The Case of the Missing Ruby Earring

Our latest bedtime stories

The Case of the Missing Earring

The Scarlet Ruby

 

My daily tasks were nearly complete as I just stepped off the school bus. I noticed the dogs were missing. Cowboy and Buck stood watch this time every day waiting on my return. As I hopped and skipped down the lane, I couldn't see our truck, and the front door was slightly a jarred. 

 I shook off the feeling of dread and entered the house. Everything seemed in place; except for the fact that Pop was not here to greet me, after all, I am only nine. Nevertheless, my first order of business, something to eat.

 I opened the refrigerator to find my lunch-able “baloney my favorite,” I spouted and spied a small glass of milk sitting beside three chocolate chip cookies wrapped up nice and neat and slightly warm to the touch.  "Mmmm, warm cookies." Placing the cookies on top of the snack-pack I filled my hands and headed to the kitchen table.

I smiled when I spotted a small heart-shaped note left just for me. “Be ( R ) back.” The happy note said I knew it was a happy note because of the smiley face left in the corner.
              
I didn’t bother to close the door when I came in so Cowboy my dog walked right in and sat down beside me.  “Don’t you worry Cowboy, Pop, will be, right back. See the note he left us?”

Still, in the seated position he hovered in anticipation. So my first tower of yumminess went to him; after all, it is hard work being a dog.  I quickly finished my snack box and got down to the business of eating my Grannies cookies, packed with pecans, and miniature morsels of chocolate joy.

Then I noticed one ruby earring was missing. Granny kept most of her childhood treasures in our memory hutch. Other people put china in theirs. Personally, I like memories better.  Either way, I could plainly see an earring missing.
           
I couldn’t believe it someone had taken the ruby earring. Jumping from my chair in a burst of energy I stood to my feet. Cowboy too sprang to his feet. “Has a stranger been in the house?” I whispered. With a turn of his head and one perched ear, he spoke not a word. His gaze was deep and thought-field. “Come on Watson, let’s get my spy case. There’s a mystery afoot.” I giggled, and Cowboy followed.

Now with my black bag in hand, I put on my white gloves, a holdover from Easter, but they will work just fine in a pinch.  I removed my green magnifying glass fully equipped with a small led light.  Carefully I opened the hutch door and examined the place that now stood bare. A traced outline from where the item sat now marked by a superficial layer of dust.  “Boy won't Granny be mad to know the hutch has dust in it.” At the thought of it, I smiled and wondered which would make her more upset.

“ I can plainly see nothing else is missing.” I bent down and picked up a teal colored thread from the hardwood floor. “A clue..” I said to my silent companion, as he seemed to nod.

“Our bandit was wearing teal, not a boy-friendly color. It seems our criminal is a woman. Hum, but why only take one earring? Why indeed?” So my search continued to the foyer, for it seems that my first clue was the front door that stood slightly a jarred.  Then I noticed the mail sitting in one of the rocking chairs on our front porch. Maybe the thief is our mail carrier?

“That’s silly," I said to myself, "Ms. Judy would never do that.” So my search continued. Soon I found a box of whatnots sitting on the backside of the house. “Watson, my good dog, bring me my tot!” again I giggled as my cow-dog wagged his whole body in glee. However, there was no time to be silly after all Grannies treasure is missing and I just found another clue.
 
I made a mental note of the items; one silver candlestick, two matching bookends and a small wine rack. “and one ruby earring still at large...” very strange.  So she ran off without her loot but managed to hold on to one small item. When I am all done with this crime, that item will be referred to as,‘Exhibit A.’

Granny’s wind chimes sounded off for my next clue for there was no wind on this cool spring day. “Come on!” I bellowed and off we ran.

I was about to solve the case of the missing ruby earring, me Peyton Palmer. Who would I find in the garden trying to escape over the garden fence? I could just see a form of someone bent low. Trying to hide I presume. But not today, “Hey you!” I yelled. As the person turned to me in a big floppy hat, to conceal her identity no less. I could see, it was...      

“Granny! What are you doing out here?”

“Well ya, silly goose, what does it look like?”

“How can you garden at a time like this, when we’ve been robbed?”

“Robbed? What are you talking about?”

“Someone has taken your ruby earring and tried to take a box of silver as well!”

Granny reached into her front jean pocket, for her phone I knew it for sure. I couldn't wait to give the police my report. I stood tall and proud waiting for her praise. As her hand came forth and fanned open, I saw it. My posture now deflated revealed the truth.

“You mean this ruby earring.” Her voice was soft, as her smile spread across her face. Her hand motioned me to her. As usual, Cowboy beat me there. “So the Pink Panther broke into our hutch of memories did he?”

“Don’t tease me, I followed all the clues, and they lead me to this very spot.”

“Well my little Inspector Clouseau grab those bulbs I just dug up for Ms. Oliver. I’m taking her a box of goodies, and you can come along.”

“Granny why is your earring in your pocket and it's Sherlock?”

“I see, Well Miss. Holmes, it’s elementary, I wanted a tablecloth in this shade of red.”

“A tablecloth, drats." Hum, I wonder what happened to the mail carrier, She left today's mail on the rocker? “Sorry, Granny can’t go with you. Mr. Watson and I have a mystery afoot.”

 

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

Such fun and adventure, searching for the thief who stole grandma's stuff. This is a cute story, Cherrie.

[Cherrie]

Being a true Miss. Marple fan I thought it would be fun to let our heroine be on the younger side of life and of course Peyton loved it.