, did anyone make any unusual requests?"

  "Let me think a minute, now." Willy paused for a bit. "Nothing comes to mind, Inspector. Mr. and Mrs. Houseman forgot to pack toothpaste, so they asked for a tube. We always keep a few extras aboard the train. People always forget something. And Mrs. Bronwyn asked for some ice cubes for Calvin to chew on. She said it helps him to fall asleep. Oh, and Mr. Sloane asked for some peppermint tea. He said his stomach was unsettled."

  "It aids digestion," offered the inspector.

  "His nerves were probably frazzled from carrying that diamond around with him."

  "You are probably right. Thank you, Willy. You have been most helpful. I'll probably have more questions for you later, if you don't mind."

  "Not at all, Inspector," he said. "Not at all."

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  "This is absolutely dreadful. This whole affair, simply dreadful," exclaimed Mrs. Bronwyn as she took her seat across from Dabruzzi.

  "I quite agree with you, Mrs. Bronwyn. It is all highly unfortunate."

  "Well, you must realize by now that nearly everyone had a chance to take that silly diamond. That corridor was on the way to the dining car. Everyone would have passed it at one point."

  "You are quite right, Mrs. Bronwyn."

  "But, there is one thing that is bothering me. One thing I can't figure out," she said with a puzzled expression. "What would one do with the diamond after they stole it? It is so incredibly famous that there is no way anyone could sell it without revealing they’re the thief."

  The inspector took a deep breath before formulating his response. "You are right on some levels, assuming the thief is an amateur. However, there are many networks all over the world that are designed for distributing stolen goods. Surely you have heard of fences?"

  "Yes, of course, but the Diamond of Madagascar is notoriously famous."

  "It is, yes, but for someone with access to a sophisticated network, it would not be difficult to find a buyer. Someone with a great sum of money and even more discretion. It was probably already sold to someone even before it was stolen."

  "You mean," Mrs. Bronwyn interjected with great alarm, "the diamond was custom ordered?"

  "In a manner of speaking, yes, you could say that."

  "My word. Simply unbelievable. The things people do."

  "Tell me about your morning, please."

  "My morning? Oh goodness, it's quite unremarkable, in fact. Let's see. I woke up around seven, and poor Calvin needed his breakfast, so I immediately fed him to keep him from nagging me. He is so persistent when it comes to food!"

  The inspector gazed down at the sleeping Norfolk Terrier. It was hard to imagine an overly active appetite from such a small dog.

  "After I fed him," she continued, "I took him with me to the washroom cubicle. I don't generally take very long to get myself together in the morning, but the way the train rocks back and forth plays havoc with my makeup application. Not that I wear much, you understand, but I like to keep some secrets to myself."

  "I understand."

  "Are you married, Inspector?"

  "No, I am not. I was almost married, a long time ago, but that story is for another day."

  "Such a shame. Perhaps it’s your occupation. It's a dangerous profession, and many women would be put off by someone who puts himself in peril every day."

  "That could have been a contributing factor."

  "Oh, most certainly. I think it would have been."

  Looking through the hole in the tablecloth, I saw Mrs. Bronwyn take a sip from the glass of ice water she had in front of her. The clinking of the ice cubes alerted Calvin, whose head popped up. "Go back to sleep, my dear. It's nothing."

  Calvin took her word for it and lowered his head back to the floor.

  "When you finished getting ready this morning, What did you do next?"

  "I came straight to the dining car."

  "Did you pass anyone on the way?"

  "No, I did not. I went straight to breakfast, and joined you at your table."

  "Was Calvin with you the whole time?"

  "Yes," she said. "Of course. The railroad insists I keep him with me at all times. And besides, I could never part with him, even for a few minutes. Where he goes, I go."

  Calvin poked his head up at that moment, curious about something on the other side of the room. He arose from his sleeping position, stretched into a more limber state, and walked to the food cart, sniffing fervently.

  "Well, Mrs. Bronwyn, I don't think I have any more questions for you. Is there anything you can think of that I should know?"

  "Just one thing, Inspector. You have heard the expression, ‘It takes two to tango'?"

  "Yes. Of course."

  "Well, I think there’s something to be said in that expression. Crimes like this often require more than one person to execute. I think it is worth considering that this was a two-person job."

  By this time, Calvin had made his way to the dining cart and was beginning to poke his nose around the tablecloth, interested in me.

  "Go away!" I whispered.

  Unfortunately, this did not seem to help. Calvin's tail waved energetically now that he was aware I was hiding close by. It had become a game to him, if only he could figure out how to get behind the tablecloth.

  "Are you suggesting that it was Mr. and Mrs. Houseman?"

  "Oh, goodness, no. I mean not specifically, no. But I can't rule them out, and I don't think you
should, either."

  "No one is ruled out at this point, Mrs. Bronwyn."

  Calvin grabbed a corner of the tablecloth and was pulling at it, determined to remove it from the cart altogether. This, he must have surmised, would expose me and he would win the game.

  "Stop that! Calvin, stop!" I hissed.

  He took no notice of my order and continued to pull on the tablecloth.

  "Calvin!" shouted Mrs. Bronwyn, finally aware of her dog's mischievous behaviour. "Stop that right now."

  He released the tablecloth and sat down in front of the cart, staring at it fixedly.

  "You would think the dog had never eaten before. He was trying to pull the food right off that tray. Such a scoundrel!" said Mrs. Bronwyn. She took a deep breath and tried to get back on track. "Inspector, I have also noticed a certain familiarity between the porter and that young girl, Abigail."

  "Yes, I am aware of their relationship. They have been family friends for many years."

  "Well!" she quipped. "That certainly says something, doesn't it? Someone who quite possibly knew the diamond was travelling on the train and a close family friend on board to help them out, perhaps? Seems a little too convenient, if you ask me."

  "I shall take that under consideration," said Dabruzzi. "I shall take everything under consideration. That is all for now, Mrs. Bronwyn. Thank you."

  Mrs. Bronwyn stood up from her chair and made her return to the dining car.

  The inspector pushed the food cart back into the dining car and motioned for Willy. "Willy, you can take this now? I am done with it. Thank you."

  "You're welcome," he said, taking control of the cart.

  "Oh," said Inspector Dabruzzi quietly, so only Willy could hear. "When she has climbed out of there, can you ask Cora to come back to the lounge?"

  Willy appeared shocked and not quite sure what to say. Still carefully concealed beneath the tablecloth, I wondered what I had done to give myself away.

  "Yes, sir. I'm sure she'll be right in."

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Willy had stealthily taken the food cart and pushed it well out of sight and into the food preparation area. At that time, I was able to climb out undetected and slip out into the main part of the dining car.