The Mystery of Stolen Diamonds by David A. Adler Read Free Book Online Page B

tall.”
    â€œHeavy.”
    â€œâ€˜No. No. He was short. Short and thin.”
    â€œHe had a mustache.”
    â€œHe was wearing an ugly green tie.”
    â€œUgly! I liked that tie. I have the same one at home.”
    The policeman held up his hands for quiet. “Did any of you see which way he went?”
    â€œI did,” one woman called out. “He almost knocked me down.” She put her hands on her hips and waited to make sure everyone was listening. “He went that way.” She pointed toward the center of the mall.
    One policeman ran to the center of the mall. The other reached into the car. He pulled out a police phone and spoke into it.
    â€œRobbery reported at Parker’s Jewelry Store, Hamilton Shopping Mall. Suspect, wearing dark suit and green tie, was last seen running toward Stage Street exit. Please send car to Stage and Fulton to help apprehend. Ten-four, central.”
    He reached into the car and replaced the phone. Then he ran toward the center of the mall.

Chapter Three
    Cam sat down on the bench. She ran her fingers through her hair. Cam had what people called bright red hair even though it was more orange than red. Eric’s hair was dark brown.
    â€œDo you think they’ll catch him?” Eric asked.
    â€œIt shouldn’t be too hard,” Cam said. “Almost everyone between here and the other end of the mall saw which way he went.”
    Eric was still feeding Howie. “Are you almost finished?” Cam asked.
    â€œAlmost.”
    â€œGood. Then we can go ask those two old women what happened inside the jewelry store.”
    Eric took the bottle out of Howie’s mouth and set it down on the bench. He held Howie against his shoulder and patted his back. Howie burped.
    â€œOkay,” Eric announced. “We’re ready.”
    Eric carried Howie, and Cam pushed the carriage. They went over to the next bench.
    â€œMy, what a cute baby,” the woman with the cane said. “Is it a boy or a girl?”
    â€œBoy.”
    The woman looked straight at Howie and asked, “Where’s your mother, little boy?”
    â€œHe doesn’t talk yet,” Eric told her.
    â€œOh.”

    â€œI’m his brother. My mother took the twins shopping for clothes. I’m watching him until they’re done.”
    â€œClothes. Well, they’re lucky they’re not shopping for jewelry.”
    â€œWhy?” Cam asked. “What happened inside the jewelry store?”
    The woman put her hand to her cheek. She shook her head slowly. “Oh, it was horrible. We were there when a man came in and pointed a gun right at Mr. Parker. ‘Diamonds,’ he said. ‘Every loose one you got.’
    â€œMr. Parker gave him a whole pile of small diamonds. You know, the kind he uses to make earrings. The man took them all. Then he made Mr. Parker lie face down on the floor.
    â€œIsn’t that right, Esther?”
    â€œYes,” the other woman said, nodding her head. “He was terribly impolite.”
    â€œThen,” the first woman went on, “he pointed his gun straight at us. He didn’t dare talk to us the way he talked to Mr. Parker. He didn’t rob us either. He just said, ‘Ladies, turn around and face the wall and you won’t get hurt.’
    â€œThere was a nice young couple in the store too. They had their baby with them, a cute little girl. I heard the man with the gun tell them to face the wall, too.
    â€œIt was horrible. We stayed that way, with our faces to the wall, until Mr. Parker told us it was safe to leave.”
    The woman stopped talking. Someone was shouting. They all turned to see where the noise was coming from.
    The policemen were coming back. There were four of them now. Handcuffed to one policeman was a tall man in a dark suit.
    â€œI didn’t do it!” the man yelled. “You’ve got the wrong man!”

    â€œWe’ll let Mr. Parker decide