Mina and Raven arrived at Rocks on the Block for one important reason--something they admittedly should have done before they were sidetracked by Monica and her Maria Santiago persona: they visited the actual murder scene to look for clues.

Jem Diamond had been shot in a backroom for the maintenance of the museum. On the charcoal black concrete floor, there was a chalky white outline where he was killed in cold blood by 'Maria'.

Mina and Raven looked around the whole room where several glass panels cases, metal bulletin boards alternate rocks including amethysts and calcite were swapped out depending on what the museum was currently showcasing.

"Holy moly," Mina muttered. "This place is like a museum for the museum."

Raven stroked his goatee with a bemused look. "Funny way to describe a curation room. But yes. This room is quite handy dandy to swap out rocks for other rocks."

Mina paced the room in her pink heels. "Rocks to swap out other rocks.... Raven. Tell me again. What do we know about Jem Diamond?"

Raven tapped rhythmically on a display case. "No wife or husband or children. I think he was a mineralist instead. Rock hard over rocks! Hmm, he also had quite the collection of rocks. Both in the museum and wrapped around his fingers!"

Mina clicked over to the chalk outline again. "Precious stones were the most precious things to him."

Raven nodded.

"Geez Louise," Mina muttered. "You know that really doesn't say much about him."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Raven chuckled. "Or perhaps, kiddo, that says everything about him."

Placing her fingers to her temples in an attempt at EAP style meditation, Mina pondered what her teacher has said. She thought back to what the detective had said about the deal they had made. Jem Diamond was willing to work with a strange detective for some bizarre reason and use the precious Rubylove as bait. It didn't add up until she put the man's greedy persona into the equation.

Mina's eyes expanded. "No way. Hold my E-Phone for a second... Actually, on second thought, I'm gonna make a call myself."

She dialed the police precinct with her heart thundering in her mouth. "Um yes, hi, Sparky. Can you please tell me what you know about what was found on Jem Diamond's body during the autopsy.

Spark confirmed he was wearing several rings at the time. Mina's smiled widely. Do you know what kind of gemstones were in his rings?

There were several previous stones he listed. "Peridots, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and...a ruby."

Mina was so excited she danced happily in her heels. "Please run a test on that ruby in his ring. I have a very good feeling about it and it might allow us to crack this case wide open like an egg of truth."

Sparky agreed and Mina hung up the phone. Raven put his hands in his pockets and waltzed over to Mina. He put his hand on her shoulders which she was moving back and forth happily. "So let me guess," he said. "You think this ruby is actually the Rubylove!"

"Yes indeedy!" Mina grinned. "And not only that, it gives Jem Diamond a reason to be murdered."

Raven nodded again. "Yes it does indeed! His greedy buttocks pocketed the stone they were going to use to lure Maria Santiago out!"

Mina smiled in agreement. "And when Inspector Croix-Saint found out that his revenge plot was nearly foiled by a museum curator's lust for precious stones, he took matters into his own hands and gave Jem Diamond his own twisted kind of rock: solid lead!"

The phone rang again and Mina answered it. "Yellow, Sparky!" she answered in bright cheery colors. "Wait really? Wowie zowie! Ok we will be right over!"

She did an excited fist pump in the air. Raven followed too.

"Seal up this case!" Mina said smiling. "It's going home in a baggy! The ring rings true!"