“That’s who was banging on the door at night,” says Ceepak. “Other members of Mr. Ryan’s crime ring. He told them he had to abandon the stash they had hired him to evaluate. They came here attempting to retrieve it. Most likely, this is from that string of robberies the FBI is investigating in Philadelphia.”
“The YACS?”
“Roger that.”
Geeze-o man. “They could’ve busted in and killed Connie!”
Ceepak nods. “Or Becca. When she came up with her flashlight and scared them off. Our friend was extremely lucky.”
“But, who stole Connie’s ring? You think one of the thugs casing the motel saw her flashing it around the pool, decided to steal it instead of picking up the drop bag?”
“It’s a possibility, Danny. We need to ask the DePinna women a few more questions. Try to determine if they noticed an unknown individual or individuals lurking around the motel this week.”
We head out the door.
That’s when Becca gets lucky again.
“I found it!” she shouts. She’s kneeling near the edge of the pool, her arm in the water, burrowing into one of the overflow drains. “I found it!”
Mrs. DePinna and her three daughters are up out of their lounge chairs. The kids swarm over, too.
When Becca’s hand comes out of the water, Ceepak and I are both nearly blinded by a laser-like glint -- even though we’re still up on the second floor, leaning against the railing.
“This is the missing ring, right?” we hear Becca say to Mrs. DePinna.
“Yes!”
Connie grabs it. Slides it onto her finger.
“It must’ve slipped off this morning when I went swimming!”
Possible. The girl slathers on a lot of sun tail oil.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Connie hugs Becca.
“You’re welcome.”
“I suppose I owe you an apology,” says Mrs. DePinna.
“That’s okay. The ring has tremendous sentimental value. Everybody got emotional. I understand.”
“I’m tearing up that letter to the BBB!”
“Really?”
“Of course! This motel is marvelous. You’re marvelous. Who is your manager? I’d like to write a letter of commendation.”
“You don’t have to do that….”
“I insist!” says Mrs. DePinna, who now sounds like she wants to adopt Becca. “And, if there is every anything you need….”
“Well,” says Becca, “since you mentioned it….”
“What?”
“No. It’s not your problem.”
“What?”
“Well, somebody goofed and double booked your rooms. The O’Malley family is on their way…coming down from Metuchen….”
“But we’re here for another week….”
“I know. Like I said, it’s my problem. However, I could get you guys rooms over at the Sea Breeze.”
“Really?” says Donna, sounding impressed. “The Sea Breeze is a four-diamond resort.”
“I know. But my friend Eric is the manager and he owes me a favor and says he has all the rooms you guys need. He’ll even match the rate you’re paying here.”
“For a four-diamond resort?” says Mrs. DePinna.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, seeing how you helped us out….”
“Great!” Becca gushes. “The O’Malley’s will be here in like three hours. I’ll help you guys with your bags.”
“Does the Sea Breeze have a safe?” asks Connie.
Becca nods. “A huge one. Right behind the front desk.”
“Awesome!”
The DePinnas scurry away from the pool.
When they do, I can see the bright blue wad of a swimming diaper nestled in the net of Becca’s pool cleaning pole. She wants everybody to think she found the ring when she went diaper fishing.
I, however, have a different theory.
Ceepak takes the sack of jewelry back to headquarters. The FBI will probably give us both a medal.
With Ceepak’s permission, I hang at the motel. Make sure the DePinna Family Reunion packs up and takes its show over to the Sea Breeze, which is huge and has security guards who know how to handle unruly conventioneers who’ve had one too many umbrella drinks. They can probably handle the DePinnas, too.
When they’re all gone, and Becca’s looking semi-human again, I bop down Beach Lane to this veggie place to pick up a couple fruit smoothies and a freshly sliced organic cucumber.
“Thanks, Danny Boy,” Becca says, lying back on a poolside recliner, putting two cucumber slices over her eyes. Her whole body relaxes. “They’re gone. They’re really, really gone.”
She sips her smoothie through a straw.
“So,” I ask, “where are the O’Malleys? Stuck in traffic?”
“Oh. I forgot. They called while you were gone. Cancelled.”
“Uh-huh,” I say. “Too bad.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m glad you gave it back.”
Becca peels a cucumber slice off one eye.
“What?”
“The Galuppi diamond. You tossed the ring into the pool so you could be a hero. Ask the DePinnas to leave.”
“Says who?”
“Me. You snatched the ring off Connie’s bedside table this morning when you were hauling around the fresh linens. You used your passkey. Went in. Found the ring.”
“Prove it.”
I shrug. “I don’t have to. I figure people lose things in motels all the time. When you find them, you return them. Right?”
“Always.”
“It’s like the motel proprietor’s code or something.”
“Yeah.” Becca sits up. “Are you going to tell Ceepak? You know he won’t lie or steal or tolerate people who do.”
I smile. “That’s his code. I’ve got my own.”
“Really?”
“It’s a little more loosey-goosey. And includes this one clause that overrides all the others.”
“What?”
“Friends are family.”
Becca grins. “Does that mean we have to start screaming at each other?”
“Nah. We’ll leave that to the DePinnas.”
Like I said, some guys have very rigid codes they live by.
Other guys are more like trees.
They know when to bend a little.
###
Chris Grabenstein
Chris Grabenstein’s first John Ceepak Jersey Shore Mystery TILT A WHIRL won the Anthony Award for Best First Mystery and was followed by MAD MOUSE, WHACK A MOLE, HELL HOLE, MIND SCRAMBLER, ROLLING THUNDER and, in 2012, FUN HOUSE.
RING TOSS, the first John Ceepak short story, first appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine in June 2010.
Chris’s Haunted Mystery series for middle grades readers (THE CROSSROADS, THE HANGING HILL, THE SMOKY CORRIDOR, and THE BLACK HEART CRYPT) have won Agatha and Anthony Awards.
His middle grades caper series, RILEY MACK AND THE OTHER KNOWN TROUBLEMAKERS will debut in 2012 from HarperCollins. Also look for his new book from Random House in 2012: ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO’S LIBRARY.
Chris’s dog Fred has better credits: Fred starred on Broadway in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG.
You can visit Chris on the web at www.ChrisGrabenstein.com and e-mail him at [email protected].
RING TOSS A John Ceepak Mystery Short (The John Ceepak Mysteries) Page 4