Case One
Mystery Of The Blind Crook
I was just putting the finishing touches on my police report, when Dee Tective, my assistant, rushed in and stumbled over a chair. Dee's never been known to to be a very graceful investigator, so that's why she stays out of the crime scene. But she often notices things I would have never even considered.
Dee got up and brushed herself off before plopping a stack of papers on my desk. "New case. Jewel heist at Mr. Richard Forpoorer's mansion," she said. "Eyewitness caught a glimpse of the suspect, but that's all we have to go by."
I nodded absentmindedly as I skimmed through the papers. An advertisment, a postcard from Hawaii, my credit card bill...my credit card bill?? "This looks more like a mail theft than a jewel heist," I joked.
"Sorry, wrong stack," said Dee as she rummaged through her book bag. "Here you are!" She dropped a sealed package on the desk. I opened it and flipped through the files.
"That's more like it!" I said. I put ther evidence and mail in my breifcase. "Let's hit the road." I tossed Dee the keys. "You drive."
When we got to the mansion, Dee went to interview the eyewitness and the mansion owner, Richard Forpoorer. Meanwhile, I checked out the crime scene. No fingerprints, no footprints, nothing. Disappointed, I returned to the truck. To my surprise, Dee was already there.
"Find anything?" she asked.
I sighed. "Not a hair," I said. "How about you?"
"Well, Mr. Forpoorer was asleep, so he couldn't help us much.
All he said was that he heard glass shattering downstairs and
called police. When they got there, the only thing they found
was the patio door broken, and the safe open."
She paused as she flipped a page in her notebook. "The
eyewitness on the other hand got a good look at the guy.
Although he wore gloves and sunglasses, he could make out the rest
of his face. Deputy Warren took them both down to the station, then called me."
She handed me the notebook. "Both our witnesses identified Redd Handed, who is, or was, a friend of Mr. Forpoorer's. I wrote the address down so we could interview him. And this time, you drive."
"Whatever you say," I laughed as I got in the passenger seat and locked my door. Dee let out an exasperated sigh and got in the driver's seat. She shut the door. "You owe me one Noah!" she said.
When we got to Mr. Handed's house, he was sitting on the front porch with sunglasses on. A newspaper lay on the table next to his rocking chair. I looked up at the sky. Clouded. I leaned over to Dee. "Looks like our thief is blind," I whispered.
She proceeded to approch him anyway. "Mr. Handed?" she said. "I'm Dee Tective, and this is Noah Clue. We're..."
Redd cut her off. "Well you don't say! The famous Detective Clue? I'm flattered!"
Dee muttered something under her breath before continuing. "Anyway, as I was saying, we're detectives for the Morgantown Police Department, and we would like to have a word with you.
"Oh dear. I'm sorry if I interuppted. You see, I'm rather hard of hearing," explained Redd.
Dee raised her voice. "Well then, I'll just try to speak up. Where were you at 8:00 p.m. yesterday?"
"Asleep, of course. I don't go anywhere much anyway," Redd said.
"Do you know a Richard Forpoorer by chance?" Dee asked.
"Never heard of him. I've lived here alone since I was twenty-one years old. No one ever visits me, and like I said, I don't get out much."
Dee opened her mouth to ask another question, but was interrupted by a slight whimper at the back door. Redd got up. "That must be Babe, my guide dog. I guess he wants out back," Redd got up, picked up his cane, and went inside.
"Looks like our suspect is just a lonely, old man. Let's go Dee," I said.
"Hold it Noah. I think he's our guy. I'll call Deputy Warren, you read him his rights. He's got the jewels!"
"But we don't have any evidence!" I said.
"Oh yes we do!" Dee insisted.
WHAT WAS THE EVIDENCE?