The Case of the Missing Necklace: Part 1
Detective Clara Parker arrived at the mansion just as the rain began to pour. Mrs. Devereaux had called in a panic—her priceless diamond necklace was missing.
“Thank you for coming, Detective!” Mrs. Devereaux said. “My necklace is gone! I wore it to the charity ball last night, and I’m certain I checked the jewelry box this morning. It was still there then.”
Clara raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You’re positive you saw it this morning?”
“Yes,” Mrs. Devereaux insisted, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. “I think so… I remember looking.”
Clara nodded and took out her notebook. “Who’s been in the house today?”
“Only my assistant, Julia, and the gardener, Mr. Lyons,” she replied. “Julia has been with me for years, and Mr. Lyons comes every Tuesday. I can’t imagine either of them taking it.”
Clara decided to speak to both. She found Julia in the kitchen. “Julia, have you seen anything unusual today?”
Julia frowned. “No, Detective. I took some mail upstairs for Mrs. Devereaux this morning, but I didn’t go into her jewelry box. I’ve never touched her things.”
Clara continued, “And when was the last time you saw the necklace?”
Julia hesitated. “Well, I saw Mrs. Devereaux wearing it at the ball last night. But this morning, when I was in her room, the jewelry box was closed.”
Clara nodded and then found Mr. Lyons in the garden. “Mr. Lyons, were you inside the house today?”
“Yes, I came in to get some water and saw Mrs. Devereaux looking worried around noon. But I haven’t been beyond the kitchen,” he said.
Clara returned to Mrs. Devereaux. “You mentioned that you *checked* the jewelry box this morning. Do you actually remember *seeing* the necklace, or were you assuming it was there because it was supposed to be?”
Mrs. Devereaux looked down. “I suppose… now that you ask, I don’t actually remember seeing it. I assumed it was there because I put it back last night.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed. “So you haven’t actually seen it today. And Julia mentioned that the jewelry box was closed when she took the mail upstairs. That means you only thought it was there because you remember putting it back last night. There’s a chance it was already gone.”
Mrs. Devereaux gasped. “Do you think it was stolen at the ball?”
Clara nodded. “It’s quite possible. You haven’t actually checked today, so the necklace might never have come home with you. I suggest you start by asking the valet or anyone who helped you with your coat or jewelry last night. The necklace could have gone missing there.”
The Case of the Missing Necklace: Part 2
Detective Clara Parker left the mansion with a new lead: the necklace might have been stolen the night before, at the charity ball. She decided to pay a visit to the event coordinator, Ms. Fields, who had been responsible for the guest list and valet services.
At the event hall, Ms. Fields greeted her warmly. “Detective, I’ve been expecting you since I heard about the missing necklace. Mrs. Devereaux left the ball in quite a hurry last night.”
Clara raised an eyebrow. “Have you noticed anything unusual about her behavior recently?”
Ms. Fields nodded. “Yes, she seemed flustered last night. She told me she’d misplaced something—a bracelet, I think—and was searching for it. She hasn’t mentioned it today, but she was clearly very concerned about her jewelry.”
Clara noted this down. “And who was working with the guests?”
Ms. Fields replied, “One of our valet staff, Tim. He’s been with us for a year now and has handled many of these events.”
Clara tracked down Tim, who was cleaning up in the staff room. “Tim, I need to ask you a few questions. You’ve worked at these events often, haven’t you?”
Tim nodded, looking slightly nervous. “Yes, I’ve worked many events, Detective.”
“Did you help Mrs. Devereaux with her coat last night?”
“Yes, I did,” Tim replied. “She was one of the last guests to leave, and she’d been looking for a bracelet. But I noticed she was still wearing the necklace. I’ve seen her wearing it at other events, and it always catches attention.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed. “And did you see her taking it off at any point?”
Tim thought for a moment. “No, I didn’t see her taking it off. But I remember another guest, Ms. Harrington, speaking to her as she was about to leave. I believe they’ve had some history.”
Clara returned to Mrs. Devereaux. “Mrs. Devereaux, does Ms. Harrington have any connection to your necklace? Has she shown interest in it before?”
Mrs. Devereaux sighed. “Yes, she’s admired it for years. We’ve known each other for a long time, and she’s always wanted to own a piece like this. Last night, she asked to see it up close. I was rushing to leave, so I might have handed it to her briefly.”
Clara realized this might be the break in the case. She decided to speak with Ms. Harrington, whom she found at a local café. “Ms. Harrington, I’m investigating Mrs. Devereaux’s missing necklace. She told me that you were one of the last people to see it.”
Ms. Harrington smiled, looking unfazed. “Yes, I admired it last night. I’ve always thought it was a lovely piece.”
Clara pressed on. “And you took the necklace, didn’t you?”
Ms. Harrington’s face reddened. “I… I may have held onto it for a moment. She was in such a rush, and I didn’t think she’d notice. I thought I might keep it safe and return it later.”
Clara looked stern. “I’ll need to search your bag. We have reason to believe you took the necklace.”
Reluctantly, Ms. Harrington handed over her purse. Inside, Clara found a small velvet pouch containing Mrs. Devereaux’s diamond necklace.
Clara returned the necklace to Mrs. Devereaux, explaining how the truth had come to light. By carefully distinguishing between assumptions and facts, the case was solved, and Mrs. Devereaux had her prized possession back once again.