Chapter Twelve
EARLY Wednesday morning, Boyle called Mary Ann's grandmother and Hofmayer's Gems and explained what he wanted to do and why. Both agreed. Soon he had an appointment at Hofmayer's for six—right after they closed to the public for the day—and at Mme. Harper's mansion at seven. He asked Carter and Gomer if they wanted to come with him, but they both had dates.
"Come on in, Corporal, and I'll tell you all I know," he said, unlocking the door again.
As Boyle entered, a tiny bell jingled over the door. Mr. Hofmayer flipped the sign over so it said "Closed."
"Now, Corporal, you say you and your friends are working on the jewel thefts?"
"That's right, Mr. Hofmayer," Boyle verified.
"But haven't the police closed up the case?"
"Yes, but only because they've made one arrest, on a person whom they're certain is the jewel thief."
"You mean they believe there is only one?" Hofmayer was astounded.
"They seem to," Boyle replied. "Even though it would be almost impossible for one man to commit all those jewel thefts by himself. Anyway, my friends and I believe there's a gang of thieves, and we're trying to catch them."
"Any success so far?"
"None, I'm afraid," Boyle admitted. "The plot keeps thickening."
"Well, why don't you tell me all about it?"
Boyle told a few of the things that had happened, leaving out names.
"One thing that might connect all the jewel thefts is the fact that there was always a jewel pendant amongst the stolen items," Boyle pointed out.
"Yes . . . that is true, isn't it?" Hofmayer mused. "Very perplexing."
"And we keep getting threats." Boyle told of a few in detail, including the one graffitied on the wall. "We're trying to lay low so the criminals will assume we're off the case, but they don't seem to be buying it. We're worried that one of the men in our platoon is one of the criminals."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes."
Hofmayer clasped his hands together and looked puzzled. "This is all very interesting, Corporal, but what, might I ask, has any of it got to do with me?"
"Well, I was just wondering if you could tell me about the robbery," Boyle answered.
"I'm afraid there isn't much to tell," Hofmayer said regretfully. "I wasn't here when it happened."
"I'm sure that's a good thing," Boyle said, half-smiling.
"Well, anyway, I was home reading a book when this friend of mine—Mildred Wireson—called to tell me that something looked suspicious at my shop here." Hofmayer gestured around. "And I came right out. I found the door had been jimmied open and all the jewel cases were open. And the most precious of all my jewels were gone!"
"What happened then?" Boyle asked.
"I called the police and they came right out. They dusted for fingerprints but of course they didn't find any. The criminals were too smart to rob a jewelry store and not wear gloves. But then, I'd expected that."
Suddenly a loud crash was heard in the back room of the store.
"Good heavens!" Hofmayer exclaimed. "What was that?"
"It sounded like someone in the back room!" Boyle replied, hurrying over to the door that separated the two rooms.
There wasn't anyone still there. But it was obvious someone had been. The window was open, shooting cold autumn air in. Crates had been knocked over and jewels had spilled out. Most revealing of all, however, was the little white handkerchief with the initials J.A. on it!
Thoughtfully Boyle picked up the handkerchief and put it in his pocket, just as Mr. Hofmayer came into the room.
"Are you alright, Corporal? You were gone so long I thought maybe the intruder had hurt you!" the elderly man burst out.
"No, I'm fine," Boyle assured the distraught jewelry shop owner. "But there definitely was someone here," he added gravely.
"Oh, merciful heavens!" Hofmayer cried. "Maybe my shop is going to be robbed again!"
"Well, it'd better not be!" Boyle said resolutely, then picked up the telephone. "We'd better call the police to report this intruder."
It was a large, sprawling estate with an iron fence all around it, which automatically opened every time a car got close enough. Boyle parked the car, walked to the humongous porch, and rang the doorbell.
A stern-looking butler opened the door. "Yes?"
"I'm Corporal Boyle from the United States Marine Corps. I'm here to see Madame Harper," Boyle said. "I have an appointment."
The butler nodded slightly. "Oh, yes, the madame did say something about a Marine Corporal coming to see her today. Step right in and I'll get Madame." The butler instantly disappeared.
Boyle glanced about the spacious living room. There were old classic pictures everywhere. There were cabinets of ancient china dishes and collectibles.
After five minutes or so, Madame Harper appeared, descending the long, winding staircase, followed by the butler. She was wearing a powder-blue gingham house dress with emerald earrings and bracelet.
"Hello, Corporal! I hear you have a mystery to discuss."
"That's right, ma'am," Boyle said.
"Well, why don't we sit down and talk it over?" She looked at the butler. "You may go, Jameson."
The butler departed, and Boyle and Mme. Harper sat down on the velvet couch to talk about the lengthy mystery.
"Now, Corporal, you explained briefly over the phone about these threats and this jewel pendant that keeps being referred to. You say that my granddaughter told you about the jewel pendant that I have in possession."
"Yes, ma'am, and I don't think it's actually the one that continues to be cited, but we have to consider all possibilities."
"Yes, well, why don't you explain in more detail about this mystery." There was a twinkle in Mme. Harper's eye. "I used to solve mysteries as a little girl. I might be able to help you on this one."
So Boyle told about some of the strangest events that had taken place over the last couple of weeks. He specially mentioned being locked in the old Crawford mansion, the ransackings, and the rumor that had been traveling around about him that Private Alonzo had claimed Duke had told him about.
"All very odd," Mme. Harper remarked. "Do you have any suspects?"
"Well, we thought that maybe Private Alonzo was one, but he seems to be innocent," Boyle responded. "Sergeant Carter thinks that someone else in our platoon—Private Nelson—is the culprit, especially since he's vanished."
"And what do you think about that, Corporal?"
"Well, ma'am, I don't think that Private Nelson's guilty, even though he did have a slight criminal record in the past."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. He was charged with being an accomplice to a shoplifter. But in mystery stories, usually the person who you'd most suspect is innocent. Of course I realize that it's not always that way in actuality," he added quickly, "but I have to admit that Private Nelson is at the bottom of any suspect list I have."
Mme. Harper nodded. "Do you have any definite suspects?"
"Not currently, ma'am."
"Well, you had better keep me informed on the case. I might be able to assist you and your friends in solving it. Maybe you would like to see my jewel pendant."
"If you would be willing to show it, ma'am," Boyle replied. "It might be a valuable clue. Your jewel pendant is well known, and maybe the criminals thought they could use it as a code word for something or someone." He paused. "Ma'am, do you wholly trust each and every one of your servants?" he finally asked.
Mme. Harper's eyes grew sad. "I wish I did," she said sorrowfully. "I am certain they are all trustworthy, but Jameson, my butler . . . he has been acting so strange lately! Usually he's always so kind and helpful and cheerful. But lately he's been so secretive and wary! I don't know what's wrong with him!"
Boyle pondered the whole situation. "Maybe someone's been threatening him, too," he finally suggested.
Mme. Harper looked worried. "Do you think someone might?"
"It's possible. Maybe someone wants him to steal something of yours—such as the jewel pendant—and he doesn't know what to do. If he's truly an honest man he won't steal anything, ma'am," Boyle assured her.
Mme. Harper nodded uncertainly. "I hope he isn't being threatened," she stated. Then she rose from the couch and walked over to the stairs. "I'll go get the jewel pendant."
A few minutes later Boyle heard a terrible scream and hurried upstairs. He stood in the hallway and called, "Madame Harper! What's the matter?"
Mme. Harper came running, panic-stricken, out of a small library with a safe deposit box in one wall.
"My jewel pendant has disappeared!" she cried. "Someone has stolen it!"
"Stolen it?" Boyle repeated.
"Yes! The jewel thieves are at it again!" Mme. Harper wailed. "And they made no bones about the fact that my jewel pendant was what they wanted. It's the only thing taken!"
"The only thing taken?" Boyle thought about that quickly. In all the other robberies, other jewelry had been stolen as well as a jewel pendant. The thieves might been trying to conceal the fact that they only wanted jewel pendants. But then why had only a jewel pendant been stolen this time? Maybe it was someone else who had performed the robbery this time, and didn't know how to go about it like the others had.
Someone else! Maybe it was Jameson! Boyle thought fearfully.
"Does that mean that everyone here knows the secret combination of the safe?" Boyle asked, astonished at the thought.
"Why, yes," Mme. Harper replied. "As I have said, I trust all my employees. And . . . I hope they can be trusted," she added in a small voice.
Boyle called the police again. Officers Hansen and Kelly arrived to investigate.
"What'd I tell you, Kelly?" Hansen was saying as Mme. Harper led them to where the safe deposit room was. "Chief Stanlon was crazy to shut down the jewel theft case! Obviously the jewel thieves are still at large!"
They dusted for fingerprints, but, like the earlier case at Hofmayer's, couldn't find any.
"Whoever stole the jewel pendant was smart," Kelly remarked. "He knew to wear gloves."
"Well, of course he would, Kelly!" Hansen burst out. "He wouldn't want to get arrested!"
Boyle would have hung around longer to expect the room himself but Jameson appeared holding a telephone receiver.
"Corporal, you're wanted on the telephone," the butler announced.
Curious, Boyle took the receiver. "Hello?"
Gomer's panicked voice answered him. "Oh, Corporal Boyle, you've just got to come back! Something more has happened!"
"Yeah? What?"
"Well, I'd better not say over the phone and waste time. Please just hurry on out here! It's urgent!" Gomer sounded desperate.
Boyle looked worried. This sounded serious. "Alright, Pyle. I'll be right out. I'll see you in a few minutes."
He and Gomer said their goodbyes and Boyle turned to Mme. Harper.
"I'm sorry to leave so suddenly," he said apologetically, "but there's some big trouble back at Camp Henderson. I don't know exactly what, but I'd better get out there and see. Maybe someone else has disappeared or maybe even someone there has been hurt!"
Mme. Harper pushed him towards the stairs. "Yes, Corporal, go by all means! And please call to tell me whatever is going on!"
Boyle rushed down the stairs and over to the front door. "I will, Madame Harper. Depending on what's wrong, I'll call you sometime tonight or tomorrow."
And then he dashed outside. Gomer had acted like whatever was going on was crucial. Wasn't Gomer supposed to be on a date with Lou-Ann? What had happened? Who knew what kind of disaster awaited him back at the base?
