be served, but I felt good knowing someone was working on it.
I tucked the paper into my suitcase, and pulled out a pair of jeans and a sweater before heading to the shower. I turned the handle to the hottest setting and flipped on the other two showerheads strategically located for a perfect back massage. There was even a speaker system built into the shower walls. I fiddled with the blue lights of the touch screen until I found something to listen to. I settled on a new song and belted out a few bars. This was my last morning in Las Vegas. I was ready to go home and start writing my novel, but first, I was going to enjoy a little more Vegas luxury.
After the shower, I pulled my hair back and wrapped the towel around me twice. I sat on the bed with my laptop to search for the update in Dallas on the VonRue diamonds. There it was, the first link on the page:
VonRue Diamond Hoax: Dallas authorities work with museum curator to solve diamond mystery
I skimmed the stories and learned not all of the diamonds in the collection were fakes. Mr. Withey brought in a certified diamond expert, and they discovered almost every other diamond was real. Some of the larger pieces were left intact and were authentic, while the smaller ones had been swapped for fake stones.
Helen and Simone were even smarter than I realized. They had probably known which pieces were most often verified and left those diamonds for the tour. There was a picture of Helen, looking stunning in a long evening gown, displaying some of the diamonds in a high neck choker and bracelets draped along her elbow-length gloves. The caption read:
VonRue diamond heiress Helen VonRue Chadsworth in 1965 casino resort grand opening.
By the time Dallas authorities finished their investigation of the diamonds, I would be well on my way to completing my novel and ready for Jack to start the editing process. I would definitely have a jump on any would-be diamond-stealing writing enthusiasts.
Even though I used my Time Spell to inspire my writing and to give me the clever material that set my stories apart from the rest of the herd, I always felt it was my obligation to do the right thing first. I couldn’t sit on information about a murder or a jewel heist just to have an advantage; I wanted my Time Spell to do some kind of good. Anonymous tips were the only way I could keep my secret and still do the right thing.
I had found everything I needed in Vegas. I was ready for home, ready to start writing, and ready to share this story with the rest of the world.
Sullen’s Grove, Present Day
I re-sorted the information with Jack, and the columns on the legal pad were empty. I glanced at the clock hanging over his mantle and saw both hands pointing to two. I rubbed my eyes and yawned. Jack and I had been going over the information for hours and made little headway.
“So, let me get this straight.” Jack stood and rolled his shoulders. We were both stiff from our perched positions. “You called the Las Vegas PD and tipped them off about Holden Chadsworth and you called the Dallas museum to tell them about the diamonds?”
“Yes, yes, I had to. I couldn’t keep that kind of information to myself.” My eyelids were growing heavier.
“Ivy, those things aren’t in the book though.” He looked at me through bloodshot eyes. “Obviously, it’s someone involved in the murder and the diamond heist. Someone who knows the same backstory you do. Are you forgetting someone? Is there anyone at all you saw in 1968 you forgot to mention?”
“It doesn’t matter who I forgot. They’re all dead!” I blurted out. “I think we need to call it a night. We aren’t getting anywhere. We keep rehashing the same things. I’ll come back in the morning and we’ll start again. We have time until our flight tomorrow at noon.”
I headed toward the door and slid one arm into my leather jacket. I regretted snapping at him.
Jack followed me, carefully yanked the
I tucked the paper into my suitcase, and pulled out a pair of jeans and a sweater before heading to the shower. I turned the handle to the hottest setting and flipped on the other two showerheads strategically located for a perfect back massage. There was even a speaker system built into the shower walls. I fiddled with the blue lights of the touch screen until I found something to listen to. I settled on a new song and belted out a few bars. This was my last morning in Las Vegas. I was ready to go home and start writing my novel, but first, I was going to enjoy a little more Vegas luxury.
After the shower, I pulled my hair back and wrapped the towel around me twice. I sat on the bed with my laptop to search for the update in Dallas on the VonRue diamonds. There it was, the first link on the page:
VonRue Diamond Hoax: Dallas authorities work with museum curator to solve diamond mystery
I skimmed the stories and learned not all of the diamonds in the collection were fakes. Mr. Withey brought in a certified diamond expert, and they discovered almost every other diamond was real. Some of the larger pieces were left intact and were authentic, while the smaller ones had been swapped for fake stones.
Helen and Simone were even smarter than I realized. They had probably known which pieces were most often verified and left those diamonds for the tour. There was a picture of Helen, looking stunning in a long evening gown, displaying some of the diamonds in a high neck choker and bracelets draped along her elbow-length gloves. The caption read:
VonRue diamond heiress Helen VonRue Chadsworth in 1965 casino resort grand opening.
By the time Dallas authorities finished their investigation of the diamonds, I would be well on my way to completing my novel and ready for Jack to start the editing process. I would definitely have a jump on any would-be diamond-stealing writing enthusiasts.
Even though I used my Time Spell to inspire my writing and to give me the clever material that set my stories apart from the rest of the herd, I always felt it was my obligation to do the right thing first. I couldn’t sit on information about a murder or a jewel heist just to have an advantage; I wanted my Time Spell to do some kind of good. Anonymous tips were the only way I could keep my secret and still do the right thing.
I had found everything I needed in Vegas. I was ready for home, ready to start writing, and ready to share this story with the rest of the world.
Sullen’s Grove, Present Day
I re-sorted the information with Jack, and the columns on the legal pad were empty. I glanced at the clock hanging over his mantle and saw both hands pointing to two. I rubbed my eyes and yawned. Jack and I had been going over the information for hours and made little headway.
“So, let me get this straight.” Jack stood and rolled his shoulders. We were both stiff from our perched positions. “You called the Las Vegas PD and tipped them off about Holden Chadsworth and you called the Dallas museum to tell them about the diamonds?”
“Yes, yes, I had to. I couldn’t keep that kind of information to myself.” My eyelids were growing heavier.
“Ivy, those things aren’t in the book though.” He looked at me through bloodshot eyes. “Obviously, it’s someone involved in the murder and the diamond heist. Someone who knows the same backstory you do. Are you forgetting someone? Is there anyone at all you saw in 1968 you forgot to mention?”
“It doesn’t matter who I forgot. They’re all dead!” I blurted out. “I think we need to call it a night. We aren’t getting anywhere. We keep rehashing the same things. I’ll come back in the morning and we’ll start again. We have time until our flight tomorrow at noon.”
I headed toward the door and slid one arm into my leather jacket. I regretted snapping at him.
Jack followed me, carefully yanked the
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