Opal Frenzy Part 2

In the last chapter, one of Ms. Peabody’s servants, Jeffrey Hunter had confessed too stealing the opal, but hidden behind a curtain, a shot rang out, and hit Mr. Hunter, and killing him instantly. Inspector Caldwell immediately ran too the hidden curtain, but only to find the gun, and no trace of the killer. Could there have been fingerprints, but the killer wore gloves too cover up the gun precision and suspicion. Inspector Caldwell then summoned Scotland Yard to block all roads leading too the highway, back roads, Bus Terminals, Airport, and too check all taxi records at the time of the crime. The hour had been 11:00 PM, and it was now 12 midnight, and Big Ben was sounding the hour. It was an overcastted night with fog forming a blanket over London with a mask of confusion in the opal connection.

Sniffing dogs had been called in too comb the area for clues, and helicopters hovered over Ms. Peabody’s mansion with spotlights in the woods, the question being, where do they lead? The footprints led to railroad tracks, but there was no sign if the footprints crossed the tracks. In between the shooting, a freight train had passed heading towards Headsworth about 2 miles north of Newcastle. It was determined, the killer was heading for the Heathrow Airport. Just then, Inspector Caldwell radioed the police to head for the airport. One clue that no one looked at was John Petersen who was one of Ms. Peabody’s servants by way of her chauffeur. The question being, why wasn’t he at the party, because he was the brains, kingpin in the hearst.  Mr. Petersen had been employed 15 years as Ms. Peabody’s chauffeur. He got tired waiting on her hand and foot, and wanted the fortune for himself. The first airline checked was British Airways Flight 72 to Sweden. The passenger list was checked for John Petersen, but no John Petersen, however, a Petersen Davis was discovered. As it turned out, the police approached Mr. Davis, and he seemed uneasy and uncomfortable, however, he drew a gun from his bag, but was apprehended by the airport security chief. Inspector Caldwell then questioned Mr. Davis on his motive, and his response was Jeffrey Hunter was in his way, and he had to be erased, and wanted the fortune to be his own and he was going to be his own partner. Then Inspector Caldwell told the police officer to take Mr. Davis away to jail to be booked. Then the opal was finally returned to the rightful owner, Ms. Peabody which she was internally grateful.

A foggy night turned into a visual sky of clarification with illumination of seeing reality, and clues a s Big Ben sounded, the opal saga as a finished chapter, and Inspector Caldwell, a victory in crime solving and following his own wit and descending thinker.