MINUTE MYSTERY

Flash Fiction for the Mystery Lover in a Hurry
June 2007: SUMMER HEAT

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SUNKEN TREASURE
By Jack Hillman

"They're gone and it's all her fault, I tell you."

Assistant Curator Harold Jones paced the floor. "I told them the security system wasn't good enough. I've worked here for most of my life and I know." He waved a spindly finger in the policeman’s face. "I told them this would happen."

"Calm down, Mr. Jones," Detective Harmon said. "Just tell us what happened."

Jones exhaled a deep breath in an effort to remain calm. "I was working in my office when the alarm went off. I ran out into the museum, and followed the guard to this room. No one was on this floor except the guard and myself. And the thief, of course. When I entered the exhibit room, the guard was examining the open display case." Jones started pacing again. "There have been so many problems lately. It was just a matter of time until something like this occurred."

"Okay, Mr. Jones. Go back to your office for now. We'll stop in later if we have any more questions." Harmon motioned for one of the officers to lead Jones out of the area.

Jones accompanied him down the hallway, muttering to himself.

Harmon turned back to the crime scene. The larger display cases were lined with items dredged up from sunken ships: bits of broken pottery, silverware corroded by years of immersion in seawater, silver and gold coins from centuries past. Along the far side wall of the room was a huge fish tank, decorated with plaster sunken ships and rubber sharks that moved in the currents created by the pumps. A few tropical fish drifted through the tank, unconcerned with the excitement outside their world.

In the center of the room, a large pedestal resembling a throne bore a glass case. Inside was a display meant to simulate the crown jewels of Spain, which had financed Christopher Columbus' trip, and pirate plunder from two hundred years later. Missing from the priceless display was a double handful of loose diamonds that had been artfully scattered across the dark velvet.

The museum curator stood next to the display with a representative from the St. Francis Gallery, who had been kind enough to loan the antique necklace and tiara for display along with the loose diamonds.

"The insurance company will cover the loss, although the diamonds themselves are irreplaceable," Susan Wagner was saying to the St. Francis representative. "As soon as the police finish their work, we will replace the balance of the display and begin the paperwork for your claim."

They shook hands and he turned away, headed for the stairs with a police escort following. "Found anything yet, Detective?" Wagner asked.

"Nothing yet. We've questioned everyone who was in the building, and are searching everyone as they leave. We've begun a complete search of the premises, but I have a feeling nothing will turn up. This seems to have been a well planned operation."

"One disaster after another," Wagner said, more to herself than to Harmon.

"What do you mean?" Harmon asked.

"I meant all the problems I've had since taking over as curator. Missing inventory, funding cuts, now this. . . I'm wondering if I shouldn't just resign. And why steal the loose diamonds, but leave a tiara and necklace worth three times as much?"

"They could have been interrupted before they managed to unfasten the larger pieces from the display. The delay you placed on the alarm may have surprised the thief. Don’t know how they got the stones out of the building."

Wagner stood for a moment, staring into the fish tank. The slow movements of waving plants along the bottom seemed to help her think. "So your job is really two fold: find the diamonds and prove who committed the crime."

"Exactly," Harmon replied with a shrug.

Wagner gazed at the tank a few moments longer, then tapped the side of the glass with a manicured fingernail. "I have an idea."

* * *

Two hours after closing, the museum was dark. From the shadows behind a display case a figure rose, moving toward the fish tank carrying a large device and a coil of plastic hose. Removing the screen from atop the tank, the figure placed the end of the hose into the water, pushing it down to the gravel at the bottom. With a quiet hum, the device sucked up the top inch of rock as the figure moved the nozzle back and forth. Removing the hose, the siphoned water collected in an attached bucket was carefully poured back into the tank. The water level, an inch lower courtesy of missing gravel, was restored from a second bucket hidden under a display case.

Suddenly, the lights flared on. Harold Jones stood blinking in the glare. Harmon and Wagner watched from the entrance.

"She made me do it," Jones blurted. "If it wasn’t for her, I would be curator of this museum. I worked hard for the job, and I deserved it. Not some young student barely out of training."

"You’re under arrest, Mr. Jones," Harmon said, taking the suction unit and handing Jones to a uniformed officer. "Cuff him."

As officer and captive left the exhibit room, Harmon turned to Wagner. "I understand how you figured Jones for the thief, with all the problems he's caused since you started. But how did you know the diamonds were in the tank?"

Wagner laughed. "Cut diamonds disappear in clear water, Detective. They have the same reflective index as the liquid surrounding them if it’s clean, pure H2O. But the water in this tank isn't perfectly clear, with fish leaving bits of food and what-not in the water. I saw the diamonds when I was standing next to the tank, thinking about what to do. But I realized it wasn't enough to get them back. I had to wait for Jones to try and recover them, prove he took them in the first place. I wanted to clear my name from the recent ring of disasters."

Harmon laughed as well. "Good job. Anytime you want a position as a detective, you have my recommendation."

"This was an easy one to solve, Detective." Wagner smiled. "After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend."

THE END

Jack Hillman has mystery stories at Amazon Shorts and in 1000 Delights, and Dream Forge. In addition, he has written and directed four mystery plays for local theater.