Hi everyone, Alex here. And another chapter hits the Wattpad! Hope you enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. Not sure if it is your thing, but I have a second book series going: "Troubleshooter" Slightly different genre, more thriller, more action, more violence. Check out the free Troubleshooter teaser novella stories here on Wattpad! ("Trouble at Christmas" and "Private Trouble"). If you like to read more, head over to your favorite eTailer and purchase the full length novels "Troubleshooter" and "Troublemaker". Enough promotion, on with the story!
FOR THE OCCASION, I chose a black Armani dress, serious but chic. Worn best with a one-carat white fire diamond on a stainless steel thread around the neck, it was a serious piece of understatement, just like me.
Benito picked me up with his car on Tuesday morning in Redondo around eight a.m. and we drove down to San Diego with no problems. We had a lively discussion on Mexican art and culture, stopped for Starbucks Coffee Venti and the time passed quickly.
We met with Ron at police headquarters, the first time I ever saw him in a suit and tie. Juanita was there, too. She was a little overdressed but how many times did you meet senators and secretaries of state. We shook hands all around and I introduced Benito. Juanita avoided my eyes, Ron was a little uneasy. Fowler turned up, dressed in a very old-fashioned British three-piece suit. I pulled his leg, saying that he was probably the only guy in California wearing it today. Got a weak smile.
It was only a short walk over to city hall, where the small ceremony was taking place. The sidewalk was lined with TV trucks, their dishes pointing into the sky. All the major networks and news channels plus some Mexican channels would be showing the ceremony live. The ceremony was still over 90 minutes away and they were all in the middle of preparations.
Ron flashed his credentials, our names were checked against the guest list and we were led into the hall where the event staff was in its own preparation process. The TV crews were setting up their cameras and microphones, some poor city hall employees were attempting to arrange everything but failed completely and some bored journalists were already waiting or typing away on their laptops. The official texts of the speeches had been published an hour ago.
One of the city hall minions led our little troupe into one of the back meeting rooms of the hall, where two well-dressed men, who obviously spelled government, greeted us. There was one other, in addition to Pedro Vasolar, who looked considerably more relaxed than at our last interview. Introductions were made and we all shook hands. The officials were John Carver, the representative of the Secretary of State and Franco Pineljo, attaché to the Secretary of Culture of Mexico, Pedro Vasolar's boss. All were dressed for the occasion in dark suits, decent ties and new haircuts.
John Carver made some pleasant remarks toward me, thanked me again in the name of both nations for my part in the retrieval. And then, of course, asked the inevitable. "Miss Moonstone, you asked for this meeting, the floor is yours. What is it all about?"
All eyes went on me.
"Do you have the Maximilian Jewels here?" I asked.
John Carver nodded and went over to a sideboard. A dark brown polished wooden box held 'The Max.' Carver put it on the table and held out his hand for Mr. Pineljo, who opened the box and took out five panels.
The Maximilian Set lay before us, bedded on black satin, shimmering in the light of the meeting room. We were all quiet for a moment, marveling at the beauty. Benito took a step closer and inspected them from very close.
"Miss Moonstone, your turn," Carver was encouraging me.
I looked around the group. Ron had his skeptical 'what does she know that I do not' look. Juanita was still engrossed in the jewels. Pedro Vasolar and the officials looked curiously at me and Fowler simply looked. Outside, we could hear the hall filling with people.
I started, "You know, I really, really hate doing this. You all are so proud of what you achieved," I nodded to Ron, Juanita and Fowler, "and you Mr. Carver, Mr. Pineljo are proud to return the heritage of the Mexican nation. It is indeed a great day."
"But, you know there is still one thing that is not solved and I swore to myself to try my utmost to find the killer of Phoebe Eastman."
Carver and Pineljo had blank faces. They had no clue what this was about. I stepped over to the jewels and picked up the now very famous necklace that had hung around Phoebe's neck not so very long ago.
"You see these truly beautiful pieces and you know exactly why people want to have them in their possession. They represent everything that jewels and art stands for. Value, style, representation, uniqueness. And the Maximilian Jewels represent even more—heritage, culture and history. They generate passion. A passion to steal them, a passion to trade them and a passion to kill for them."
I again looked around the group, held every pair of eyes for a second. I held the last pair of eyes for just a little longer. Those were the eyes of Mr. Pineljo. "I beg forgiveness for what I am now doing to you, Sir. I know that you came here believing that you would receive an important part of your nation's history, the very same jewels that one of Mexico's founders brought into the heritage, a link between the Native Mexico and the European Mexico, the Maximilian Set, 'The Max.'"
Mr. Pineljo nodded his head slowly, not seeing where it was leading.
"You will step out to the podium in a few minutes and you will receive the Maximilian Jewels in front of the eyes of two nations."
I took a deep breath to deliver the next line.
"And,Mr. Pineljo, you will receive a complete and utter fake."