Martha Benson had just put her hair in rollers when she saw the four men run up the stairs towards her son’s bedroom.

“Howard Benson, what’s happening?” she asked.

He explained everything.

Mrs. Benson sighed, “You could’ve at least called to warn me. I don’t want people seeing me in rollers.”

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” Howard faulted, “but we may be onto something. Jay’s searching his closet right now for that UV spy light. The one that can see invisible ink.”

“He wants to clean his room?” Mrs. Benson said, “This is serious.”

“I found it!” Jeremy called from the top of the stairs. “We need two AA batteries!”

Howard opened his mouth, but Martha knew his question, “In the den cabinet.”

“Thanks, honey.” Howard kissed Martha.

“Here’s the letter.” Sawyer handed Howard the paper, and Jeremy shone the light on it. Sure enough, the invisible words appeared under the purple glow.

It read:

It’s Joe. I hid this in the wedding invitation I gave to Wendy in case something happened to me. Sawyer, if you’re reading this, I’m so sorry for the mess I got you into. The person who stole the carbuncle goes by the named Gruber. He and Emil were co-workers. 

Driving along the coast Saturday night, Emil saw the Sea Monkey leaving the dock, piloted by a stranger. Emil recognized Gruber, so I investigated. We noticed a large red gemstone in his hands. Unfortunately, he had the upper hand with a loaded gun.

To make matters worse, he’s taken my beloved Emil hostage! For Emil’s safety, he forced me to remain silent. However, I cannot stay silent any longer and must tell you the truth. I’m not sure how the gem got into the codfish. Gruber must’ve stuffed it in there. Whether I am charged, I don’t care, but I beg you, please save Emil!

“So that’s why Joe was nervous.” Sawyer said quietly.

Howard scratched his beard. “Mr. Pickiner, do you remember anyone named Gruber?”

Mr. Pickiner frowned. “Yes, I do. We attended the same boarding school, and he was in love with my sister. She didn’t feel the same way, though, and kindly rejected him, which broke his heart. I haven’t seen him since. Would he act out of malice, you reckon?”

“Maybe,” Howard mused, “but currently Emil needs help. I think we should pay a visit to the gas station.”

“We should have a cop accompany us if things get complicated,” Jeremy added.

“Okay, Sawyer, you stay here. Gruber will be suspicious if he sees you. If we don’t return in two hours, call the cops.”

The men hurried outside, while Mrs. Benson uncurled her hair and prepared cheese and crackers.

“Geez!” she moaned. Seeing her agitated, Sawyer chomped on a cracker.

After they left, Mr. Morris showed up.

“First they abandon me at the hospital and now they’ve left again. They have some nerve.”

“Tell me about it!” Mrs. Benson muttered.

Howard parked his van and they went into the police station An officer sat at the front desk. They explained everything to him.

“I see,” the cop answered after they finished. “And you suspect Mr. Gruber to be the thief?”

“Yes,” Mr. Pickiner said.

The policeman stood up, “I’ll take you to where Gruber is, then I’ll bring him in for an interrogation. Let’s get in the cruiser.”

Everyone piled into the car and drove off.

“This mystery is about to be solved.” Howard said.

*                                                                      *                                                          *

They arrived at Five Fuel. Inside, Gruber, the tall, stout man, was at the cashier’s table. Howard, Mr. Pickiner, and the policeman walked over to him.

“Hello, gentlemen.” Gruber asked, “How may I assist you?”

Howard had his hands in his jacket pockets. “We just wanna chew the fat. Did you hear about Peori’s shooting?”

Gruber looked unconcerned. “Yeah, lots of whackos out there. I hope they catch the perp.”

Mr. Pickiner, visibly shaken took a deep breath and said, “And somebody stole that carbuncle again. Do you think there’s a connection?”

“Maybe,” Gruber fiddled with a broken ice dispenser. “But I’m not sure.”

Howard sprung his trap. “Well, at least the real one is safe.”

Gruber raised his eyebrows. “How do you mean?”

“The chief made a replica and laid it out to trick anyone trying to steal it. Pretty clever.”

Gruber grimaced. “Impossible. How did he do it?”

Howard smirked, “A lot can be done with 3D printing nowadays.”

Gruber’s eyes opened wide, then he relaxed.

“I doubt they can recreate this.”

He reached into his pocket and revealed a brilliant red gemstone with a violet sapphire at its center.

“So, you stole it!” Mr. Pickiner exclaimed, his face growing redder.

“Yes, I did!” Gruber dropped his American accent.

“I’m surprised you confessed this fast,” Howard said.

“Because he has an accomplice.” The cop interrupted, then pulled out his gun.

Howard and Mr. Pickiner froze.

“Allow me to introduce my brother, John,” Gruber said.

“Nice to meet you.” Mr. Pickiner groaned.

“Now let’s move it, you two!” John waved his gun.

He and Gruber escorted the others to the car, confiscated their cell phones, and sped off.

“Dad, what’s happening?” Jeremy whispered.

“Good news, we found the real thieves; thing is that they have us too,” Howard said.

Gruber and John drove to an old shack and hustled their hostages inside. Emil was there too, with one hand handcuffed to a table.

“Emil!” Howard exclaimed. “How are you?”

“I’ve been better,” Emil said.

“None of you will worry about that any longer.” Gruber snickered.

Howard scowled, “You’re really going to murder us for a stone?”

“Well, we can’t have witnesses.”

Pickiner clenched his fists; “This is to get even with my sister, isn’t it? Because she rejected you.”

“She didn’t understand how happy we could be together!”

“And nobody makes a fool out of Grub,” John added.

“The duchess made the right decision,” Jeremy muttered.

“Shut up! I can at least make her feel the same pain I did once I get rid of this jewel and her brother!”

Howard’s mind raced to figure out a plan. He then saw old fishing rods in the corner.

“Wait,” he said, “Before we die, I have to find out how the carbuncle got into the codfish?”

Gruber grimaced, “I had to play the part of a gas station attendant, so while I filled up Sawyer’s tank after his catch, one of those fish’s heads stared up at me. I shoved it away, not realizing I held the stone in my hand. It slipped and went down the cod’s throat. Before I could retrieve it, Pickiner had already arrived.”

“Gruber, listen to me.” Pickiner pleaded, “I can talk with the Duchess and set her up with you.”

“That’s tempting, but no. John, you kill them, and I’ll meet you at the airport.”

With a final sneer, Gruber left. Without anyone noticing, Howard had placed a pole behind his back.

As John raised the pistol, the fisherman pointed it at him, pressed a button, and the telescope rod activated. It pushed the heavy end right between John’s eyes.

John rolled backwards and dropped the weapon. Together, Howard and Jeremy tackled him to the ground.

“I always loved those telescopic rods.” Howard said.

Mr. Pickiner used a toothpick to free Emil, then restrained John.

“We must get to the airport!” He said.

“Emil, you and Mr. Pickiner call the cops and guard this guy until they arrive. Let’s go, Jeremy!”

“Wait, Dad!” Jeremy said; “We don’t have a car!”

Howard ran out into the street and flagged down the first car and it turned out to be Wendy.

“What’s going on?” She said.

Howard fumbled with his seatbelt. “No time to explain! Go to the airport!”

As the plane started down the runway, Wendy’s car blocked its path.

“You’re through, Gruber!” Howard yelled out of the window.

Gruber ran across the field with Jeremy and Howard in pursuit. Though Gruber was fast, Sawyer was younger and caught up to him, knocking him out. Mr. Morris was also there to arrest him and collect the gem from his pocket.

“I’ve been waiting to do that for a week!” Sawyer laughed.

*                                                                      *                                                          *

That evening, everyone met up at the station; Gruber and John were interrogated by Morris.

Chief Garris mopped his brow. “Howard Benson, you took a huge risk with this case. I don’t want to lose the best fishmongers in town because they decided to play Sherlock Holmes.”

Howard snorted, “We know, Chief but when a friend is in danger, I have to help.”

Garris smirked, “Understandable, but next time don’t rush into things, okay?”

“Yes, sir!” Jeremy said while he rubbed his ear. Both he and Howard were given stern lectures from Martha after she’d found out.

Morris entered the lobby.

“It’s official, Gruber and John confessed to the theft. Along with the kidnapping and attempted murder charges, that should give them at least twenty years behind bars.”

“That’s a relief!” Emil declared.

“I still don’t know how they pulled it off,” Pickiner said.

“It’s like this,” Howard explained, “When Gruber found out about the Duchess visiting New York City, he and John traveled here by yacht. At the repair shop, he saw someone had fixed The Sea Monkey, so they sailed it and took the carbuncle.”

“And since John looks like Sawyer and used his boat, he became the prime suspect,” Morris said.

“Unfortunately, Joe and I discovered them,” Emil added, “John hid in the boat while Gruber held me prisoner so Joe wouldn’t talk.”

Jeremy received a text from Wendy and grinned after reading it.

“Great news! Wendy says Joe’s woken up! He’s doing much better now!”

Emil’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank goodness! I need to see him!”

All looked expectantly at Chief Garris, who shrugged and said, “I don’t see why not.”

As the group left, Mr. Pickiner answered a call from his sister.

“Hello Sophie! I’ll put you on speaker and introduce you to everyone!” He said.

*                                                                      *                                                          *

Three Months Later

“Okay, one last picture!” Mrs. Benson said.

Emil sighed, “We’ve taken hundreds today.”

“I’m not complaining,” Joe said.

Emil beamed and kissed his husband. The reception hall was abuzz with guests and fresh seafood. Joe and Emil sat around the Bensons, Pickiner, Morris, Wendy, Sawyer, and a lady in a blue dress.

“Mr. Pickiner, you didn’t have to go all out for our wedding,” Emil said.

“It’s the least I could do,” Pickiner admitted. “I’m happy to see you two together.”

“And don’t forget to repay me when you left me at the hospital,” Morris said, already tipsy.

“I haven’t forgotten.”

“You’ve got a dedicated brother, Your Majesty,” Sawyer whispered to the lady wearing a red jewel.

“Shhh, let’s not upstage the genuine stars.” The Duchess said, “Mrs. Benson, you’ve got to give me the recipe for this bouillabaisse!”

“You flatter me! It’s Julia Child’s.” Martha said.

“I can’t thank you all enough for saving my husband,” Joe said.

“And for recovering the gem and my precious Picky.” Duchess Sophie said.

Mr. Pickiner blushed.

“It was our pleasure to help you,” Jeremy said.

Howard relaxed into his chair, “And the next case we’ll….”

Before he could finish, Martha stuffed a bread roll in his mouth.

“You’ll stick to fish if you know what’s good for you.” She said.

Howard nodded in agreement because he knew she meant business.

Editor: Lucy Cafiero