Lost and Found

by Paul A. Freeman

About the Author: Paul A. Freeman is the author of Rumours of Ophir and hundreds of published short stories, poems and articles.

Excerpt

“It’s starting to look like murder,” said Detective Inspector Williamson, tossing a copy of the City Gazette onto his desktop.

At the adjacent desk Detective Constable Ellen Page looked up from a case file. “What’s that, sir?”

“Geoffrey Dallow. Last year. You remember? The entrepreneur who vanished without trace after visiting Carson’s Gymnasium. His watch has turned up, advertised in the classifieds. Listen to this.” Williamson picked up the newspaper and read: “ ‘For sale. Genuine Altex timepiece. Gold. One careful owner.’ ”

D.C. Page was unconvinced. “Nothing in that advert suggests it’s Dallow’s Altex watch.”

Williamson threw the classified section of the newspaper across to the policewoman. “Have a look at the picture beneath the ad. Do you recall what Dallow’s wife, Melanie, told us about the watch face?”

“That there was a scratch mark across it. Something to do with Geoffrey showing her that the engagement ring he bought her was set with a genuine diamond.”

“And is the watch face in the photo scratched?”

Ellen Page scrutinised the black-and-white picture. In spite of its graininess she conceded there did seem to be a scratch mark.

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