Coming a little late to the party? You can catch up from the beginning by clicking here: Chapter One
When Cassie arrived the next morning, she found Jet sat tapping at her computer apparently deep in thought.
“Well? Nothing else missing?” she asked, hopefully.
But when Jet looked up, her face was grave. “I’m sorry, Cass. I must not have been in early enough.
“Oh no!” Cassie went to the box and peered inside. Only three gifts remained of the four that were there yesterday. “But who’s in already? They must be our thief. It’s one of the traders, isn’t it?” Cassie sat at her desk and folded her arms. “They’re always in early. They say it’s to catch the markets, but I think it’s just to make themselves look good with Brian.”
“Did you count them last night before you left?” asked Jet.
Cassie had been the one to stay late the previous night. There were definitely four presents in the box when she left and, equally definitely, no-one still in the office.
“Yes,” she said. “It must have happened after I left. But I checked. Everyone had gone home. I even checked the gents.”
“Really? What’s it like in there?”
Cassie stared at her. How could she be asking a question like that at a time like this? Still, it wasn’t her job on the line, was it.
“The same as the ladies but with fewer dunnies.” She sounded abrupt even to her own ears, and immediately regretted it. “I’m sorry, Jet. I appreciate you coming in early, I really do.”
“No problem.”
Jet definitely looked a bit hurt. She would have to make it up to her later. For now she had to think of what to do next.
“I checked when I arrived, too,” said Jet, perking up again. “No-one was here.”
Cassie smirked. “But you didn’t check the gents, did you?” she teased. “Or you’d know what they were like.”
Jet laughed. “I banged on the door and waited outside for five minutes. But I wasn’t going to risk running into Brian.”
“Ugh! No. No-one wants to see their boss peeing.” Cassie stood up and reached out to Jet. “Come on, give me your mug. I’ll make us a coffee.”
Cassie spent all morning thinking about what they could possibly do next. The only idea she came up with was setting mousetraps at the bottom of the box, but she was fairly sure Jet wouldn’t go for that. She was right.
“Definitely not. What if someone got trapped as they were just putting their gift in?”
“But they wouldn’t. Only a thief would be rummaging about in there.”
Cassie pulled out the sandwiches she’d picked up on her way into the office and handed one to Jet. Guy had gone for his midday walk bang on one pm as usual and so they were alone in the admin area.
“They might try and put their gift at the bottom,” said Jet. “So it wouldn’t be obvious that it was the new one if someone saw them and then looked in.”
“Who would do that?” Cassie asked, in disbelief. “Oh, wait, that’s what you do?”
Jet blushed. “I have an alternative plan,” she said, neatly avoiding the question. “I thought we could bring in something really nice for lunch tomorrow and put it in the kitchen. Then keep watch and see what happens.”
Cassie frowned. That didn’t seem like much of a plan.
“Once you’ve stolen something it becomes more difficult to resist doing it again,” explained Jet. “Particularly if we make it something that they could take a little bit of, and we’d not notice.”
Cassie considered. She could see that it might just work. “But like what?” she asked.
“Like a box of chocolates or maybe a cake that’s already been cut.”
“Ooh, or a black cherry cheesecake. No-one could resist that.” Her mouth was salivating at the thought.
“Great idea. So you’ll make one tonight?”
“Me?”
“You know I’m a rubbish cook.” Jet smiled at her. Almost fluttering her eyelashes. “But that pavlova you made last weekend was fabulous.”
Cassie knew when she was being railroaded but she also knew Jet was right. For this to work, they needed something that looked the part.
“Ok,” she conceded then waved her sandwich at Jet. “But you have to stay late tonight, not me. I need the time to shop and prep.”
“And eat the first few slices?” Jet teased. “No problem. I’ll stay late, you cook. That’s a bargain in my book.”
You can read on by clicking here: Chapter Five