Issue No. 6 in the Whodunnit series. Tap into your inner detective by explaining how Inspector Parnacki believes he knows who the thief is in this case.

IT was past 9pm when Inspector Parnacki arrived at the home of Jackson and Isabella Stone. The snow that had been falling all day had finally stopped a couple of hours earlier, so the journey hadn’t been too unpleasant. He was met at the top of the driveway by a chilly-looking police officer. Parnacki showed the policeman his badge and asked for a report.

. You might also like ‘Whodunnit: The Logician’

The officer began, “An extremely valuable diamond necklace belonging to Isabella Stone was stolen from the house an hour ago, sir. Mr and Mrs Stone are entertaining longstanding friends this evening, a couple named John and Kathleen Acosta. None of the four report noticing anything suspicious until Mr Stone discovered that a ladder had been placed against the side wall, leading up to the window of the main bedroom. The group searched the house and he found that the necklace had been stolen. I have personally verified that the intruder is not anywhere to be found at the scene. He must have climbed in and out and made his escape before anyone noticed. Everything was in order when the Acostas arrived at 5.30pm, but the crime could have taken place anytime between then and 8.30pm, when the theft was discovered.”

Inspector Parnacki thanked the officer and asked to be shown the ladder. He was then led round the front of the house to the side. The snow was a mess of footprints, both around the house and to and from the small garden shed. The ladder had been placed carefully against the side of the building, reaching up to an open window. Was that something flapping? Parnacki took hold of the ladder and squinted up at the window, flinching slightly as the ladder sank into the snow. The flapping turned out to be just a piece of curtain blowing around in the breeze.

“It came from the shed?”

The officer nodded. “Jackson Stone positively identified it.”

“I should have a word with the Stones and Acostas,” Parnacki said.

The two men then went inside the house and into the sitting room, where the four friends were gathered. It was a pleasant room, neatly furnished and tidy, comfortable rather than prosperous.

After the introductions, Parnacki asked the four to give him their accounts of what happened.

“We didn’t realise anything had happened,” said Isabella Stone. “Not until it was all over, anyway.”

“Yes,” said Jackson Stone. “I went to the bathroom a little before 8.30 and spotted from the window that the ladder was resting against the wall. I couldn’t make sense of it, so once I was finished I popped outside to check, and there it was, out of the shed and running straight up to the bedroom window. So, I came back inside and raised the alarm.”

John Acosta nodded in agreement. “Jack rushed into the room looking most alarmed and told us there might be an intruder in the house. He and I immediately checked to make sure we were safe, while the ladies telephoned the police. I searched downstairs, while Jack looked upstairs. I was quite relieved to discover that no knives appeared to be missing from the kitchen.”

“That’s when I discovered that Isabella’s necklace was missing, and the thief with it,” Jackson said.

“We checked everywhere, inside and out,” said Kathleen Acosta. “No sign of either the necklace or the thief. It’s quite alarming.”

Inspector Parnacki nodded thoughtfully. “And I suppose the four of you have been together all evening?”

“Of course,” said Isabella. “In pairs, anyway. Kathy and I have made a couple of trips to the kitchen.”

“I see,” Parnacki said. “I should remind you, Mr Stone, that insurance fraud can carry a very significant prison and custodial sentence. I trust that the necklace will be found dropped in some suitably convenient location.”

Stone paled, and the other three gasped.

“Good evening,” Parnacki said, and sauntered out.

Why does Inspector Parnacki think Jackson Stone is the thief?