The Diva Wore Diamonds by Mark Schweizer

exit and head off in the same direction as Russ.
    “ I expect he is a snake,” said Cynthia, having come back in from the kitchen and hearing Wormy’s declaration. She pulled a chair up to our table and sat. “But what’s a capon?”
    “ A rooster, I think,” I said.
    “ Now, tell me about those diamonds.”
    “ They’re real,” I said, “and worth a small fortune. The interesting thing is this.”
    Nancy and Dave stopped eating in mid-mouthful and looked at me in anticipation.
    “ You all know,” I started, “that there are all kinds of gem mines up here in these mountains. The most valuable gems that come out of them are rubies and emeralds, but there’s also amethyst, citrine, topaz, garnets—a whole lot of stuff.”
    “ How about diamonds?” asked Pete.
    “ According to the geologists, there should be, but the only diamonds that have been found in North Carolina are now in a museum in Charlotte. Thirteen of them. No one knows exactly where they came from, but people have been trying to find out for over a century.”
    “ You’re kidding? Thirteen?” said Pete.
    “ Coincidence?” asked Nancy.
    “ I hardly think so,” said Cynthia. She looked thoughtful for a moment. “So, other than under St. Barnabas, the only other place in North Carolina that might have diamonds is up on Quail Ridge.”
    “ Or so says the Rev. Simon Faulks,” I said.

    •••

    At 3:30 in the afternoon, the crowd behind the church was already starting to gather. Bible Bazaar 31 A.D. was gearing up for the second day of revelry. I met Meg in front of the tent of Issachar. I hadn’t donned my centurion outfit yet, but I still had an hour or so before I needed to start terrorizing the children.
    “ I talked to Pauli Girl,” said Meg. “There’s definitely something going on, but she won’t say what. All that she would say was that she wasn’t ever going back to Afterglow.”
    “ You think she’s being sexually harassed?” I asked.
    “ Or worse. She’s not even seventeen yet. What if it’s one of the adults?”
    “ That’s what Ardine thinks.”
    Meg looked over toward the shops. “There’re only two sets of adults involved with the youth group. Russ and Brianna Stafford and Gerry and Wilma Flemming. Could be one of the older boys, I suppose.”
    “ Ardine says that Pauli Girl wouldn’t have a problem with any of the boys.”
    “ Well, tread lightly, my dear,” Meg said.
    “ Could you talk to a few of the other girls in the group? On the sly?”
    “ I can try.”

    •••

    Ardine brought Moosey to the church since she’d volunteered to work in the bead tent. Bud tagged along as well. I spotted him walking toward the animals.
    “ Bud!”
    He turned to me, and a smile lit his face. “Hi, Chief. You need a wine recommendation?”
    “ I can always use some advice,” I said with a grin, “but let me ask you something first.” I lowered my voice and my smile faded. “Did Pauli Girl say anything to you about the youth group?”
    Bud shook his head, then looked puzzled. “No, but she’s been awful quiet for the past week or so.”
    I scratched my chin and decided to change the subject. “Well, how about a delicious red wine for Saturday night? Meg’s fixing a pork roast with garlic and rosemary. Roast potatoes, maybe some homemade applesauce.”
    Bud closed his eyes and thought for a moment. “I know just the thing,” he said finally. “But it’ll cost you. It’s about sixteen bucks.”
    “ I can just about swing that,” I said.
    “ It’s called The Tillerman from Hook & Ladder, a California winery. Vintage 2003. It’s a mixture dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, but also has Cabernet Franc and a jolt of Sangiovese. It’s a soft, easy-going wine, but the Sangiovese grape adds a spicy element that sort of enables it to fit just right with rosemary-infused pork.”
    I had pulled out my pad and jotted all this down while he was talking. It was always good to have a pad handy when Bud was