Mac dialed a familiar phone number. "Hi Pete. Mac here. I need a favor."
"I'm not sure I like the sound of this," Pete said in a worried tone.
"Do you have your golf clubs handy?"
"You know I always do. Why?"
"Can you get to Pleasant Spring Golf Course for a 3:00 PM tee time today?"
"Pleasant Spring! That's swanky. I've always wanted to play there."
"Well, I don't know how much golf you'll get in. The golf pro is setting up a tee time with Bill Jennings. He was the guy who broke into my houseboat looking for the diamonds. We know he's looking for them and you'll be the one who has them. We'll be setting up an exchange and hopefully a confession."
"This better happen at the 18th tee. I want to at least get some golf out of this," Pete said, as Mac smiled. "Oh, and Mac, you and Jack need to know that Cook was found dead. His body was found in a ditch not too far from the Shadow Haven Motel. He had a bullet in his head."
xxx
Pete was dressed in a pink golf shirt, bright red cardigan, and red and white plaid pants, as he stood in the pro shop alongside Mac, Jack, and Erin. He was ready for golf, but this was one game that he wasn't looking forward to playing.
"Let's go over the plan one more time," Erin requested in an anxious tone, as she wrung her hands together. Mac rolled his eyes. They had discussed the plan three times already.
"Okay. You, Pete, and Jack go to the first tee and wait for Jennings. When Jennings comes, he will be angry to see another golfer and caddy there." Mac paused, as he looked over at Jack, who shot him a goofy smile. "Erin, you apologize and tell Jennings that Mr. Thornton is a new member, who insisted on playing a round of golf with him. Pete will tell him that he has a business deal that Jennings won't want to pass up. You tell him that you promised Pete that you would caddy for him, but he can have Jack, who will be in disguise," Mac explained to Erin.
"Can we talk about this disguise?" Jack asked, as he looked down in disapproval at his ghostly white legs sticking out of a pair of navy-blue shorts with a white golf shirt tucked into the waist.
"No!" Mac and Erin said simultaneously.
"This is the uniform that all staff wears. And while you can keep the sunglasses, you will have to lose that ridiculous hat," Erin said, pointing at his aviator's cap. Jack let out a disgusted sigh.
"I'm not going to give him details of the deal until the second tee. After all, I want to play some golf!" Pete continued from where Mac left off. "I'll tell him that I have his diamonds. I'll tell him that Cook and I are old acquaintances and that he told me the whole crooked scheme. I'll tell him if he wants the diamonds back, he'll have to pay me for them," Pete finished.
"A tape recorder could be hidden in Mr. Thornton's golf bag. So, when Jennings confesses to the theft and the insurance fraud and maybe even that he knocked off Cook, it will all be on tape!" Erin interrupted excitedly.
"That's the plan. Of course, Jennings knows what I look like because his fist met my face, so I will be hiding in the rain shelter at the second tee with a golf cart ready. Pete will give me a sign when we've gotten the confession, I'll come out, tie up Jennings, and drive him back to the clubhouse where we'll call the police," Mac elaborated.
"Hey, it's time for all of us to take our places," Pete said, as he looked at his watch.
xxx
Pete paced back and forth, looking around nervously. Bill Jennings should be here any minute. After all, he never missed his Friday 3:00 pm tee time. Pete looked over at Erin who was standing next to him with his golf bag on her shoulder. Erin let out a sigh. Jack stood next to Erin with his hands in his pockets.
Dressed in a navy-blue golf shirt and khaki pants, Bill Jennings strolled up to the first tee. He stopped short when he saw Pete and Jack.
"Erin! Who are these two? This is my standing tee time, and you know that I always play alone!" Jennings bellowed.
"My apologies, Mr. Jennings. This is Mr. Thornton. He's a member and he really wanted to meet you. He insisted on being scheduled with you. And this is one of our new caddies, Jack," Erin explained.
"Hiya!" Jack said to Jennings, who ignored him, as he turned towards Erin. Jack put his hand back into his pocket.
"Mr. Thornton, is it? I've been a member for ten years and I don't recall ever seeing you at Pleasant Spring before," Jennings said in a suspicious tone.
"Mr. Thornton is a new member. He was very anxious to meet you and play a round of golf with you," Erin replied.
Pete stepped forward and offered his hand to Jennings. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Jennings. I'm Pete Thornton and I'm very impressed with your establishment, The Gem Exchange. I happen to be in the same line of work as you are. I think we can do business together, if you are interested," Pete told Jennings.
Jennings shook Pete's outstretched hand. "Are you in the business of buying or selling?" Jennings asked.
"Right now, I'm selling. Something that I think you will be interested in buying," Pete replied.
Jennings furrowed his brow and smirked. This sounded interesting to him, but he wanted to be cautious. "What do you have?"
"We're losing daylight and I want to get some golf in. Why don't you tee off first? When we get to the second tee, I'll fill you in on the details," Pete replied.
"I can't say no to a game of golf!"
"Then let's play some golf!" Pete said enthusiastically.
"Jack will carry your bag, Mr. Jennings," Erin offered.
"All right. As long as he doesn't drop it," Jennings scoffed and handed his golf bag to Jack.
xxx
Pete and Jennings strolled up to the second tee, followed closely by Erin, with Jack trailing behind. So far the first hole was not challenging at all, and Pete was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to navigate the rest of the course. After all, he did promise Jennings that he would let him in on his business deal at the second tee.
Jack joined the rest of the group and dropped Jennings golf bag, with the clubs spilling on to the well-manicured Bermuda grass. "Oops!" Jack exclaimed.
"Where did you find this guy? He's the worst caddy ever!" Jennings scowled.
"I thought you preferred horrible caddies?" Erin chimed in, as Pete gave her a disapproving look.
"I believe that you and I know the same caddy, Paul Cook. I agree with Miss Holden, that he is a horrible caddy, but he is a capable diamond thief," Pete interrupted Erin.
Jennings jaw dropped as he stared at Pete. "I do know Cook. He is a caddy, but I know nothing about him being a diamond thief. Frankly, he isn't clever enough to pull off a jewel heist, besides I haven't seen him in almost six months," Jennings replied.
"I agree, Mr. Jennings, that Paul Cook is not clever enough to pull off a jewel heist. But you are", Pete accused Jennings.
"You've got the wrong person. My business is thriving. Why would I plan a diamond theft?"
"For the insurance money and then for the money you planned on getting when you sold the diamonds. That's where Cook came in. You hired him to steal the diamonds from your pawn shop. You filed the insurance claim and after the investigation was closed and you received your check, you made arrangements to retrieve the diamonds from Cook, so that you could fence them. Your scheme would double your money. But you didn't plan on Cook making a deal with me, the diamonds for a nice chunk of change. Now I have your diamonds and if you want them back, you're going to have to pay me double for them or else I'll turn you into the police."
"Okay, you've got me. But you're just as crooked as me. I'll tell the cops that you knowingly bought stolen diamonds," Jennings replied.
"If you tell the cops that I bought stolen diamonds, then I guess I'll just have to tell them that I witnessed you kill Paul Cook," Pete countered.
"There was no one around for miles when I shot Cook. You don't know what you are talking about," Jennings accused Pete, as he grabbed his golf bag off the ground and pulled out a revolver. Erin gasped as Pete's golf bag slid off her shoulder.
"Wait! I was carrying around a loaded gun this whole time? I deserve a big tip," Jack nervously joked.
Jennings marched over to Jack and yanked his sunglasses off his face, throwing them to the ground. "I thought you looked familiar. You're the idiot who won the bid on the storage unit where Cook hid my diamonds. Or I thought that's where he hid them. I found out that he crossed me when all I found was dirty, old golf balls at your friend's houseboat," Jennings exclaimed.
Jennings turned towards Pete. "Hand over the diamonds," Jennings said to Pete, as he waved his gun at him.
"I don't have them. I gave them to a friend for safe keeping. He's waiting for us at the rain shelter over there," Pete pointed to a small, square wooden building, painted bright white.
"Caddies, pick up our golf bags and let's all take a stroll over to the rain shelter," Jennings ordered.
With Jennings in the rear, Jack, Pete, and Erin plodded towards the rain shelter. Pete was hopeful that Mac had a plan to disarm Jennings. He could always count on him.