Death of a Jewelery Casket

To Entice a Thief

 

A Prologue:

 

“I’m so glad you gave up your life of crime!”

She said to me as we danced, a wicked little smile creeping up upon her face.

 

 

It was a signal to me that she was ready to leave the reception...and that she was feeling amorous.

 

“Brilliant”. I thought as I let my eyes drift down to soak in the enticement of her sparkling necklace, before crafting an answer in character.

 

“Yes, and I owe it all to you and your lovely friends for being here this evening to help me rehabilitate.”

 

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The Enticing Tale Unfolds:

 

We were attending a black-tie reception that evening to celebrate the re-opening of a local theatre that had undergone a 2-year refurbishing, the first in almost 75 years of its 300-year existence.

 

I was in a full black tux with a green cummerbund.

 

My wife Ginny was wearing a slick thin satin sheath gown, short scalloped sleeved shoulders with a cowled neckline. It was dyed a vivid shade of emerald green which set off nicely, both her let down long ginger hair and mesmerizing green eyes.

 

My wife’s jewellery was also quite mesmerizing.

 

Long dangling rhinestone earrings that flowed and shimmered from her ears and dangled playfully in and out of her hair whenever she flung her head back.

Her nearly 45-millimeter wide necklace was also set with rhinestones, hanging down just below her gowns’ cowled neckline, where it sparkled alluringly as it moved against the luxurious green satin. She was also wearing her favorite rhinestone bracelet around her right wrist. The bracelet was a right cracker. The outer strands are made up of 1 carat round stones with a full 3-carat pear-shaped collection of “ice” set in the surrounding middle strand. She also, in addition to her wedding rings, was wearing an emerald diamond cocktail ring on her right index finger.

 

The posh reception had been a lot of fun, I really enjoy drinking and hanging with Ginny’s mates. A collection of artists of varying talents, including her fellow local actors and actresses.

 

We had been sharing a table with two other couples. Ginny’s fellow actor friend Tad and his wife Mareid, along with our married friends Heather and Merrick.

 

Tad and Merrick were in stiff tuxes like mine. Tad was wearing a black cummerbund, while Merrick wore a shiny dark blue vest with his.

 

Reserved Mareid was wearing a black velvet v necked dress.

Her jewels consisted of a diamond journey necklace with matching earrings. Alsong with her wedding rings she wore a small diamond pinkie ring.

 

Jovial Heather had poured her petite figure into a repurposed bridesmaid A-line taffeta gown of shiny sapphire blue with short white satin gloves on her hands.

She wore a dazzling necklace of blue sapphire stones surrounded by rhinestone diamonds. A large center stone dangled just above her snugly held cleavage with a series of smaller stones going up either side of the silver chain. Earrings and a bracelet had been added that matched her necklace. Along with her wedding rings, she sports a brace of matching blue sapphire cocktail rings.

 

As the evening, and the drinking wore on, our conversation became more lively, running through a myriad of topics before touching on the upcoming theatre production Tad, Mareid and Ginny were preparing for. A mystery play entitled “Shear the Black Sheep” by David Dodge.

 

It was Heather, while thoughtfully fingering her necklace, who chirped in about Dodge’s novel “To Catch a Thief.”

 

As we all looked at her, I studied her pretty attire, thinking that she would have fit right in with the story.

 

“Hell, we all would .” I thought eyeing Ginny and the rest of our table mates.

 

Ginny caught me eyeballing her and smirked as she dipped her head down to adjust her bracelet, her earrings doing their thing.

 

Heather reached over and gently laid her fingers over Ginny’s handsome bracelet, gently fingering it as she spoke further.

 

“That is such a pretty bracelet Ginny...”

 

Heather lifted her eyes up from it and looked around the table at us.”

 

“I remember hearing that David Dodge wrote his story after a jewel thief had broken into the French villa next store. As the dinner guests were gathered for a cocktail party on the terrace in front, the thief broke into the back and looted the master and guest bedrooms of valuables. “

 

“How awful!” Mareid spoke with a shudder.

 

Heather comfortingly placed her hand on Mareid’s bare arm. Her eyes wide as she ran wild with the thought.

“It was, darling, but at least he didn’t get any of the jewels the ladies like us were wearing at the party.”

 

“Unless they had chosen not to wear any...” I thought but kept it to myself as Heather went on talking to Mareid...

 

“And just think! The thief may have been there previously as a guest, how else did he know what jewels were there for the taking if he had not seen the ladies wearing theirs out ?”

 

“Was he ever caught I wonder ?” Questioned Merrick with a wink at me.

 

“I don’t believe so, got away clean away with all them lovely jewels he nicked,” Heather admitted, as both she and Mareid squirmed a bit in their seats.

 

Ginny meanwhile was not squirming but was giving me a meaningful look over after catching me in the act of doing the same to her.

 

I was, I’ll admit, also squirming a bit at Heather's remarks, so I decided to pipe in with...

 

“So Heather dear, ever wonder, if he had been there previously, as a guest, what would have been going through his mind as he mingled? Better yet, say he was here in our midsts tonight, if we were to pretend the jewels you ladies are wearing were real?”

 

“Mine are!” Said unimaginative Mareid with a bit of worry in her voice.

 

Tad chuckled. “ So they are darling, but any jewel thief worth his salt would also be salivating over the pretty baubles that Heather and Ginny are so winningly sporting this evening.”

 

Merrick chimed in...

“Spoken like a true thief laddie. And he would also be wanting a dance so he could have a closer look over of their sparklers.”

 

He stood up and offered a hand to his wife.

 

“Shall we, my dear?”

 

Heather gleefully rose and the pair went off to the dance floor. Closely followed by the rest of our table.

 

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Once this new series of long dances were over we all cheerfully headed back to our tables.

 

Without sitting, Tad and Mareid informed us they were calling it an early evening, having promised to have the babysitter (their young niece Veriety) home early.

 

We said our goodbyes and after they left, Merrick and I seated our ladies, then headed in the opposite direction to the bar for another round of drinks.

 

Returning to our table we saw that the girls were embroiled in a deep conversation, which they ended up on our approach, looking up at us like the cats who had gotten the canaries.

 

We served the pretty ladies their drinks, and after taking a rather unladylike slurp of her’s, Heather looked at Merrick and me with questioning eyes before asking, with a rather horsey dry throated tone of voice...

 

“Now then, what were you lads thinking as we danced?”

 

“A...bout?” Asked Merrick teasing, for he believes we both knew, but wanted her to come out with it.

 

“ Our jewels, sillies. Were you coveting them, thinking of ways to steal them from us? Inquiring minds want to know?”

 

With an astounding expression, I asked.

 

“Heather Luv, are you calling your husband snd I jewel thieves?!”

 

Both Heather and Ginny chortled as Heather said cheerfully...

 

“Well, reformed thieves then, you’ve given up a life of crime, but, you know, you can take the boy out of the city, but not the city out of the boy. So let’s have it, each of you have to say something, that’s my challenge...”

“And no coping out of it either you two. I know you have imaginations. Especially you, she finished, drilling her blue eyes into mine...”

 

Merrick gave me a nudge. “I think your first mate.”

 

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I took a long sip of my bourbon, whilst gathering my thoughts. I freely eyed Ginny, then Heather up and down for effect. Their pretty dresses would have been noticed first, followed by the thief eyeing their expensive appearing jewels. This is going to be easy I thought, before starting in, pausing in-between thoughts for further effect.

 

“I was a jewel thief who was taken under wing by a wealthy socialite who felt it was her duty to reform me. As part of this task, she has brought me here surrounded by ladies in fancy jewels, to teach me how to overcome my desires.”

 

“I would have selected out a promising lady, Ginny here, and asked for a dance.”

 

“I would then have started out dancing at a modest distance to get the full picture. Then I would have asked if she knew who the tart in the blue taffeta dress and sapphires was?”

 

“Hey, that’s not very nice!” Heather scolded me, as we all laughed.

 

I continued, reaching over and fingering my wife’s bracelet.

 

“Then as Ginny looked over at you Heather. I would have had a window opened to closely study her earrings and necklace, then as she looked back over to me I would lift her right-hand and have her swirl around in a circle as I gave the same attention to her bracket and ring. Then I would again talk about the pretty lady in blue, I had I kindly called a tart, finding out where she(and her jewels ) were spending the evening. “

 

“Hah”! Said Heather triumphantly. “So you are not reformed, and I am not surprised you would prefer your wife’s jewels over my own. They are very pretty “

 

I shook my head no.... as I reached over and stroked my fingers along Heather’s necklace.

 

“Of course I am not reformed, and I would be very interested in the jewels you both are wearing.”

 

“So I would then maneuver Ginny close to Merrick, and tapping him on the shoulder as to change partners.”

 

“Then I would repeat my performance on You. Looking over this necklace your flaunting, calling out to be nicked, and as I study it, asking where your friend the redhead was staying. “

 

I finished up with...

 

“As we finished the dance and had gone back to the table I would make an excuse to leave. Then as you two ladies were enjoying your evening here, I would be breaking into your bedrooms, stealing your jewels.”

 

“Devious ...I like it, “ Heather said with a delicious shudder before turning he attention to Merrick and challenging...

 

“Your turn my love...”

 

Yes, I would love to hear it also...” My Ginny said with encouragement.

 

Merrick, a bit red-faced, began. And I was pleasantly pleased that he had obviously been giving it some thought.

 

“Well, I um, would wait until you were alone during the evening and come up to offer dance, or to put my name on your dance card. Then as we danced I would say how pretty your dress was and how lovely your jewels were. Then as you told me about your dress and jewellery I would listen and watch. I would think how dazzling you looked wearing them, and that it would be a shame I had to steal them. I would keep an eye on you the rest of the evening, follow you home, and as you slept take them from you.”

 

Heather sighed deeply, then asked.

“Would you watch me make sure I was sleeping before starting?”

 

Merrick nodded, “That and to make sure you were not still wearing any of them.”

 

“Nice Merrick!” I thought to myself as his wife pretty much was now swooning.

 

I was watching Heather as Merrick was spinning his tale. I could tell she was more than thrilled at what he was saying, becoming even more turned on about her view of the jewel thief subject she had broached.

 

But I knew that poor clueless Merrick was missing that point over his wife’s yearning desire for him to at least try acting out upon the theme. He had told his story and that to him appeared to be the end of his Wife’s challenge.

 

Pity, for it was all ever so obvious that Heather was into this. Albeit alcohol may have also been a driving factor.

 

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It was all finally winding down, when, as we again were dancing, Ginny, had come up with her thief remark that I mention at the beginning of this tale.

 

As the dance ended I looked my wife lovingly in her eyes with a look in mine that told her I was up to something.

 

“Let’s do it properly,” I said, nodding towards the table where we had been sitting, watching as Heather was being reseated by Merrick after they had left the dance floor ahead of us.

 

You girls go to the loo while I have a chat with Merrick.

 

“Game on...” Ginny said with joyful conviction.

 

And so it was that some twenty minutes later, and another round of drinks, found us back on the dance floor.

 

But this time around I was with Heather and Merrick was dancing with Ginny.

 

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As we danced I talked to Heather in a low, conspiracy-laden tone of voice.

“You know Heather, you sometimes need to tease someone into wanting to steal your jewels, spell it out what you think he would do. Like Ginny and I are going to do before leaving. “

 

“Oooh, what’s going to happen ?” She asked with deep interest:

 

“You’ll see soon enough, Ginny is going to play the character of another lady here this evening. The one your husband is dancing with. That will be our game. You need to focus on yours. Speaking of which..”

 

“Yes?” Asked Heather with deep curiosity.

 

I tapped her on the nose... then lifted her necklace going into my character...

 

“Remember, coming from a reformed thief, your jewels are far safer in your room than to trust some mischievous bugger of a weasel-faced hotel desk clerk to lock them up for you in a hotel safes vault.”

 

Ohh my, Heather really liked me saying that, for she had no clue to its meaning, but believed heart and soul that Merrick would!

 

Then she went into her character...

 

“I am so glad you are looking out for me and my jewels. Here I have been foolishly listening to hotel clerks and letting them put my pretties in the hotel safe.”

 

Placing a hand on either side of her face I lifting her silky hair up to properly view her dangling earrings, before answering Heather in the voice of my character...

 

“Best not to take chances. Make sure you keep all your jewelry with you in your suite this evening.”

 

Heather giggled...

“ Oh, I had not thought of that. What a brilliant suggestion. You are truly my knight in shining armor!”

 

With that, she gave me a peck on the chin...

 

I chuckled before breaking character to give pretty Heather some further instructions...

 

“Now listen, we are going to switch partners soon, this is what you need to do with Merrick.

 

As I maneuvered my pretty partner over towards her husband and my wife, I explained the role she would play for the remaining 30 minutes till midnight, at which time the reception was officially over. If she played it right, further adventures awaited her at home afterwards!

 

I had finished my advice by the time we reached them.

 

I had one hand holding around Heather’s silken-covered waist, the other was holding her hand. I let go of her hand and tapped Merrick on the shoulder.

 

“Change partners?” I questioned as he looked me in the eye.

 

Merrick looked at Ginny,

 

“Do you mind?”

 

He said to her, and with the manner had said that I knew that Ginny had been successful in bringing Merrick up to speed on playing his wife’s game.

 

“I would love to.”

 

Ginny said and still dancing to the music, we, in turn, switched our partners.

 

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I took Ginny up in my arms, she felt like heaven as my fingers slipped around the satin waistline of her green gown.

 

“I’m so glad you gave up your life of crime!”

She said to me with that wicked little smile of hers lighting up her face.

 

I smiled back...

 

“Yes, and I owe it all to the efforts of my benefactor and her lovely friends., like you. So glad you all have faith in me.”

 

Meanwhile, I was working my fingers carefully up the backside of her scintillating gown.

 

Ginny sighed happily...

 

“ I will admit I had some reservations over my friend bringing a thief here. What if you had found all these jewels we are wearing too much of a temptation?

 

My fingers had finally made it up to her ‘diamond’ necklaces’ clasp as I answered soothingly...

 

“That's why she told all of her friends to wear their best jewelry tonight. To test me. I am so glad you listened to her. I feel no strong desires to steal jewels any more.”

 

Ginny smiled at me...

 

“I’m glad, for I do so love wearing my diamonds out. And no worries, I totally trust you around them...”

 

With that Ginny lay her head down lovingly upon my shoulder as I looked around. No one was paying us any heed. Except Heather, who was was snuggled into Merrick, with an eye open upon us.

 

Ginny and I danced in that position for some time before I made my move and began to work open the ‘diamond’ necklace’s jeweled clasp.

 

On cue, Ginny said into my shoulder.

 

“I can tell you are having a lovely time this evening.”

 

I looked into Ginnys face, her swinging earrings giving off a frenzied sparkle.

 

“Oh, I am Lass, that I most certainly am having a lovely time. I am thoroughly enjoying dancing with pretty ladies like yourself. And may add that your earrings are something special.”

 

Ginny raised her head smiling at me...which now made my job a lot easier.

 

“Thank you, that means a lot to me. But they are heavy, and I'm afraid that I have a bad habit of taking them off, then leaving them behind at the table...”

 

I was smiling, listening intently to her, while my fingers finally managing to unclasp her necklace, letting the ends hang freely down before I made a lying comment...

 

“No worries luv if I were to see you do that, I would point it out to you.”

 

She sighed, then happily snuggled back into my chest.

 

“ I knew you were reformed, and saying what you just did proves it.”

 

My hand at her waist gripped in harder as she snuggled in closer. With her hot figure pressing into mine, my free hand was busy working her shimmery ‘diamonds’ free from around her satin gown’s cowled neckline.

 

“You truly have no idea how much I am appreciating this trust you are giving me tonight.” I murmured while I worked on reliving her of the ‘diamonds’ she was so obtainabley wearing.

 

And then it smoothly came away easy peasy, and I found myself in full possession of her diamonds. I quickly whisked it over her satin-clad shoulder and secreted it away inside my pocket.

 

Ginny pulled away, smiling up into my face, her eyes searching into mine as she fully played her role of the rich social worker’s wealthy friend, who agreed that thieves just needed to be shown trust to be let back into society.

 

And what better way to show your trust in a thief, than by taking the him to a dress-up with your jewel-laden friends of course?

 

I smiled back at her.

 

Then looking over at Heather, elegant in her blue gown and quite shimmering collection of sapphires, her eyes wide open over seeing what my ‘thief’ had been up to...

 

I asked...

 

And your friend Heather? Is she still staying at the Seville Hotel this evening?

 

“Oh yes, but without her husband, the poor thing is going to be all alone this evening.”

 

“Poor thing,” I said full-heartedly agreeing, with wicked intent.

 

 

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As we gathered back at our table Heather (and Merrick) kept quiet about Ginny's missing necklace. But I could tell Heather was bursting over it, for it was both exciting to her and killing her at the same time to keep mum over.

 

But she stayed in her character.

 

As did we all.

 

We stayed at our table finishing up our drinks and making small talk, as we waiting for the stroke of Midnight before leaving.

 

At one point I saw Ginny lean over to Heather, and pointing over at Merrick who was standing next to me as we chatted with one of our mates from the dart league, mouth in a whisper ...

 

“ Be careful Lass, I don’t trust that one. “

 

Heather smiled, eating it up, whispered back..,

 

“No worries, I know what I’m doing...”

 

Ginny, after running her fingers along the length of her earrings, began to straighten her bracelet, continued...

 

“I’m sure you do Luv, I have every bit of faith in your abilities.”

 

Heather chortled back, unable to keep a straight face as she eyed the now necklace bare cowled neckline of Ginny’s shiny green gown, whilst playing with the sapphires still dangling down the front of hers. She said to Ginny...

 

“And I am so glad you have been so successful in having your thief give up his errant jewelry stealing ways, my darling ...”

 

Both girls began giggling uncontrollably. As Merrick and I turned to watch.

 

Soon after, the remaining quests were nicely shown the door to leave.

 

As we stood by our autos, Ginny and Heather hugged as Merrick and I firmly shook hands with each other, and I added a slap on the back.

 

Then Ginny hugged and kissed Merrick goodbye as Heather did the same for me.

 

As she perkily enveloped me in a hug, Heather whispered a thank you, then scolded that she was a little shocked finding my thief had not also nicked her fancy necklace as we danced...

 

“Wish I had, Raincheck then?” I whispered playfully back.

 

That made her smile winningly at me.

 

 

“Rain check it is.” she agreed, before reaching up to reward me with a quick kiss goodbye.

 

We then went out separate ways.

 

Heather off to teasingly entertain her ‘reformed’ jewel thief, later to lose her jewels as she “fell asleep” wearing them in her ‘hotel’ room...

 

Ginny was off to take a stroll in the woods behind our cottage, where no one but her ‘reformed’ thief knew the mischief that would befall her there.

 

And as I started the engine, seeing Heather’s necklace dangling down with a shimmer as she was being helped inside her car by Merrick, I knew there was another chapter to tonight's story waiting in the wings...

 

One where a lady resplendent in a blue gown and sparkling sapphires, would be destined to have a fateful dance with a jewel coveting thief.

 

And as we talked about it much later, Ginny said she would be game to playing a dress up part in that chapter also!

 

Fini.

 

And a thank you to David Dodge for telling someone the story behind the scenes of his.

 

lestuff.wordpress.com/tag/david-dodge-to-catch-a-thief/

 

Done