Devonshire Scream (A Tea Shop Mystery #17)

“Because I was a witness.”


“Actually, a pretty good witness,” Hurley said. “Fact is, you were the one who got a good look at one of the thieves’ hands. And conjectured that it might have even been a woman.”

“A woman with a tattoo,” Zimmer said.

“Not really their hand,” Theodosia said, trying to recall exactly what she’d seen. “More like their wrist. I caught sight of a little slice of skin where the glove ended and the sleeve had ridden up.”

Zimmer looked interested. “And you saw a tattoo.”

Theodosia shook her head. “No, that’s not what I told the officer who interviewed me. I said I saw faint blue lines like a tattoo. Seems to me a tattoo is generally a recognizable object or character or letters. These were more like, well . . . crosshatches. Do you know what those are?”

Zimmer pulled out a notebook and a pen and quickly scribbled a loose grid of crosshatches. “Like this?”

“Close,” Theodosia told him. “Does that symbolism mean anything to you?”

“Not right now,” Zimmer said. “But it’s certainly an identifying mark.”

“Does the FBI keep a database of tattoos and marks?” Drayton asked.

Zimmer nodded. “We do.” He smiled. “But we prefer you not mention it to anyone.”

“I won’t.” Drayton was all for giving his full cooperation.

Theodosia drummed her fingers against the table. She’d once again been replaying the robbery scenario in her head. The car crash, the smashing of glass cases, the almost precision-like work of the robbers.

“What, ma’am?” Zimmer asked. “Is there something else you can tell us?”

“Talking with the two of you about the robbery has sort of jogged my memory,” Theodosia said.

“How so?” Hurley asked her.

“I think I just remembered something else.”

Both agents leaned forward expectantly.

Theodosia raised her right hand in a pantomime. “One of the thieves was using a small hammer. To, you know, smash open the cases. But it was a different kind of hammer. An unusual-looking hammer.”

Hurley was interested. “You mean like a tack hammer or an upholstery hammer?”

“Not exactly,” Theodosia said. “I know what those hammers look like and this one was different. More like a silver hammer with a jagged clawlike thing on one end.” She wrinkled her nose. “I wish I could describe it better, but I just caught a quick flash.”

“Interesting,” Hurley said as Zimmer made more notes.

“Do you think it could be an important clue?” Drayton asked.

Zimmer snapped his notebook shut. “We prefer to call it a lead.”

“But only if it leads somewhere, right?” Theodosia asked.

Both men remained silent.

“I’m curious,” Theodosia said. “Have you found out any more about the SUV that was used in the robbery? The one that was stolen and then dumped?”

“We’ve since located the owner,” Zimmer said.

“Someone local?” Theodosia asked.

Zimmer shook his head. “No, the owner lives in Savannah. He believes it was probably stolen out of his garage on Saturday night.”

“So the thieves are from Savannah?”

“Not necessarily,” Zimmer said. “And we still don’t have a bead on the motorcycle. Though we have located a couple of witnesses who saw it tear down Market Street. Leading the way for the SUV.”

When Zimmer said motorcycle, Theodosia twitched. That’s what had been tickling at the back of her brain. Tidwell had mentioned something about a motorcycle yesterday morning, and then Haley had rushed out last night and jumped on the back of one. An interesting coincidence.

“Has the motorcycle been recovered?” Theodosia asked.

“No,” Zimmer said. “It’s still out there somewhere.”

? ? ?

And the surprises just kept on coming.

“Miss Browning,” Zimmer said, “we’d like you to take a look at some photographs.”

Theodosia smiled politely. “But they all wore masks; I never did see anyone’s face. I don’t think anybody did.”

“Just work with us on this, okay?”

“Sure.”

Hurley fingered a large brown envelope.

Drayton jumped to his feet. “Here, let me clear off this table.”

“Are the photos you’re going to show me of suspected jewel thieves?” Theodosia asked.

“Known jewel thieves,” Hurley said. “Men and women who have stolen millions, perhaps even a billion dollars’ worth of diamonds, Rolex watches, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Some were full sets by Bulgari, Cartier, and Tiffany, others were loose, precious jewels.”

“I’ll look at your photos, but I don’t think it’s going to help,” Theodosia said. She made a slightly helpless gesture. “The masks, you know.”

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