Free Devonshire Scream by Laura Childs Page A

you?”
    â€œNot right now,” Zimmer said. “But it’s certainly an identifying mark.”
    â€œDoes the FBI keep a database of tattoos and marks?” Drayton asked.
    Zimmer nodded. “We do.” He smiled. “But we prefer you not mention it to anyone.”
    â€œI won’t.” Drayton was all for giving his full cooperation.
    Theodosia drummed her fingers against the table. She’d once again been replaying the robbery scenario in her head. The car crash, the smashing of glass cases, the almost precision-like work of the robbers.
    â€œWhat, ma’am?” Zimmer asked. “Is there something else you can tell us?”
    â€œTalking with the two of you about the robbery has sort of jogged my memory,” Theodosia said.
    â€œHow so?” Hurley asked her.
    â€œI think I just remembered something else.”
    Both agents leaned forward expectantly.
    Theodosia raised her right hand in a pantomime. “One of the thieves was using a small hammer. To, you know, smash open the cases. But it was a different kind of hammer. An unusual-looking hammer.”
    Hurley was interested. “You mean like a tack hammer or an upholstery hammer?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Theodosia said. “I know what those hammers look like and this one was different. More like a silver hammer with a jagged clawlike thing on one end.” She wrinkled her nose. “I wish I could describe it better, but I just caught a quick flash.”
    â€œInteresting,” Hurley said as Zimmer made more notes.
    â€œDo you think it could be an important clue?” Drayton asked.
    Zimmer snapped his notebook shut. “We prefer to call it a lead.”
    â€œBut only if it leads somewhere, right?” Theodosia asked.
    Both men remained silent.
    â€œI’m curious,” Theodosia said. “Have you found out any more about the SUV that was used in the robbery? The one that was stolen and then dumped?”
    â€œWe’ve since located the owner,” Zimmer said.
    â€œSomeone local?” Theodosia asked.
    Zimmer shook his head. “No, the owner lives in Savannah. He believes it was probably stolen out of his garage on Saturday night.”
    â€œSo the thieves are from Savannah?”
    â€œNot necessarily,” Zimmer said. “And we still don’t have a bead on the motorcycle. Though we have located a couple of witnesses who saw it tear down Market Street. Leading the way for the SUV.”
    When Zimmer said
motorcycle
, Theodosia twitched. That’s what had been tickling at the back of her brain. Tidwell had mentioned something about a motorcycle yesterday morning, and then Haley had rushed out last night and jumped on the back of one. An interesting coincidence.
    â€œHas the motorcycle been recovered?” Theodosia asked.
    â€œNo,” Zimmer said. “It’s still out there somewhere.”
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    And the surprises just kept on coming.
    â€œMiss Browning,” Zimmer said, “we’d like you to take a look at some photographs.”
    Theodosia smiled politely. “But they all wore masks; I never did see anyone’s face. I don’t think anybody did.”
    â€œJust work with us on this, okay?”
    â€œSure.”
    Hurley fingered a large brown envelope.
    Drayton jumped to his feet. “Here, let me clear off this table.”
    â€œAre the photos you’re going to show me of suspected jewel thieves?” Theodosia asked.
    â€œ
Known
jewel thieves,” Hurley said. “Men and women who have stolen millions, perhaps even a billion dollars’ worth of diamonds, Rolex watches, necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Some were full sets by Bulgari, Cartier, and Tiffany, others were loose, precious jewels.”
    â€œI’ll look at your photos, but I don’t think it’s going to help,” Theodosia said. She made a slightly helpless gesture. “The masks, you