The Caper of the Crown Jewels Read Free

walkway. A clever way, Jack reckoned, to keep the tourists moving through. Because of the theft, the walkway was now turned off.

    Jack walked over and looked closely at the cases. The Imperial State Crown was missing from one, while the Sovereign’s Scepter with Cross and the Sovereign’s Orb were missing from others. The glass around the case wasn’t broken and, as far as Jack could tell, the top and bottom were still intact. The only thing left was the red and gold pillow on which the jewels once lay.

    In the corner of the room were the six people who had been present at the time of the crime. There was a church vicar and a younger man, a mother and her daughter, and an elderly couple. The elderly woman was standing with the help of a walking stick.

    Based on first impressions, Jack was going to have to agree with Tommy. They didn’t look like a bunch of criminals. More importantly none of them looked as if they were carrying the Crown Jewels.
    Jack opened his Book Bag and grabbed his Encryption Notebook. As soon as he placed his thumb over the glass, the Encryption Notebook turned itself on, read his thumbprint, and identified him as the rightful owner. Jack detached the pen from the side of the gadget and made a note of the date: May 9th.
    When he was ready, he approached the vicar and the young man.
    â€œHi there,” said Jack. “My name is Jack Stalwart.” He turned to the vicar first. “Can I have your name?” he asked.
    â€œFather Type,” he answered, smiling.
    Jack turned to the younger man. “And yours?” he asked.
    â€œEdward Pigeon,” he replied.
    â€œThanks,” said Jack, making a few notes on their appearance. Father Type, in particular, had a familiar look about him.
    â€œWould you mind stepping over here while I ask you a few more questions?” He wanted to make sure that they had some privacy and led the men over to a side room where the Queen’s priceless coronation robe hung in a massive glass case.
    â€œWhere do you work?” Jack asked, carrying on with the interrogation.
    â€œWe both work just off of Tooley Street,” said the vicar.
    Jack thought about churches near Tooley Street in London. “At Southwark Cathedral?” he asked, remembering the location of that famous church.
    â€œYes, that’s right,” said Father Type, nodding. “At Southwark Cathedral.”
    â€œI was wondering,” said Jack, turning to the vicar first, “if you could describe exactly what you saw.”
    â€œNothing significant, my child,” replied Father Type. “We were on the walkway like everyone else,” he explained, “adoring the Queen’s precious jewels. All of a sudden, the lights went out and when they came back on, the jewels were gone. It gave me quite a fright, really,” he added, shaking his head.

    Jack turned to Edward Pigeon. “Did you see the same thing as Father Type?” he asked the young man.
    â€œYes,” said Edward. “Pity really—I only saw the jewels for a few seconds before they vanished.”
    Jack thanked both men for their time and called the mother and daughter over. He introduced himself, took their details, and asked whether they had noticed anything important.
    â€œWell,” said the mother, “I do remember hearing something when the lights went out. It sounded as though someone was whispering something.”

    â€œDo you remember whether it was a man or a woman?” asked Jack.
    â€œIt was a man, I think,” she answered, “although the voice was a bit high-pitched. So I suppose it could have been either.”
    â€œAnd what about you?” said Jack, turning to the young girl. “What do you remember?”
    â€œNothing,” said the girl. She hid herself in her mother’s skirt.
    Thinking he’d got all he was going toget out of these two, Jack called the elderly couple over.
    â€œHi there,” he