Part 4 of 4
She hears a chuff of air and the squeak of his chair as he leans back into it. "I am exceedingly gratified that you're giving me an altruistic motive for such a criminal offense. Tampering with evidence? Theft? Falsifying official reports? Lying to all and sundry?" He pauses then adds, "I am also exceedingly affronted that you think me capable of such despicable acts. Yes, DS Bordey, I am shocked, appalled, and deeply saddened that you…"
She shoots up in her chair, gripping the arms tightly, "Yeah yeah yeah, blah blah blah, so if you didn't sell a diamond then where did the money come from?"
Now he smiles crookedly, slips a pamphlet out from the secret of his jacket and hands it to her. She can't help but register the warmth of the paper as she reads the lurid heading out loud, "Rogue Aardvark Diamond Consortium - you dig 'em, we flog 'em! Discretion guaranteed. We're facet-nated by your stones" She looks up, nonplussed, her fingertips making small circling motions on the paper as if testing a peach for ripeness.
He nods, "This business, located in the Bo District of the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, has had security problems for several years. It's difficult enough to organize and govern artisanal miners…" at her questioning look, he elucidates, "…solitary miners head-first down a man-sized hole, usually digging by hand…" she nods with a frown and he continues, "… but stones were disappearing out of the facility and no one could figure out how. Benjamin's stones were sourced from there so one night I did a bit of digging of my own." He chuckles at his bon mot and pauses to see if she appreciates his humor.
She's staring intently at him and snaps her fingers, "And?!"
He sighs with forbearance, the French aren't known for their sense of humor… except in the case of Mr. Jerry Lewis, which didn't explain anything at all to anyone but there you are. "And I contacted the RADC President with the suggestion that he check his building for aquariums."
Now she slowly blinks and says with gleeful realization, "And he found one, didn't he?"
He nods, "Then I suggested he check all inventory incorporating salt of any size and he got another hit." At her wide pleased eyes, he sits up and preens a bit, "The cafeteria manager was smuggling out smaller stones in half-empty tubs of caramel sea-salt ice cream."
She stutters, "And you did it over the internet? In one night? Without evidence or suspects?"
He takes her silence for acceptance and crosses his arms, "It's easy once you think about it."
She explodes out of her chair, eyes wild, "NO, it's NOT easy! Who thinks of stuff like that? I'm telling you… NO one! Just you. Only you. And what's this got to do with the money…?" Her eyes slowly clear as she sinks back into her seat, "Oh, I see, there was a reward, wasn't there?" He nods, looking pleased that she figured it out. She nods back, "And, of course, you wouldn't accept it… but you made a request which the Arkpark company agreed to, right?"
"Aardvark, not Arkpark, and yes, I thought it only fair. Now the Owens can keep their business and Mrs. Lightfoot won't live on charity while raising a child."
She gives a whoop, rounds the desk, and throws her arms around him. "Oh! You are without a doubt the best person I've ever worked with! Not only can you solve crime long-distance but you do the right thing to help people. No wonder I love you." Her proud smile fades as he simply looks back at her with silent reproach.
Her hands drop and she steps back quickly, "Oh, um, sorry about that, I was overcome by admiration, won't happen again." She goes back to her chair and sits, looking down at her hands twisted in her lap, "I should be used to it by now. Nothing you do should surprise me anymore, neh?"
He studies her for long moments then murmurs, "Would it really have made no difference to you if I HAD stolen a diamond?" She bites her lip then nods. "I see," he says, then adds, "But what if I'd kept the money instead of giving it away?"
She ducks her head and whispers, "It wouldn't change the way I feel."
He lowers his eyes, "Um, would it change things if I said I was tempted to keep it?" Her head comes up, disappointment dawning in her eyes. He nods, "For just a moment I dreamed of buying a house, a nice house with a view and room for… well… for you... and maybe others…"
She jerks in her seat, "Me? And others? Really? You mean it?" Somehow she's back on his side of the desk, folded up on his lap, without him seeing her move. Weird. Spooky. Nice.
He takes her in tender embrace, wuffles into her hair, "Yes, and that surprised you too, didn't it?" He pulls away just enough to look deep into her blissful eyes, "But tell me, my dear, may my next surprise be another diamond? Just for you?"
END
