“Ridiculous! Sawyer wouldn’t steal!” Martha Benson declared. She slammed down a spoonful of mashed potatoes she was serving onto Jeremy’s plate.

“We said the same, but this Pickiner guy won’t listen.” Jeremy wiped a glob of potato off his shirt.

“Why go through that for a fancy rock? He thinks that wedding rings are an extravagance.”

Howard nodded. “We promised to clear his name, but how? We know the thief used The Sea Monkey.”

“Isn’t it supposed to be at the repair shop?” Martha asked.

“Yeah.”

“Did someone borrow it for a heist?” she asked.

“That might be a possibility. I should visit him tomorrow.” Jeremy announced.

“Hold on, Holmes and Watson,” Martha interrupted. “Accusing people won’t solve anything – it’ll just lose us friends.”

Both men looked at each other until the former answered, “You’re right, Ma; we’ll be like Mr. Pickiner.”

Howard thought for a moment. “I’ll be careful with my words.”

*                                                                  *                                                                            *

The next morning, while Jeremy handled the family store, Howard arrived at the repair shop where The Sea Monkey was being fixed. The owner and repairman, Peter Ward, greeted Howard with a greasy handshake.

“Sorry, Howie, I finished working on a motor.” He wiped his hands.

“Hear anything about the carbuncle case?” Howard asked. A man dropped a tool in the background.

Peter nodded. “It’s all anyone talks about! You met the two British guys who accused him?”

Howard bitterly laughed. “I did, and the Pickiner guy is a pain. How are Sawyer’s boats doing?”

Peter thought. “Scallop Shores needs more fixing. If you’re here to look at The Sea Monkey, the police took it for evidence.”

“Did it still need work?” Howard prodded.

Peter frowned. “No, Joe, finished the repairs Saturday night. I closed the shop on Sunday, and on Monday, I told him to text that it was ready.”

He called into the back room, “Hey, Joe! Did you contact Mr. Winchell?”

Joe, stout and mustached, nodded. “No answer, so I left a message.” He looked away.

“Sawyer leaves his phone when fishing.” Howard explained. “He was on Quagmire Queen all Monday.”

Peter scratched his chin. “I see. Well, is there anything else?”

Howard shook his head. “No, that’s all. I need to go help Jey now.”

“Okay, tell Mr. Winchell good luck.”

Howard smiled. “I will.”

As he left, Howard observed Joe at work.

Joe moved with a restless energy, his hands fidgeting constantly. It was as if he were anxious to be somewhere else.

“Hey Joe, did you hear about the carbuncle in the codfish?”

“Yeah. Very mysterious,” he stuttered.

“It is.” Howard mused, walking away.

“Hey Joe,” Peter yelled, “Love and Locket Jewelers just left you a message!”

“I’ll call them later!” Joe blurted.

Howard stared at Joe and left.

*                                                                         *                                                                    *

When he returned, Howard found Jeremy slumped at the counter, arms limp at his sides. Exhaustion written all over his face from cleaning fish and handling customers.

Jeremy rubbed his temples. “So many people asked about the gemstone.”

Howard sighed. “Sorry I didn’t come sooner, Jey.”

“No problem, Dad; did you find any clues at Mr. Ward’s?”

“Well, I have a hunch, but let’s not jump to conclusions. Joe might be a suspect.”

“What makes you think that?”

“When I talked to Peter, Joe got antsy when I mentioned the carbuncle. He said he texted Sawyer that the boat’s fixed, Love and Locket Jewelers called him, and he’s a dead ringer for Sawyer.”

Jeremy pulled out his cell phone and called Sawyer.

“How are you holding up?” he asked when Sawyer answered.

“I convinced my wife not to pummel those two British men. I don’t blame her, though.”

“We’re wondering if you got a text from Peter about The Sea Monkey?” Jey asked.

“No, I haven’t.”

There was silence. The only noise in the room was the ceiling fan blades whirring.

“Thanks, Saw, we’ll talk later.”

“Okay, be careful.”

Jeremy hung up and turned to his father. “You might be onto something, Dad. After I rest a bit, let’s pay the jeweler a visit.”

Editor: Lucy Cafiero