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SUE LEE WAS THE FIRST one through the door surprised to see a man sitting in her living room in Yoshi’s chair holding a gun!
“Ah, Mr. Allan Potts,” Sir Jonathan said calmly as he set his Bowler on the hall table.
“Allan, Sue Lee and Jane said together?”
“Yes, you see. Allen killed his brother Randy and eliminated Jewels like one of his book characters. I believe it was the 'Late night murder’ were you used the Curare, but I apologize for not reading your second mystery book. I assumed you wrote them in Prison while doing time for your brother. You must have hated him?” Sir Jonathan said arraigning himself on her chair across from Potts.
Sue Lee noticed how Jonathan positioned himself in her favorite chair to see the mirror behind Potts and block his view of the doorway since Alex did not enter with them.
Allan waved his gun at Jane and Sue Lee to sit on his right on the couch.
“I f-found some chocolates for us, I-I hope you don’t mind.” He said gesturing again with his pistol.
“Thank you, I’m famished, Jane said reaching for a piece but hesitated. What brings you to this neighborhood?”
“Actually, it’s Mr. Yoshi that b-brought me here. M-my father and he were f-friends, sort of. He provided information about pops collection and what things' w-were worth. Y-Yoshi knew a lot about s-s-stamps.”
Jan noticed how his stutter increase with excitement.
“You then conclude the Scinde Dawk stamp must be somewhere here in this apartment?” Sir Jonathan answered gesturing at the walls and shelves filled with artifacts.
“Y-yes, I’m sure of it.”
“You tricked your brother by interpreting Himmler’s journal to make him think the diamonds existed, and you could use the large amount to sell to the Russian, Viktor Popov, Adama Patibandla or the De Beers family. You would make millions, but that’s not what you wanted? Only the stamp was your goal.” Sue Lee said shifting forward in her seat to get ready to spring on him.
He waved her back with his gun.
“Yes, It m-means everything to me. I-It’s the only one in the world, one of a kind with no damn twin! Would you care for a chocolate?”
Jane realized he was crazy and surmised the chocolates were laced with poison to eliminate them, so he could have Sue Lee to himself. She used a subtle signal to Uncle Jonathan to make him aware of the danger. A stealthy game he taught her when she was a child.
He acknowledged her signal by twisting his ring finger. Jane wasn’t sure if Sue Lee understood until her next question.
“You have very little time to find this artifact, I have never seen it. Sir Jonathan is the only one with the knowledge to know what to look for. You're also bleeding. Sue Lee pointed at his side. I assume your brother did not die so easy? You need medical attention.”
Jane looked at his right side and could see blood soaking through his jacket.
“The b—bastard shot me!” He said shifting in his chair to point his gun to cover all.
“Odious business, perhaps, you should have followed your father into the hardware profession,” Jonathan said bending forward to reach for chocolate.
Jane was surprised gasped hoping to stop him, just as she heard a thunk!
Sue Lee too was diverted by his move and stopped a marble with her foot from rolling across her floor.
“I say, excellent shot Alex!”
“Thank you, Sir, it’s all in the wrist!”
Both Jane and Sue Lee turned to see Alex standing in the doorway holding slingshot in his hand.
Jonathan removed Potts gun from his limp hand. “Perhaps, you should check his pulse, Jane. He took a nasty blow between the eyes!”
Sue Lee realized Jonathan’s move gave Alex a clear shot.
“Is that Tommy’s Sling Shot. You may need this?” Sue Lee tossed the marble to Alex.
“Thanks, Tommy saw Potts breaking into your home called the police and grabbed me as I slowly climb the stairs behind Y'all. I hear a siren. I prefer not to get involved, I will be joining Tommy downstairs eating ice cream. His price for borrowing his slingshot and favorite German handmade glass marble, amazing they don’t shatter on impact. Join us when you can,” he said before carefully going back down the stairs.
“Not to worry I will explain everything to the authorities,” Jonathan said removing his Diplomatic passport from his suit pocket. A privilege passed on to high-ranking British officials after the war.
Jane threw a Thank you kiss at Alex before examining Potts. “We will need to explain this lump on his forehead and how we rendered him unconscious.”
“I have just the thing.” Sue Lee took a long staff off the wall in the hallway, “a Bōjuts.”
“Please explain,” Jonathan asked looking at the stick Sue Lee twirled expertly in her hands and then thrust it forward like a spear stopping short of Potts' forehead. “I see, a very formidable weapon indeed.”
Sue Lee’s demonstration was interrupted by a voice coming from her entry.
“Sue Lee, Detective Harrington, Are you all right?”
“Yes, Please come up sir bring help.”