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JANE SETTLED NEXT TO Alex and Sue Lee, saying, “Uncle Jonathan believes the lost Klondike Journal and the stamps are the keys.”
“How so Sir,” Sue Lee asked as Lucie sat next to Jonathan across from Clara and Elizabeth? Alex noted the flush in Clara’s face, hoping the excitement of this theoretical discussion wouldn’t affect her health. Nevertheless, there was no getting around it—they certainly couldn’t ask her to sit in the kitchen. However, Connie loved her stories about Clovelly. Sue Lee sensed his uncomfortableness and squeezed his hand with a smile. He decided whatever will be will be.
Jonathan sat back, steepled his fingers; a very effective gesture showing a man in control before speaking. He paused when Sylvester walked in quietly, accepting a cup of coffee from Connie while leaning on the door frame, nodding to Sir Jonathan to proceed.
“India in 1852, issued its own postage stamps; it came into circulation in Sindh, a Pakistan province.”
“Why not in Calcutta, that was the capital of British India?”
“I do not know the answer to that, Jane, but we do know the Dawk-Wallahs in Sindh were transporting the mail on foot around 1850. They based the cost on how, far, and how much weight, but no consistency in pricing. Thus, causing an uproar by Britain’s colonial dominance in Sindh that started the birth of a stamp controlling prices. If this stamp in the Journal is a first issued Scinde Dawk, it is considered to be one of the rarest postage stamps in the world of philately, worth a fortune.”
“I’d be interested in learning your theory how this all ties in with our Mr. Potts?” Sue Lee asked while nodding thanks to Connie after refreshing her orange juice glass.
“I would speculate, of course, I don’t have the resources I once had.” Jane rolled her eyes, knowing her ex MI6 Uncle still had connection around the world, and his guesses were always correct.
“I believe Potts learned of Marie Adele’s Stamp, probably from Monsieur Ballaré’s wife. If you recall, her husband was stationed in India at Sindh during the war before Potts stole their collection. However, Potts had no way to research it and made a mistake asking Douglas Gleason to do so. When Douglas found out the value, he stole the collection and went off on his own before he was killed.”
“By whom? We know Potts was still selling the Hardware Store when Gleason left,” Jane said, looking puzzled?
“Could it be he had a twin brother,” Clara stated quietly?
“A twin,” Jane and Sue Lee chorused together?
“Yes, we had twins in school during my first year; they too were a couple of hellions! The teacher tried to separate them, but somehow they continued to communicate. Both boys were in the Royal Fusiliers during the first war when Josh was killed during the Battle of Mons. Sad how war separates families and friends.” Clara checked her stitching on the scarf she was knitting. “Our library is in the process of setting up a war memorial. We included both wars. We are a tiny community, and we know, by comparison, our losses were small, but we’re felt by all. They assigned me to do World War One. Oh my, I digress,” she said, looking at Alex with her hand over her mouth. He smiled and nodded for her to continue. “Well, the twin Jacob fell in love with a US Army Nurse and move to America. He’s Abigail’s cousin, you see. Her sister, who lives outside of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, keeps her updated about her American relatives. Jacob’s grandson got in with a bad lot and went to prison. After finding out his prison mate was a writer, he told him about his granddad’s twin brother killed in World War One during the Battle of Mons. His prison companion said he too had a twin brother and understood his Grandfathers loss. The writer’s name is Allen Potts.”
Lucie gasped, like everyone else; except Alex, he smiled, knowing his friend Clara’s way of passing information, her style, one bite at a time...
“Jonathan, could that be true? He has a twin; Lucie asked?”
“It certainly makes sense. It would take some digging into old records to verify, but we know Allan was born in San Francisco, so that narrows it down.”
“Sir, perhaps Kane can help by using his connections? I was planning to call and wish him Merry Christmas. He should be in Bodega with Finn and Marie today.” Sue Lee said, smiling at Clara.
“Excellent, please do; he has a sizable network after retiring from the police force. Please convey our Christmas wishes as well. Clara, I would like you to consider extending your holiday. Your insight would be most useful to us.”
Alex squeezed Sue Lee’s hand and smiled when he saw Clara’s eyes light up.
“I agree, Clara—Your twin theory explains our missing times,” Sylvester said, excepting more coffee from Connie. Who walked back to her parlor admiring Clara.
“My, she’s a sharp lady!”
Sylvester, too, admired her. It was wonderful to confirm his prediction of the twins. He discussed it with Jonathan and Alex late last night in the privacy of Jonathan’s office. However, Jonathan and Alex also wanted to protect Clara by keeping her in the Bahamas longer. Alex worried that whoever was after him could forcefully use her.
“It looks like they succeeded in keeping her here,” Sylvester said, smiling to himself while excepting a lemon bar being passed by pretty Dr. Jane.