Sawyer, looking flustered, hurried Howard and Jeremy out of the van once they parked.

“The police chief called. They found someone else’s fingerprints on The Sea Monkey’s wheel!” he yelled.

“Saw, calm down,” Howard said.

“How can I be calm? Some slimeball used my precious boat for a heist!”

Howard patted his friend’s back and Sawyer relaxed.

“Well, at least I’m not a suspect anymore.”

The phone rang. Sawyer’s wife, Betsy, answered it in the bedroom.

“Hello? Oh, it’s you, Joe. Yes, Sawyer’s here. Do you want to talk to him? Okay, I’ll let him know. See you soon.”

Betsy walked into the living room, looking confused.

“Joe’s coming over this evening to chat with you.”

“What for?”

“I’m not sure, but he sounded anxious.”

Jeremy stared. “Dad, what do you think about that?”

Howard scratched his beard, but before he could say anything, the doorbell rang.

“Who could it be now?” Betsy asked.

She opened the door, and the three men listened as she greeted whoever was outside.

“Honey, those two British guys are here to visit you. Do you want me to invite them in?”

Sawyer thought for a moment, then sighed, “Yes, I’d like a word or two with them.”

Mr. Pickiner and Mr. Morris walked into the living room. Pickiner stared at his shoes, gulped, and stood in front of Sawyer.

“Thank you for allowing us into your lovely home, Mr. Sayer,” Mr. Morris said.

“The name’s Sawyer, but I’ll let it pass,” he grumbled.

Pickiner stood trembling and twisted his hat in his hands before he went on.

“P-Please accept our heartfelt apologies in accusing you in the carbuncle theft, Mr. Sawyer. We’re sorry for the confusion and stress we’ve caused in the accusation against you. You must understand that the Duchess of Essex is my precious older sister. I have always devoted myself to helping her in any way possible. When I heard about the carbuncle theft, I-I jumped at the opportunity to recover it. I now see that my eagerness has led to trouble, for not only have I blamed an innocent man, but I’ve also failed my sister!”

He started to cry while everyone watched. Betsy grabbed a box of tissues and handed it to him.

“Shhh, Mr. Pickiner, it’s okay. My husband and I forgive you, right?”

Sawyer looked blankly at Pickiner until his wife scowled at him. Then he said, “Yeah, I do, Mr. Pickiner. Everyone makes mistakes.”

“I understand,” Howard added. “We have people we care about, too. You’ll find that carbuncle. The Duchess is lucky to have you as her brother.”

Pickiner blew his nose and stopped crying. “Th-thank you all so much. I-I can be emotional sometimes.”

“I’ve noticed that.” Howard sighed.

A knock at the door broke the silence

“I’ll get it,” Jeremy said. He walked to the front, shouted something at the visitor, and a few seconds later, ran back to the den.

“That was Chief Garris! Someone shot Joe Peori a block from here!”

Editor: Lucy Cafiero