Piece By Piece by Millie Jordan

Author:Millie Jordan [Jordan, Millie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-26T04:00:00+00:00

Part 2

THE JIG IS UP

Chapter One

The cargo on Union Pacific train #1239 should have reached its destination by now, Josie thought as she loaded her suitcase in her car. The train’s last stop was a port in Texas, and that was two months ago.

Had the container from The Dissectologists stayed on the train to the end? Had it been picked up by truck and taken to another warehouse? Had it been loaded on a ship destined for some foreign country? Could Fran Dias’ husband, Raul, be the brains behind the gun-smuggling operation? She had so many questions and too few answers.

“Wish I knew,” she said, not realizing she was thinking out loud.

“Wish you knew what?” Grandpa Stew asked.

Jumping back from the trunk, Josie almost fell over. “You startled me. I didn’t know anyone was out here.”

“Sorry, I thought I’d see if you needed any help. When do you leave for the conference?”

Josie hadn’t been sure she should attend the Puzzlers’ Conference at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. She didn’t want to close her shop, Piece-it-Together Puzzles and Books, for two and a half days. But Corey Grant, her part-time summer employee, assured her he could handle it with assistance from Mabel Green. Besides, he told her, she was only an hour away from Boulder City.

“After lunch. Registration starts at 3:00. Guess I’m more nervous about being away than I thought.”

“Is that all that’s concerning you, Peanut?” her grandpa asked.

Before she could answer, the Boulder City Police Chief’s cruiser pulled into a parking spot at the back of her shop and her grandpa’s restaurant. “Hi, Chief Archer,” Josie said. “What brings you by?”

“Your grandpa told me you’re going to a Puzzlers’ Conference in Vegas.”

“Yes, why?”

“It’s for manufacturers and distributors as well as retail sellers, right?”

Chief Archer’s question puzzled Josie. “That’s right. The attendees are mainly from the western states. It starts tonight with a reception and ends at noon on Saturday.”

“Are you meeting with The Shop of Fun and Games?”

“I plan to see Rachel. Emma Lee from The Puzzler Puzzle Club will also be there.”

“Are they aware of the message the pieces revealed?” the Chief asked.

“No. You and Detective Bartlow asked me not to share any details, so I didn’t. What’s going on? I thought everything was over when we said the extras were a packaging glitch.”

“Josie, we know The Dissectologists will be at the conference. Detective Bartlow called me yesterday expressing some concerns.”

“Are you sure it’s safe for her to attend?” Josie’s grandpa asked.

“We don’t know the amount of involvement of The Dissectologists. The CEO asked her to return the puzzles with extra pieces and I’m sure he is aware she didn’t send any back. Whether that means someone will approach her to find out why is anyone’s guess,” the Chief responded. “Josie, someone from LAPD will meet you when you check in. I’ll text you how to recognize them.”

“I’ll be fine,” Josie said, feeling a little irritated. “I don’t need anyone protecting me.”

“Be in touch soon,” the Chief replied, ignoring her comment as he climbed back into his police cruiser to leave.

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