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“If you’re going to be an official police consultant, you’re going on the payroll. On a freelance basis.”

“But… this is too much,” said Odelia, probably the first time in the history of the world anyone had said that after receiving remuneration for services rendered.

“It’s fine. I discussed it with Charlene, and considering all that you’ve done for this town, we think it’s only fair. And now you better scram, honey. I’ve got a ton of work, a Sheikh to protect from the crazies, and I don’t even know where to start!”

“Uncle Alec?” said Dooley. “When do we get our badges as official consultant’s consultants?”

“And our paycheck?” I added. “You can pay in kibble—we don’t mind.”

Odelia smiled, but decided not to translate our words this time. Her uncle had enough on his plate already. And besides, have you ever seen a cat wear a badge? Where would they even pin it!

23

“Don’t you think you should have told Uncle Alec about what happened with Johnny and Jerry last night?” I asked once we were back in the car.

“No, I don’t,” said Odelia. “We gave our word we wouldn’t tell my uncle, and I intend to keep it.”

“Do you really believe they’ll go out of their way to investigate what happened to that diamond?”

“You never know, Max. Something I learned from my mom: she always sees the good in people. Maybe Johnny and Jerry will surprise us.”

“They definitely surprised your parents when they broke into their bedroom last night.”

We were on the road to Craig Bantam’s daughter, Craig being the man who rented that safe deposit box, and I wondered what we’d discover. This diamond business was easily as baffling as any mystery I’d ever encountered, and so far I couldn’t see where it would lead.

“We saw Johnny and Scarlett kissing on a bench,” Dooley announced. “Do you think that’s part of his investigation, Odelia?”

Odelia looked thoroughly surprised by this development.“Johnny and Scarlett? No way.”

“Oh, yes,” I said with grim satisfaction. “So it looks like our boys aren’t exactly taking their investigation seriously.”

“He could be investigating Scarlett,” Dooley said. “And hoping she will give up a few clues.”

“Scarlett will give up something, all right,” said Odelia, “but it won’t be clues.”

“It might be a clue how to get into her—”

“Max!” said Odelia.

“—confidence!” I finished. “She is, after all, Gran’s best friend, so maybe this is all part of a scheme to get their hands on that stone somehow.”

“If it is, they’re barking up the wrong tree, since by now that stone is safe and sound in the hands of the Sheikh.”

Just then, Odelia’s phone chimed, and she placed an earbud into her ear, then pressed a little button. “Odelia Poole.”

Unfortunately we couldn’t hear what was being said, but we could of course follow the conversation by listening to Odelia’s side of it, which spoke volumes. “Yes, I personally delivered the Pink Lady into the hands of Oscar Godish and Dwayne Late,” she said, then listened for a moment, before saying, “They wereat the house maybe an hour ago—two hours, tops.” More talk was going on at the other end of the conversation, then Odelia cried, “Are you serious?!” and turned to face me in the rearview mirror.

“Looks like something’s wrong,” I told Dooley.

“Probably Johnny and Jerry. Have you noticed, Max, that often when something goes wrong, those two are involved?”

“I’m not so sure it’s them this time.”

“Of course,” said Odelia. “No, I understand, Mr. Maroun. Absolutely.” When she finally disconnected, she just stared before her for a few moments, then said, “The Pink Lady’s gone missing again.”

“What do you mean? Did those two guys lose it?”

“No, looks like they’re the ones that took it. That was Sharif Maroun on the phone, the Sheikh’s right-hand man. Late and Godish were supposed to deliver the diamond to the hotel half an hour ago but they never showed up. They’ve tried calling but they’ve gone off the grid. So they calledMilestone Partners and turns out Godish sent in his resignation this morning. He no longer works for them. And as far as Dwayne Late is concerned, far from being the world’s foremost diamond expert, he’s one of Godish’s contacts—an ordinary jeweler from Queens.” She sighed. “Looks like we’ve been had, boys. Played for suckers.”

“But why? Why would they take a million-dollar diamond?” asked Dooley. Odelia actually turned her head to give him a look, and so did I. After a few moments, the penny dropped. “Oh.”

“So what’s going to happen now?” I asked.

She shrugged.“They’re not blaming me. I did the right thing. They should have been more careful—or Milestone Partners. Anyway, they’ve called my uncle, and the police are looking into it.”

“No scoops, no snoops,” I said, reiterating the words of the insurance guy. “Looks like he really played us.”