Inspector Croix-Saint waved to everyone from the press stand. The paparazzi were all super stoked to hear straight from the snail's mouth how he accomplished such a feat as catching the uncatchable senorita. Their cameras flashed excitedly making the man's face light up like headline news. "Hello, bonjour, everyone. Yes, I love you all and your leetle poodles! I know you are all amazed at my miraculous feats and deductions!"
The ever caustic police chief shuffled her mom-bob as she turned to demand an answer. "Yes. I would," O'Law demanded. "I was tracking her for months and not just because I want to be hip with the kids. Please tell us how you did it."
"Well, Madame," Croix-Saint answered. "Eet was as simple as this. I knew the thieves schedule before eet even happened."
There were audible gasps from the crowd. Was Croix-Saint some kind of psychic and not just a psycho? "Call eet a sixth sense. For this rock, the Rubylove that this scandalous senorita has pilfered was the perfect bait! I knew she would show up if we laid it out for her. And yes, eet worked!"
Monica visibly winced upon hearing this. Mina was surprised. It seemed she hadn't known this bit of information.
"That diablo!" she muttered, oddly invested in Maria's criminal career.
"Haw haw haw!" the inspector laughed. "I arranged for this Rubylove to travel to this insignificant museum. Because I knew full well that a jewel crazy lady of the night would want her mitts on it! See zis is just as much about zee fashion as eet eez the crimes!"
He posed triumphantly with his finger twirling his curly mustache as he was barraged by a number of camera flashes. "Haw haw diamonds may be a girl's best friend. But rubies are clearly a girl's worst enemy."
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Chief O'Law looked just as amazed. She knocked Sparky on the back of the head that made him light up. "Now why didn't I think of that! Or more importantly, you, Sparky-boy?"
However, the police chief had an interested look on her face. The detective kept bowing and smiling, acting as if the press conference was over. "I do have a follow up question for you."
"Go 'head, Mademoiselle. I am happy to receive all kinds of questions."
"How did you know where Maria was going to be?"
The detective began to twirl his mustache again like it was like a strand of black spaghetti. "Well, you see. Zat eez tres important to zee case, non? Let's just say I was at zee museum too and was how you say, hot on Madame Santiago's trail. When she flew, I followed her too. It took me to the Low Rent Apartments! There i quickly apprehended the malfeasant mademoiselle! Even though it turned out he was a coy monsieur instead! Luckily, we French know a bit about, 'ow you say, feminine men!"
Once again, he was greeted with a large amount of flashes from delighted paparazzi. The man was successfully delivering a juicy story for today's tabloid.
"What became of the gem, Mr. Hot Shot Detective?" the chief demanded.
Rita O'Law was still hard on the detective's trail, trying to get as much information out of him as possible. Mina was thankful for that. It made her job a little easier in this tangled web of a case.
Inspector Croix-Saint seemed to know this as well. Or at least he gave off the impression he did.
"Zee location of zee gem, I am still unraveling. I paid a visit to Maria...or should I say, Ricki's house and asked his sister about eet. She was not forthcoming. Luckily, zat eez why we 'ave what you hosers call the American Justice system that will pummel them until they cough it up in the name of justice!"
"Speaking of justice," Rita asked. "I have one final question before the press can ask theirs. Do you have anything to say about the untimely death of the museum curator, Jem Diamond."
The Inspector's eyes darkened. A host of haw haws echoed around the room as he twirled both ends of his mustache. "Zat I can safely say eez the second crime Monsieur Ricki committed! He killed zat curator in cold blood. However...I will save zat testimony for the trial. Eet will be a trial by fire! And zat witch will burn!"