The Chocolate Jewel Case: A Chocoholic Mystery by JoAnna Carl Page A

to arrive, since it’s stationed in Grand Rapids, sixty miles away. We each gave a preliminary statement, but the wet suits and ski masks had been effective. I was the only one who had seen anything else, and a bunion isn’t really an uncommon feature of a man’s foot. And, as anybody familiar with the beaches would expect,no useful tracks were likely to be found there. Running or walking across a Lake Michigan beach just leaves indefinite holes where each foot was placed. Only wet sand would show real tracks.
    The men had apparently not dropped anything as they ran across the beach. No ski masks, rubber clogs, matchbooks, sunglasses, or driver’s licenses were found.
    The most interesting thing was hearing Alex’sexplanation for having valuable jewelry hidden in his denim laundry bag. And it was valuable. I didn’t get to read the list he produced, but the state police investigator blinked several times and gave a low whistle.
    “I’ve carried millions of dollars worth of jewelry in my pockets all over the country,” Alex said defensively. “Lots of jewelers do that. I’ve never had any problem.”
    “But you weren’tcarrying just any jewelry this time.” Dick’s voice was gruff. “It was the Diamonte collection.”
    “I know! And I can’t imagine why anyone would want to steal it.”
    “Why not?” the state policeman asked.
    “It’s too well-known. Many of these pieces have been displayed in museums. And all of it is documented—photos of the jewelry have appeared in reference books. Selling it would be like trying topawn the Mona Lisa.”
    The state cop looked up from the list. “Then they’ll have to break it up.”
    Alex appeared to shrink. “God! I hope not. That would be a tragedy!”
    “Why did you have it with you, anyway?”
    “It’s a family farewell visit! Dick and Garnet’s children are coming next week. Each family member was to select a piece to keep as a memento. Then I was to take it to Christie’s in New Yorkfor sale.”
    “It was to be auctioned off?”
    Alex nodded numbly. “My niece and I had decided it should be sold. No one wore the jewelry, no one really enjoyed it. We had to keep it locked in the vault in my store. And even that had to be a secret. Garnet and Dick’s son is entering medical school. The collection would eventually benefit him and his sister. It seemed more sensible to sell it now,so that young Rick wouldn’t have to face the debt all those additional years of education might require.”
    Alex moaned again. “And now I’ve ruined that plan!”
    Garnet put her arm around her uncle. “Uncle Alex, please don’t be so upset. First, the collection belongs to you. If I get a share of the sale, it’s simply out of the goodness of your heart. Second, you told me that the collection wasinsured and that the insurance included the period of transportation.”
    “Yes, it was insured, Garnet. But not for enough. I hoped to get twice the amount of the insurance at the sale. The insurance will barely cover the loan.”
    “Loan? What loan?”
    Now I could see that Alex had tears in his eyes. “Garnet, two years ago—when business got so bad—I needed money to keep the shop going.”
    “Oh, UncleAlex!”
    “Yes, Garnet. I used the collection as collateral for a loan. Even if the insurance pays off fully, I’ll have barely enough to pay the bank.”

Chapter 8

    A lex’s confession embarrassed me. I felt sorry for Garnet and Dick. They seemed to be nice people, and it was unpleasant to think that the robbery meant a serious financial loss to them, and possibly a family splitover Alex’s actions. But learning more than I needed to know about the Gold/Garrett family finances wasn’t a large concern to me.
    My concern was getting out of there. I wanted to go home, where I wouldn’t have to keep up a brave face. It was beginning to be an effort to keep my upper lip stiff.
    Finally the cops said Joe and I could go. Which led to the most terrifying part of the