Chapter Eight – Blood Ruby
Previously…
"So detective, can you tell me about the murders?"
Trouver handed him a small envelope. Inside were pictures: soaking-wet bodies, pictures of different Mediterranean landscapes, and close-ups of jewelry pieces. "As you already know, all of the murders happened along the Mediterranean coastline, heading west toward Spain and Andorra. But that isn't the strangest part. You see those jewelry pieces there? Do you notice anything strange about any of them?"
Tintin took a closer look at the photos. There were four of jewelry pieces: a gold ring, an expensive-looking silver watch, and two different pendants. But the detective was right; there was something strange about them. "These should all have stones on them, shouldn't they?"
"Precisely. This fact, besides the relative locations that the bodies were found, is the only thing we have connecting the murders. Whoever is doing this is trying to collect multiple priceless gems, presumably for resale. That's our biggest concern at the moment. Have you heard of the Blood Ruby by any chance, Monsieur Tintin?"
"No, I haven't. What is it?"
"Let me show you then."
Trouver produced another photo from inside of the file folder and set it on the table. It featured a beautiful dark red, almost black gem, surrounded by gold and hanging from an unseen hook by a matching gold chain. Even though he wasn't viewing it in person, Tintin could see the light refracting off of the many surfaces, creating its own special glow that appeared to radiate from the inside. But it was slightly distorted; it must be encased in bulletproof glass. "This is the Blood Ruby," Trouver continued. "It's the highlight of one of our local museums, Muséumd'histoire naturelle de Marseille. It has quite a legend behind it, if you don't mind my telling you."
"I don't mind at all," Tintin responded, starting to scratch down his words onto the paper. "Was it mined by slaves, by any chance?" I hope this isn't another problem like that mess in the Congo.
"No, it wasn't. In fact, it has nothing to with slavery at all, although it does have quite a bloody story behind it. Allow me to explain. Supposedly, this stone was worn in a gold ring on the finger of one of the senators of ancient Rome, who also happened to be one of the approximately 60 men who had stabbed Julius Caesar and caused his death. And according to that story, this stone was originally a flawless white diamond. But after Caesar's assassination, the man wearing it tried to clean off the blood that had accumulated, but was unsuccessful. The blood had soaked into and stained the surface of the diamond so it would turn it permanently red, the color you see today. That's one reason that it gained its name."
"Fascinating." Tintin took another look at the photograph. It wasn't hard to imagine the beauty in the middle of the Roman Empire – or anywhere that housed the rich and powerful, for that matter.
"But there is even longer story than that, monsieur. For centuries after the fall of Caesar and the Roman Empire, the stone was passed from royal to royal, place to place, dozens of times. And much like the Hope Diamond currently being exhibited in the American Smithsonian Natural History Museum, it has gained the thought of being cursed. Ever since the early 1200s, it has been recorded that almost every person who had come into possession of the Blood Ruby had been killed by a stab wound in their head or midsection as early in their life as the age of 18. The few exceptions include Afonso V of Portugal, who for a brief time had it placed into the Portuguese crown jewels, and a man named Louis Cartier, who was the owner before he gave it to the museum. He had said he'd heard of the curse and didn't want to be its next victim."
"If you don't mind my asking," Tintin said as he recorded the detective's final words, "is there a chance that I can visit the museum tomorrow? Although tomorrow is a Monday…"
"But of course!" Trouver smiled broadly. "I'll be sure to call their office and tell them that I have a reporter coming over for research."
"Merci, detective. Is that all you have for me?"
"I'm afraid so, monsieur. But I'm sure you'll discover more about these murders the longer you stay around." Detective Trouver tipped his hat to the reporter. "Stop by if you find anything more."
"I will, detective." Tintin stood, nodding in response. "Thank you for your time." With that, he walked out of the small café, Snowy quickly jumping up and following at his heels, and into the early afternoon sun.
A/N: Yes, the Blood Ruby is the gem shown on the cover. :)
