Chapter 9

The only sound in the security control room was the whirring of the computers as Duncan removed the charmstone from the small safe in the wall. He quickly handed it to Chief Collig, who examined it more closely under the light on Mitch's desk.

"The museum in Edinburgh wants photographs faxed to them, obviously. But they think it's the real thing from the description." He looked up at Frank. "Could you take care of that? Front and back of the piece, note any identifying marks, and give the film to the police lab. Tell them I said it's urgent. We should be able to get it taken care of today."

Frank nodded.

"We'll label it as evidence and keep it down at the station until we get word from Edinburgh on it." He turned to Emily. "Now young lady, I have some questions for you."

She looked up startled. "Okay."

"Can you tell me why this stolen piece was found in your office?"

"N-no. I've never seen it before in my life."

"Hmmm." Collig paced the room and came to stand in front of her. "Have you been here in Bayport for the past three weeks? And do you have someone who could vouch for your whereabouts?"

"Yes, I'm a student. I've been here at the university all semester. Anyone who knows me could tell you that."

"Have you had contact with anyone who's been abroad recently? Like maybe someone who's been in Scotland?"

"Um, yeah, I'm sure I have." Emily twisted her hands nervously. "I mean, I've talked to lots of people since Duncan asked me to work on the Scottish clans exhibit. I'm sure some of them have been to Scotland recently."

"Any of them have access to this charmstone?" Collig dangled it in front of her.

"Stop it," Joe called out. "Emily, you don't have to answer that."

Joe's stomach was roiling with anger as he crossed the room and stood in front of Collig. "Are you questioning her as a suspect, Chief? Because you know better than I do that she hasn't been read her rights nor does she have an attorney present."

"A suspect?" Emily's eyes went wide and all the color drained from her face. "You mean you think I had something to do with stealing that thing?"

Collig's face softened at her clear distress, until he turned back to his least favorite Hardy brother. "No," he snapped at Joe. "She's not a suspect. And I don't need, nor will I stand for, you telling me how to do my job."

Joe's voice was calm and measured as he forced himself to control his temper. "Fine. But I won't have anybody upsetting her. She's the victim here and she's already been through enough."

Collig's eyes narrowed as he met Joe's unwavering gaze. The chief nodded his head. "She's not a suspect. I just wanted to see if she knew something that might be helpful."

"Well, obviously she doesn't."

Collig returned the charmstone to the evidence bag and handed it to Frank. "I need to get back to the station. I'm expecting the coroner's report on Ayres today and I want to be there when it comes in."

He turned to Joe. "Whatever you find out in regards to the vandalism here...I want to know about it." He glanced towards Emily then back at Joe. "No matter what it is. Got that, Hardy?"

"Got it, Chief."

Frank grinned and rolled his eyes as he started to follow Collig out the door. "I'll talk to you later," he told Joe.

Emily turned to go and Duncan called after her.

"Hey, don't forget I need the final numbers for the banquet ticket sales before noon."

She nodded and hurried out the door, her head bent. Joe ran after her.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked as he caught up to her, matching her stride.

"Not really." She stopped in the hallway and looked up at him. "He thinks I had something to do with stealing that charmstone."

"Emily, don't let the Chief get to you. His bark is worse than his bite."

"He scared me." She gazed at him with watery eyes. "Thank you for standing up for me. I had nothing to do with stealing it, Joe. I didn't even know it existed until today."

He put his hands on her shoulders. "I know you didn't. Don't worry, Collig knows that, too. He's going to question everyone here, though. It's his job. Even if he is an ass about it."

She smiled. "Well, anyway, I meant what I said. Thank you."

"No problem." Joe smiled back and brushed a stray curl back over her shoulder. "It's never a problem helping a beautiful woman in distress."

Emily blushed and moved away from him. "I need to get back to my office and get that information Duncan wanted."

"Yeah, what was he talking about anyway? Some sort of banquet?"

"It's the museum's annual fundraiser. A swanky, black-tie dinner, complete with dancing afterwards. It's this Friday and Duncan wants the final numbers." She turned to Joe. "Would you and Frank like an invitation? Normally, we don't have extras, it's always been sold out. But since the murder, we've had patrons cancel on us."

"Sure," he said. "It might be a good time to do a little investigating."

"Great." Emily smiled as they reached the elevators. "I'll grab invitations for both of you, if you don't mind following me to the dungeon."

"I wasn't going to let you go alone." Joe pushed the down button. "In fact, I don't mind staying here while you work. I don't like the idea that the nut who ransacked your office and your locker might be lurking around here somewhere."

"You're very sweet," she said with a smile. "But Duncan has a guard down there now, and I'm really only staying for a few minutes. I have classes until two this afternoon."

They stepped on the elevator and Joe turned to her. "Then I'll stay for a few minutes until you have what you need."

"Okay," she agreed. "But if you get bored, don't hesitate to go."

"I won't be bored."

She blushed again as they reached the basement. She and Joe nodded to the guard at the end of the hall and Emily held her breath as she approached her office door. Joe took the key from her shaking hand and opened the door. She breathed a sigh of relief when she turned on the light.

"You guys straightened up for me. Thank you so much."

"I don't know if we got everything back where you want it, but we tried."

"It's wonderful." Her smile was warm as she turned to him. "You don't know how much I was dreading coming back to a torn apart office."

She moved to her desk and opened a drawer, pulling out two invitations. "For you and Frank. Oh, and you're welcome to bring dates."

Joe grinned. "Really?"

"Of course." She gave him a dimpled smile. "Unless you and Frank want to dance with each other."

"Nah, he always steps on my toes." Joe sat on the edge of her desk. "You're coming to this, right?"

"I have to. It's part of my job."

"I thought you said it was going to be a fun night."

"It is fun...if you're a guest." She reached into a drawer and grabbed a file folder. "Not so much when you have to schmooze wealthy patrons and try to get them to write you a check." She opened the folder and pulled out a piece of paper. "Can I put you and Frank down as attending?"

Joe crossed his arms in front of him. "Yeah, sure. And, I'll try hard to get a date."

Emily smiled as she wrote their names on the list. "I'm sure you won't have any problem with that."

"I won't?"

"Nope. I'm sure whoever you ask will be happy to go with you."

Joe grinned. "That's good to know."

Emily looked up at the clock. "Oh gosh, I've got to get going. My class starts in five minutes."

"Can I walk you?"

"Oh, well, it's just across the green in the Fine Arts building. Stacey and Eric are waiting for me outside. You're welcome to join us if you're headed that way."

Emily scooped up the file and moved to her office door. "I'm just going to drop this off in Duncan's office first."

Joe's lips tightened into a thin line at the mention of Eric's name. "Um, actually I think I need to call Frank. Do you mind if I borrow your phone?"

"Not at all." She paused at the door. "I guess I'll see you later, then?"

"Yeah, definitely."

"Have a great day, Joe. And thanks again for your help this morning. I don't know what I would have done without you. Oh...would you mind shutting my office door when you leave?"

"Not a problem. And Emily?"

"Yes?" She looked at him with her large green eyes and suddenly he couldn't seem to remember his name.

"Um, be careful out there, okay? Call me if you need anything."

She gave him a huge smile. "I will. Thank you."

OOOOOoooooOOOOO

"So, they didn't find any fingerprints on this thing?" Fenton held up the charmstone while Frank fiddled with his camera.

"Nope." Frank motioned for Fenton to set the crystal on the surface of the table in the police station. "Which is odd in itself, don't you think?"

"Not if you're a professional thief."

Frank looked through the lens and clicked the shutter. "Yes, but it also means that whoever got hold of it here knew not to touch it."

"So, you think it was shipped here? Not brought over in person?" Fenton carefully turned the charmstone over so Frank could photograph the back of it.

"I think that would have been much easier, don't you?"

Fenton shrugged. "Depends. It would have been just as easy to shove it in a suitcase as an envelope."

"So, we need to check and see who might have visited the museum recently who'd also just been in Scotland?"

"That's a place to start, but it's probably too easy."

Fenton rubbed his chin, lost in thought, while Frank snapped several more photos.

"You know," he said, turning to his son. "I think what you need to do is figure out why the charmstone showed up where it did in the first place. I'm guessing that'll lead you right to the culprit."

Frank set the camera down on the table and carefully replaced the charmstone in an evidence bag. "Seeing it sure freaked Duncan out, that's for sure."

"Maybe that's why it's here."

Frank nodded. "Maybe. Maybe someone doesn't like him or wants this Scottish clans exhibit to tank."

"Or maybe somebody just wants him out of Bayport." Fenton patted his son on the back. "I think you need to find out more about Duncan MacLean."

OOOOOoooooOOOOO

Joe waved to his brother across the periodicals section of the Bayport University library later that afternoon. Frank nodded and strolled towards him. He dropped his backpack onto the large wooden table where Joe was seated and slid into the chair next to him.

"What have you got?"

"Not much." Joe gestured towards the yellow legal tablet he was writing on. "A little information on where Duncan is from, where he worked before, his credentials, that sort of thing." He tapped on the newspaper. "This article was interesting. Apparently, Duncan MacLean is world renowned in his knowledge of Scottish clans and their history."

"Hmm." Frank leaned over and began reading.

"I thought I'd call the university in Edinburgh and talk to some people who worked with him there. Maybe get some insight into his personality."

"You mean why he's so superstitious about all this stuff?"

"Yeah. I won't come right out and ask, but hopefully I can get someone who is willing share some personal information." Joe leaned back in his chair. "I think I'll pretend I'm a reporter doing a feature on Duncan. I'll tell whomever I speak to that they can remain anonymous if they want."

"Hoping that'll loosen some tongues?"

"Yep. What have you come up with?"

"Well," Frank began with a sigh, as he pushed the newspaper away from him, "Collig said the police in Edinburgh called him, verifying that the charmstone is in fact the same one that was stolen. At least from what it looks like in the photos we faxed. They want to see it in person, obviously."

"Is Collig sending it to them?"

"He can't. It's evidence. They'll have to send a representative here or wait until the whole mess goes to court."

"Does he think it's related to Professor Ayres murder?"

"He's not sure, but he doesn't want to take any chances."

Joe nodded. "It sure would make things easier if we knew whether the vandalism was a separate incident or all part of some screwy plot to either ruin the museum exhibit in general or Duncan specifically."

"And, why Emily?" Frank asked. "The vandalism seems to be targeting her. What could a lowly intern know that would invoke that kind of wrath from someone?"

"Don't forget the roses." Joe drummed his fingers on the table. "Those really have me worried. That seems to make it personal."

"In a sicko stalker kind of way." Frank sighed. "And, we have no motive for Professor Ayres' murder and no clues."

Joe shook his head. "This case is turning into a bigger mess every day."

Frank looked at his watch. "Too late to call Scotland now. What do you say we head home? Aunt Gertrude should be just about ready to serve dinner. And, if we're not there..."

Joe chuckled. "I don't want my dessert taken away tonight. I'm too hungry." He folded the newspapers and put them on the return cart. "Let's see if we can beat Dad."

"Last time I saw Dad, he was shooting the bull in Collig's office. He'll definitely have lost track of time."

"Dibs on his dessert," Joe said, grinning like a twelve year old as he dashed for the staircase to the main floor of the library, leaving his brother to catch up with him.