Case 32 - The Missing Jewels

Case 32 - The Missing Jewels(jpater) The break-in at the Glamorous Jewels Jewelry Store was a case that had baffled the police for almost a year. Before the case was closed, Inspector Rebella Lucas’ career was in jeopardy. Here’s how it came down.

Inspectors Harvey and Rebella Lucas came home from work and noticed someone digging in their yard. They approached the suspect with their service revolver drawn. He saw them and started running. “I will call for back backup,” said Harvey as Rebella pursued the suspect.

Inspectors J.P. and Tina Bullet along with Dowzer, the robotic police dog were on their way home when the call came in. J.P. handed Tina his police walkie-talkie. “Advise dispatch that we are enroute,” said J.P. “Dispatch, this is 5 George 31, we are responding to the call at 7189 Central Avenue, code one, priority one,” said Tina.

J.P. and Tina arrived at Lucas’ house. They got out of the car and did not see Harvey or Rebella. Dowzer started sniffing the ground. Dowzer raised his ears and started barking. Tina bent down and unhooked Dowzer’s leash. “Go find them boy,” said Tina. Dowzer took off running. “Let’s do this the easy way,” said J.P. taking out his car keys and getting back in the car.

Dowzer ran past Harvey and Rebella and caught up to the suspect. Dowzer caught the suspect by the leg and dragged him to the ground. J.P. and Tina pulled up beside Dowzer and the suspect. They got out of the car and Tina handcuffed him.

The suspect was identified as Ted Staveley. He was processed and placed in interrogation Room One. J.P. and Rebella entered the interrogation room. “Rafaella Diamonds, you’re a traitor!” shouted Ted. “Shut up you creep and tell me what you were doing before I smash your face,” said Rebella. “I see the both of you already know each other,” said J.P. “Yeah, I know this rat. He is Brandon’s getaway driver,” said Rebella. Ted and Rebella started arguing back and forth and it was getting on J.P.’s nerves. “I want both of you to shut up!” shouted J.P. They stopped arguing and name calling. “That’s better, now what were you doing on Rebella’s property?” asked J.P. “I was trying to find the jewels that she took from Glamorous Jewels,” said Ted. “That was almost a year ago and I did not rob the place you, rat,” said Rebella angrily. They started arguing back and forth again. J.P. sighed as he was getting tired of the nonsense. “One more time, both of you shut up!” shouted J.P. They stopped arguing. “One more outburst, Ted you will face additional charges and Rebella, you will be suspended, do you understand?” asked J.P. They both nodded their heads.

J.P. had inspector Susie Young pull the case file on the Glamorous Jewels Robbery. He started reading the case file. “It says the prime suspect in the case was Rafaella Diamonds, but she was cleared based on a statement by Sergeant Colt Howard that Rafaella Diamonds was on a date with him at the time of the robbery,” said J.P.

Rebella hung her head and tears started coming to her eyes. “What is wrong?” asked Commanding Officer Rachel McCabe. “I was not with Colt when the robbery happened,” said Rebella. “Are you telling me that Sergeant Howard falsified a report?” asked Rachel. “Yes ma’am,” said Rebella. “If you were not with Colt where were you?” asked J.P “I was packing to move from my upstate penthouse because I could not afford the rent anymore,” said Rebella. J.P. and Rachel looked at each other. “There is more. I was in Glamorous Jewels the day of the robbery. I was bored and trying to think of something to do, so I decided to go there and look around. I don’t remember what time it was but the surveillance tape would have the exact time,” said Rebella. The story sounded fishy to Rachel. “Let me get this straight. You had to move from your penthouse because you could not afford rent, but went to an expensive jewelry store to look around,” said Rachel. “Yes,” said Rebella. J.P. continued reading the file. “There is no mention of a surveillance tape being viewed or placed into evidence,” said J.P. “I wonder what happened to the surveillance tape,” said Rachel. “I don’t know but I am fixing to call the 476th and have Colt come in and answer some questions,” said J.P.

Colt Howard came into the detective’s office. “Captain Baldwin said you needed to ask me some questions,” said Colt. J.P. got up out of his chair. As they were walking down the hall, Rebella was coming up the hall from the restroom. “Hi Rafaella,” said Colt. “Don’t hi me you creep. Because of you, I have been assigned to dispatch until further notice,” said Rebella walking off.

Tina was manning dispatch until Rebella got back from using the restroom. She could see hate, anger, and hurt in Rebella’s eyes. “What’s wrong?” asked Tina as she was getting up, so Rebella could sit down. “I just saw my ex-husband and I don’t want to talk about it,” said Rebella bitterly. “Ok,” said Tina as she started out the dispatch office. Rebella sighed. “Tina, I am sorry for snapping at you,” said Rebella. “It’s ok, I understand you are under a lot of stress,” said Tina going back and hugging Rebella. Tina started to leave the dispatch office. “Don’t worry, partner it is going to be alright,” said Tina.

J.P. and Colt went into the Interrogation Room. J.P. slammed the case file on the table. “I am a good mind to arrest you right now for tampering with evidence,” said J.P. “What do you mean?” asked Colt. “You giving a statement that Rebella Diamonds was with you when the Glamorous Jewels Jewelry Store was robbed,” said J.P. Colt hung his head because he knew he could not lie his way out of this predicament. “Ok, I admit I changed the report to protect Rafaella,” said Colt. “Why did you change the report?” asked J.P. “Because the robber was clever and stole the surveillance camera and Rafaella admitted to being at the jewelry store earlier in the day. I knew she did not do it because she was fixing to start the police academy in a few weeks and I knew that if I did not do something that they would have continued to investigate Rafaella and it would have ruined her chances of becoming a cop,” said Colt. J.P. stood up and took his handcuffs out. “Colt Howard, you are under arrest for tampering with evidence,” said J.P.

Rebella came into the 169th Precinct. She thought she was still working on dispatch, so she went to the dispatch office. Ola was on the telephone talking to a complainant. Rebella thought she was relieving Ola, so she sat down beside her and waited for her to finish the phone call. Ola wrote down on the log that 5 George 32 was on duty at the time. This puzzled Rebella. Ola finished the phone call. “They called me yesterday and told me to be here at seven o’clock that you were going back to the Special Investigation Division. Oh and before I forget Happy Birthday” said Ola. “Thank you,” said Rebella and she left dispatch.

“That's weird, they never said anything to me,” thought Rebella as she walked down the hall to the detective’s office.

Rebella went into the detective’s office. The lights were on, but there was no one in the room. Rebella sat down at her desk. “I guess I get to be the early bird,” thought Rebella. The telephone started ringing. It was Ola, she told Rebella to go open the door. Rebella got up and opened the door. “Happy Birthday,” shouted everyone. “Oh my gosh,” said Rebella as tears started running down her cheek. Everybody went into the detective’s office and Rachel brought in a Birthday Cake with twenty-nine candles on it.

Colt Howard pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and was sentenced to five years in prison. After following some new leads in the case, the suspect in the Glamorous Jewels robbery was identified as Jenny Ringer. She was found guilty and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. The jewelry that was stolen was recovered and returned to Glamorous Jewels.