Chapter 12: The Missing Ruby
William Murdoch sat at his desk in the Toronto police station, reviewing reports on his tablet. Technology had definitely made detective work easier, but he still missed some of the old-fashioned investigation methods. The chime of an incoming video call broke his focus, and Julia's face appeared on the screen.
"Hey, William, how're you holding up?" she asked with a warm smile.
"I'm all right, Julia. I'm working on a case involving the theft of a rare ruby from the Royal Ontario Museum. It's turning out to be more complicated than we expected."
"I heard about that. It's the famous 'Star of Mandalay,' right? I saw an article online. There's a lot of buzz suggesting it might be tied to some international crime ring."
"That's the one. Everything points to a really well-organized job, but we're missing a crucial piece of evidence. The main hall security camera was switched off right before the theft."
"Sounds like an inside job. Maybe check the employees who had access to the system?" Julia suggested, furrowing her brow.
"We're on it. We've got a few leads, but I'll be honest, this is one of the toughest cases I've tackled. Sometimes I really wish I had your knack for reading people."
"Remember when we talked about museum security a while back? It could be useful to look more closely at their alarm and surveillance systems. Or consult a cybersecurity expert."
"You're right. We're combing through the system logs, but whoever did this covered their tracks really well. I'm thinking we need a digital forensics specialist."
Julia paused before speaking more softly. "William, I miss you."
"I miss you too, Julia. Each day without you and Susannah feels endless."
"She was asking about you earlier. This morning she drew a picture of the three of us and said Daddy always catches the bad guys. I told her you were busy, but we'll be together again soon."
"How's our little explorer doing?"
"She's got more energy than ever, always hunting for new things to discover. Just the other day, she found a tiny lizard in the yard and named it 'Detective Greenie,'" Julia said with a quiet laugh.
"I wish I could have been there to see it."
"Just be careful, okay? This case sounds dangerous."
"I'm always careful. You and Susannah take care too."
"We will. Call me anytime, day or night, if you need anything," Julia added. "I'm always here."
"I know. Your support means so much. Sometimes it feels like you're right here beside me, even though we're thousands of kilometres apart," he said quietly. "Your advice and instincts still help me every day."
"That's because we're a team, William," Julia replied with a small smile. "No matter where we are."
After the call ended, William felt a surge of determination. He had to solve this case for the museum's sake. Technology might help, but at the end of the day, his instincts and experience were what he trusted most to uncover the truth.