An hour later, all five people were at the police station, talking over one another.

“He is a thief!” the thin man exclaimed.

“I swear on my life, I’m not!” Sawyer yelled.

“Sawyer’s an honest guy; he’d never steal!” Jeremy said.

“The evidence says otherwise,” the tall person said.

“A gemstone falling out of a codfish’s stomach? That’s not proof in my book!” Howard huffed.

Police Chief Garris wiped his brow with a napkin. “Okay, that’s enough! Fellas, please calm down. Let’s start from the beginning.”

He pointed to the thin guy, “So, you say that Sawyer here stole the gem, Mr…”

“Preston Pickiner, I am the brother of the Duchess of Essex,” he pointed at Sawyer. “I’m certain he robbed my sister’s Crown Carbuncle.”

Chief Garris looked puzzled. “My cousin had that once. But how do you steal a skin infection?”

Pickiner pinched his brow. “A carbuncle is a polished, red gemstone. This one is special because it has a small violet sapphire in the center. Our family has treasured it for generations.”

“Relate this to the present,” Garris said.

“I am Winston Morris, private investigator. Recently, the duchess traveled to New York City and brought the jewel along. However, someone stole it from her hotel suite in the morning while she shopped.”

“When we reviewed the security cameras, we saw a janitor in a black sweatshirt leave the room. It then showed him hailing a taxi. The driver said he had dropped the man at the marina. Several people told us he had arrived from Nantucket on a fishing vessel named The Sea Monkey.”

Sawyer gasped. “Someone stole my boat?”

“Please, let him finish,” the Chief whispered.

“We tracked the boat to this dock and found its owner, Sawyer Winchell, had discovered a jewel in his daily catch. He also matches the hotel janitor’s height and appearance. We suspect he’s the culprit.”

Howard rolled his eyes. “That’s not evidence, it’s just speculation. There are hundreds of boats named Sea Monkey along the East Coast.”

“So,” Pickiner snapped, “how did the gem come into his possession?”

“I told you,” Sawyer said, “I found it inside that cod’s stomach! Maybe the real thief dropped it overboard. Besides, if I had stolen it, why would I be showing it off to everyone?”

Pickiner’s eyebrows rose, and the only sound in the room was the fluorescent lights ticking.

Chief Garris sighed. “I’ll ask the Manhattan investigators to send us footage of the theft, then we can get a clearer picture.”

***

They emailed the footage to the headquarters’ computer, and everyone saw the stranger enter and exit the room.

Howard scratched his neck. “He looks like Sawyer.”

“Hey!” Sawyer cried.

“B-but that doesn’t mean it’s him!”

Chief Garris stood up. “We’ll let Mr. Winchell go free for now until we collect more information, but he can’t leave town. Meanwhile, the department will keep the gem and the Sea Monkey as evidence. Benson, do you still have the codfish’s remains?”

“Yes, but they reek.”

“Understood. Mr. Pickiner and Morris, I’ll put you up at the Mermaid Motel.”

Pickiner huffed, “Fine, but I hope justice arrives soon!” His beady eyes glared at Sawyer. He turned and left the office.

Winston Morris sighed, “My apologies; he’s loyal to his family, and anything that happens to them makes him difficult.”

“We noticed,” Jeremy snorted.

Howard clenched his jaw. “Well, let him know that we’re loyal to Sawyer. He helps us every day at our fish shop. The same guy who’s been my best friend since middle school. He was there when my father died and played matchmaker for my wife and me. This guy drove through a blizzard to help deliver our boy and taught him how to drive a boat. He’s stood by us through thick and thin; now it’s our turn!”

Jeremy nodded in agreement. Tears filled Sawyer’s eyes.

Mr. Morris gave a small smile. “I’ll let him know.”

***

The three dejected fishmongers dropped Sawyer off at home. “How am I going to tell my wife she’s got a prisoner for a husband?” he asked.

“Don’t act like that!” Howard said, “You won’t go to jail. Not if we have anything to say about it!”

“You’d help me, a suspect in a jewel heist?”

“No!” Jeremy said. “We’re helping our best friend.”

Sawyer grinned. “Thanks, guys.”

He stepped out of the truck and waved at the two driving away.

“Okay, Jay, what’s our next move?” Howard asked.

Jeremy closed his eyes and thought for a minute. “I’m not sure, but we’ll think of something.”

“I hope so; Sawyer’s counting on us.”

Editor: Lucy Cafiero