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“She’s positive.” Charlie shakes his head. “But she did say she left the back door unlocked for when Mrs. Russell came home. She lives in the Lombards’ third-floor bedsit. Mrs. Russell says she locked the back door upon returning at ten o’clock and noticed nothing amiss.”

“Did she see the rings?”

“She didn’t go into the kitchen. She came down the next morning at seven o’clock and Mr. and Mrs. Lombard at their usual time of half past eight. All three claim they heard nothing during the night. But the rings were not in the dish.”

“Only the rings were taken? Nothing else?”

“Nothing.”

“Do you think Mrs. Russell nicked them?”

Charlie moans. “At first, yes, how could I not? The poor woman was terrified and insisted we search her rooms right then. We found nothing.”

“She had all night to hide them anywhere in the house.”

“I thought that, too, but she’s lived with them for fifteen years. There’s plenty of silver and fancy bits and bobs around that house. Why wouldn’t she pinch something less obvious? She could’ve stolen silver from the cupboards for years with no one the wiser.”

“Humph.” My exhalation comes out a half sigh, half agreement. “So taking the rings was either a crime of opportunity—maybe someone saw them through the window—or it was personal. Someone wanted to take something Mrs. Lombard would miss very dearly.”

“And she does. She inherited them from her mother. They mean a great deal to her, far beyond their monetary value, which, with all those diamonds, is significant.”

“Interesting.” I think back to my last visit to the Lombard house.

Silence rests between us. Then Charlie’s hands lift in frustration and plop back to his knees. “I’ve got no suspects, Gemma.”

My heart stutter-skips at the easy mention of my name. Focus, Gemma.

“Everyone I thought might make good for the job has an alibi. Solid ones too. I canvassed all the Great Rollright usual suspects, and for two days straight I’ve been racking my brain going over it again and again.” He grips the back of his neck. “Chief Wilmot is none too pleased with me either. It’s the first case he’s let me take lead on, saying it was a ‘simple robbery,’ and I’ve mucked it up.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” He deflates against the bench. “With your sleuthing I simply hoped.”

“I think people exaggerate my skills.” I bite the corner of my lip. I’ve never been so sorry in my life that people exaggerate. “Wait.” I sit straight. “You said the Lombards heard nothing all night?”

“Nothing. They went to bed at ten o’clock and didn’t wake until morning.”

“Their dog never barked?”

“No. Mrs. Russell commented that was odd. She also locked it away when we arrived.”

I wonder if I’m about to help or hurt Charlie’s case.

“What are you thinking? I can tell something caught your attention.”

“You need to talk to Mr. Lombard again.”

“Because of the dog?” Charlie voice arcs in bewilderment.

“My bet is that dog only likes three people in Great Rollright, and you’ve ruled out two of them. Mrs. Russell, you’ve questioned. Mrs. Lombard is devastated.”

“In my canvassing I did get a hint that Mr. Lombard likes the ponies.” His voice lifts.

I match his tone. “Mrs. Lombard might get a bit weary of her husband losing money at the races. I don’t sense she’s a quiet woman.”

“No.” Charlie whispers the word, stretching it as if carrying it deep into thought. “I had him down as a victim, too, but he’s not, is he? Not really.”

“Perhaps not at all.”