The Caper of the Crown Jewels (5 page)

“What did you see?” said Jack, anxious to know whether there were any clues on the tapes.

“There were six people viewing the jewels at that time,” explained Tommy. “Out of nowhere, the lights went out, which meant our cameras couldn't pick up a thing. When they came back on, the same six people were there, looking stunned. We've searched them,” he went on, “and none of them have the jewels. We've asked them to wait for further questioning in the Jewel House.”

“What about the other tourists on the grounds?” Jack asked.

“We've searched them, too, and found nothing. Because of that,” Tommy said, “we've had to let them go. Believe me, this one's a head-scratcher, which is why we called the GPF. We need your help to solve the crime.”

“Which one of the jewels was taken?” asked Jack, knowing that the Crown Jewels were made up of many crowns, orbs, and scepters.

“The Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign's Orb,
and
the Sovereign's Scepter with Cross,” said Tommy.

“No way!” said Jack. Given the value and importance of what was stolen, he
knew this was going to be a special case. The Sovereign's Scepter with Cross contained the finest cut diamond in the world, the Cullinan I.

“Why don't I take you over to the Jewel House?” offered Tommy. “The six people who were in there at the time of the theft are being held there. Maybe you can speak to them and get something out of them. Frankly,” he added, “I'm not sure they had anything to do with this.”

Tommy led Jack up Water Lane and past the Medieval Palace, St Thomas's Tower, and Traitors' Gate. They hung a left at the Wakefield Tower and walked under a stone archway. As they climbed another cobblestone street, Jack spied some black cages through a crumbling stone wall on his right.

“That's where the ravens are,” said Jack, pointing in the direction of the gaps. He remembered seeing them on his last visit. “Is it true that if one of them leaves, it means that there will be no more kings and queens of England?”

“That's what they say, young man,” said Tommy. “I'm not sure I entirely believe it. But, just in case, we clip their wings so that there's no chance of finding out.”

Tommy led Jack past a large building with four turrets. This was the White Tower—the oldest part of the Tower of London. It was built after William the Conqueror captured London in 1066. Jack climbed a few stairs to the top of the courtyard. To his left was a paved area with a monument in the middle.

“That's Tower Green,” said Tommy, nodding in the direction of the monument. “That marks the place where seven famous people were beheaded.”

“Like Anne Boleyn,” said Jack, who'd remembered that Henry VIII had executed his second wife here.

“And Catherine Howard,” added Tommy, naming another of Henry's wives. “Lord Hastings was beheaded here, too.”

Jack gulped at the thought of what it would feel like to have your head chopped off by an ax. He and Tommy hurried past Tower Green and towards a large golden-colored building that was newer than the others.

“Here we are,” said Tommy, pointing to the building. “This is Waterloo Barracks. Inside is the Jewel House.” He motioned for Jack to follow him.

Beyond the doorway was a series of rooms with giant movie screens, each one playing a film about the history of the Queen's jewels. Walking through, they reached an open vault door that led to where the Crown Jewels were kept.

In the middle of the room were five glass cases standing in a row. Each one was as tall as a man and was capped with steel on the top and stone at the bottom. On either side of the cases was a flat, moving walkway. A clever way, Jack reckoned, to keep the tourists moving through. Because of the theft, the walkway was now turned off.

Jack walked over and looked closely at the cases. The Imperial State Crown was missing from one, while the Sovereign's Scepter with Cross and the Sovereign's Orb were missing from others. The glass around the case wasn't broken and, as far as Jack could tell, the top and bottom were still intact. The only thing left was the red and gold pillow on which the jewels once lay.

In the corner of the room were the six people who had been present at the time of the crime. There was a church vicar and a younger man, a mother and her daughter, and an elderly couple. The elderly woman was standing with the help of a walking stick.

Based on first impressions, Jack was going to have to agree with Tommy. They didn't look like a bunch of criminals. More importantly none of them looked as if they were carrying the Crown Jewels.

Jack opened his Book Bag and grabbed his Encryption Notebook. As soon as he placed his thumb over the glass, the Encryption Notebook turned itself on, read his thumbprint, and identified him as the rightful owner. Jack detached the pen from the side of the gadget and made a note of the date: May 9th.