Diamonds Live Forever: moonstone mysteries

By Elizabeth Gamewell

When Dorrie finds a diamond ring sitting on the doorstep to her bead shop outside Portland, Oregon, she feels impelled to solve the mystery of the diamond and its owner. She enlists the help of her new friend Ray, owner of a nearby bookstore, her niece, and her ever shrewd cat Pumpkin.

 

As they unravel the diamond's mystery, Dorrie realizes that the young woman who owned the ring is in dire danger. And simple measures won't save her. Despite her hesitations, it's time for Dorrie to fully use her magic.. To avert tragedy, Dorrie stretches her powers beyond what she ever expected.

 

And diamonds do live forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raven's Pen
• Release date: Aug 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9781393603436

Elizabeth Gamewell

Elizabeth Gamewell is a pseudonym used for the author's mystery seies. Previously, she has published numerous articles on partner abuse and taught English. She is now a physician and homeopath. Diamonds Live Forever is the first in The Full Moon Mystery series featuring Dorrie and her helpful, but sometimes annoyingly wise cat, Pumpkin. Elizabeth has two grown children and lives near Portland OR.

Book preview

2

Graphoanalysis and other strange interests

THE RAIN WAS COMING down in buckets as Dorrie slipped on her boots and started out to Ray’s. Jessica was watching the shop in case anyone should stop by. Rain didn’t keep people inside in Portland, at least not completely, but it did slow things down. Just as well. Dorrie thought, she really didn’t need to spend a lot of time with customers who were just wasting her time.

With her new-found confidence that she could steer her business where it needed to go and the prospect of a small mystery to occupy herself, Dorrie walked into Ray’s shop. Ray was busy unpacking a box of books. He turned around and pushed a strand of his curly brown hair out of his eyes. You look like a new woman. Tea does you good. Have you come for another cup?

Actually, no, but you could tempt me. I have decided to let go of work for today and Jessica and I are occupying ourselves with a little mystery. She briefly told him about the ring on her steps.

Intriguing, so how can I assist you? He gave a little bow.

I just thought you might have some books to guide us in our game.

He got up and poured them both a cup of coffee. It was black and from experience Dorrie knew it was more like espresso than coffee. She gave him a look that said this will keep me awake all night so he added, You’ll need your energy. I’m pretty sure there will be a book or two here that could help you, but it will be, as I like to think of it, a treasure hunt. If you get really stuck, Jack can help you. He has a nose for knowledge. A bloodhound for books, I call him.

Dorrie looked down to see Jack, the store dog sleeping by the counter. She had only ever seen him moving during the morning rush when there were pastry crumbs on the floor. Still, he was very lovable and as she looked around the store, she realized she could use all the help she could get. OK Jack, she said as she bent down to scratch him behind his ears. Let’s get to work.

While Ray’s store was mostly a coffee shop, it was crammed with books for browsing or sale. One day when she had come in for tea Ray explained to her how the shop became what it is today. Originally, he opened as a bookstore and offered free coffee for customers to drink as they browsed. He quickly found that he sold few books but gave away a lot of coffee. One day a browser left a dollar on the counter and said, Thanks for the drink. After that he put out a jar with a sign that said ‘Coffee and Tea $1.00. Browse for free. Ring bell to buy.’ Then he went back to his own reading.

Apparently, that was a long time ago but as Dorrie looked around she thought the shop probably had not changed much since then. There were some books neatly displayed on the tables but they were largely just the bestsellers. Most of the books were crammed on shelves or in piles on the floor and there were a few in boxes in the corners. Some of the books were classics or of special interest but others were strange choices. He had three books on electrical wiring from 1957. Ray had explained that they still had valuable information. Apparently, this was the only requirement for becoming part of the inventory but that would suit her needs. She really didn’t need the latest in handwriting analysis. It was just be a fun way to pass the day.

She took a sip of her coffee. Ray had at least agreed to soften it with a lot of sugar and cream. It was a nice boost on a wet day and she was grateful for it as she looked at the stacks of books. They lined each wall and wandered through the downstairs to a few rooms that fed off of the hall. Dorrie realized that even though she stopped at Ray’s coffee shop almost every day since she had moved to Portland, she had never really thought about his shop. Now as she looked at the little rooms filled with books that led off of the hall, she could see that the shop used to be an old house.

Of course, that would make sense since that was what a lot of the shops in the area were, including hers. She also realized as she looked at the gate blocking off the stairs that he very probably lived here. Funny, until today she never realized that she and Ray were actually neighbors. She shook her head and told herself it was totally normal. She had been so busy with her business that she had never noticed something that was now so obvious.

She looked around the piles trying to decide on the best plan of attack. Where to find handwriting analysis? Was there any order to the books? Ray had disappeared somewhere so there was no one to ask and Jack had gone back to snoring. She decided to begin by just working her way around the walls.

Slowly she made her way through the front room and was half way down the hall when she stumbled upon two books that were surprisingly stacked together. Determining Personality Traits through Graphoanalysis published in 1962 and Handwriting Analysis for Beginners published in 1967. Briefly glancing at the texts, they both seemed far too technical to be a fun way to spend a rainy day. Still, she picked them up. Maybe they would be more interesting than they sounded.

As she stood at the counter waiting for Ray to return, she looked down the street to her shop and tried to imagine a woman hurriedly placing the ring in the bag and laying it on the step. Why had someone left this ring with her? It was small. If it was stolen, they could easily carry it in their pocket until they reached another city where it could have pawned it. Well, she wasn’t really sure. There were probably rules and ID’s needed to pawn something.

If it was an engagement ring, why not just sell it if the relationship had gone bad? Clearly it was valuable to the person, they had asked her to save it. And why her? While the person was lucky and had left it with someone who would take care of it and return it when asked, the person had no way of knowing this. They were either incredibly naive or in trouble. For some reason Dorrie hadn’t thought of that before. Maybe this person was in trouble.

You found something? Ray asked as he emerged from the back. Dorrie couldn’t remember what he had been wearing earlier but she was pretty sure he had changed his shirt. It was now a white t-shirt. She also probably wouldn’t have noticed except that it was very white, the way a white shirt can only be when it is new. It looked good on him against his dark skin. Finding the little bag with the ring left her in a place where she seemed to be noticing things that she normally didn’t even think about. She decided to ask.

Did you just change your shirt?

It’s afternoon, he said. Dorrie looked at him confused so he continued. One of the dangers of working from home.

Dorrie was still a little confused but she decided to venture ahead, Were you in pajamas?

Sort of, he smiled. Fortunately, most of my customers are also asleep when they come in. Dorrie laughed. It was one of the problems of working from home. It was the reason she made herself go out to get her morning tea and later lunch. It would have been too easy to move only from bedroom to kitchen to shop, venturing out only to get the mail or play in her small backyard garden. When you have a shop, it was easy to let the world come to you.

Dorrie handed him her findings. He glanced at the cover of the books. I hoped I had been more encouraging earlier today. I had no idea I had driven you into pursuing a career in graphology. He smiled playfully.

Dorrie laughed. Don’t worry. Jessica and I just thought the handwriting of the note might help us with our little game. I was hoping to get a simple book on handwriting analysis to do it. She paused and looked at him, You didn’t have any simple books.

Probably not, said Ray, graphology is a very serious science. I looked through these years ago when graphology was popular. I thought they might help me figure out whether a person’s check was going to bounce or not. It doesn’t work like that. It helps you see whether or not a person is extroverted or introverted or in conflict with their second-grade teacher who made them keep a good margin. It didn’t help with checks. But I did use it to analyze my own writing.

What did you find?

Apparently, I still have a problem with my second-grade teacher. He said putting the books in a bag. Here, you can take them. he added as he handed them to her. Everyone uses credit cards these days so I don’t need to play with them. Hope you and Jessica have fun.

Thanks, Dorrie tucked the books under her sweater which, while old, still possessed the magic of wool and had managed to be sort of dry. I’ll bring them back tomorrow. Jessica and I are just trying to play a little mystery game today. She walked out of the shop and back into the rain. The sky was black and the rain was pounding and she hugged the clouds enjoying their fullness. They were giving her a much-needed vacation, a diversion. The rain was so heavy it was like walking through a river and she let herself be carried as her feet followed the sidewalk home.

__________

The woman stood on the banks and looked down. The dark waters were moving quickly now. They fascinated her. She reached down and picked up a stick from the sidewalk and threw it in. Her eyes followed it until it got caught in the current and flowed out of sight.

It is like me. I am being carried. Her eyes followed the water and realized she didn’t even know where the river went. She had never been to Oregon before. It was just the place that was north of California. All she had known is that she had to leave him and go as far away as she could. As she had traveled farther north, she kept feeling better and less haunted so she kept going, taking buses at first and then hitchhiking as she realized her money would run out quickly.

Two days ago, she met a couple who offered to drive her to Portland. She had never thought of going there. Her only destination had been away and Portland was farther away so that was fine with her and she hopped in the car.

She could tell by the way they looked at her, especially the woman, they were worried about her. Until then, she had the weird feeling she was invisible. When they asked her name, she told them it was Carla, but she was sure they knew she was lying. Immediately she wished she had come up with something better. Carla was way too close to Carol.

As she sat in the car with them looking at her, she realized she could actually be seen in her oversized clothes and had been heard in her lie about her name. No wonder they’re worried about me. She wanted to tell them not to worry. I am happier now than I have been in months. Instead she thanked the couple and accepted the fifty dollars the woman insisted on giving her before getting out of in Portland.

The whole escape had been like that. Buses, paths, cars had just appeared when she needed them and so she kept going. It was like she was being propelled by some force. It was exciting and as she moved forward, she kept shedding the fancy things he had given her.

One of the first things she had done was get rid of the designer clothes he would dress her up in. She smiled thinking about what he would think if her saw here in the jeans and rain poncho she had gotten at one of the shelters. And today she got rid of the ring. Even now, when she thought about that, she cringed imagining how he would flip out. Maybe it was that momentary pang of fear that made her write that note. She wasn’t sure. Still, she was glad the ring was gone. The farther she went, the lighter she felt. Now as she stood at the edge of the river it almost like she could fly.

3

A Woman by the River

Apparently Dorrie was the only one out in this weather, Jessica thought as she sat at the counter manning the shop. Except for the sound of the rain, everything was quiet. That was okay with her; she was having fun playing with the ring. She held it to the light and it sent little rainbows around the room. Like a crystal disco ball, she laughed to herself. She knew nothing about jewels or stones except what her aunt told her, but this ring was definitely pretty. Maybe the owner would never come back for it.

She briefly wondered how long you had to wait for that sort of thing, before something left behind could become yours but she stopped herself from going there. Aunt Dorrie would probably say they should keep it forever since the person trusted them. Jessica liked that about Aunt Dorrie. She was really big into doing the right thing. Sometimes to the point where other people thought she was being foolish. But Jessica never thought she was. She twirled the ring in the light one more time and then put it back in the bag.

The bells on the shop door rang. I got a few books, Dorrie said as she walked into the store. She took off her sweater, hung it up and handed the books to Jessica. Jessica looked at the titles. Graphoanalysis. Wow, I didn’t realize this was a real science. I thought it was more like a teenage sleep-over game.

Sorry, said Dorrie, some people take this very seriously.

Jessica opened the first book. Chapter One - Analysis of Ethnic Origins as represented in Handwriting Traits. She shut the book. You know, maybe we could learn more about our mystery woman by just looking at the ring.

Jessica took the ring back out of the bag and placed it on her finger, My bet is that she is a petite blonde in designer jeans. Jessica took the ring off her finger and placed it on the table as though confirming her bet. You know a lot about stones. What do you think?

Dorrie wasn’t sure the ring could tell them much about what the woman would be wearing, but she had to admit it did look more interesting than the books.

How strange that she didn’t immediately go to the ring when she opened the bag; stones and crystals are her passion, her magic. This should have been the obvious thing to do. Dorrie now stared at the ring where Jessica had laid it.. Oddly, a part of her didn’t even want to touch it.

Come on, urged Jessica pushing the ring toward her. What do you think she is wearing? It’s just a game.

Dorrie realized Jessica wasn’t