ItwasabeautifulsummerdaywhenMs.AmeliaJohnson，theownerofthefamousJohnsonJewelers，discoveredthathermostpreciousheirloom，arubyneckcepasseddownfromherancestors，wasmissing.Theneckcewasworthnearlyamilliondolrs，andsheknewithadtobefound.SheimmediatelycontactedCharlie，oneofthemostfamousprivateinvestigatorsintown

    CharliearrivedatJohnsonJewelersandquestionedAmelia'semployeesonebyone.Heinterviewedeveryonefromthejanitortothemanager，butnothingseemedoutoftheordinary.Charliealsosearchedthestorebutfoundnotracesoftheneckce

    HethendecidedtobroadenhissearchandinvestigateAmelia'sfamilymembers.Hevisitedherson，wholivedtwohoursawayfromthecity，andaskedhimabouthiswhereaboutsonthedaytheneckcewentmissing.Hecimedhewasoutoftownonabusinesstripandhadnothingtodowiththetheft

    CharliealsopaidavisittoAmelia'syoungersister，whowasequallyaswealthyandhadaccesstotheJohnsons'safe.Shedeniedalccusations，andCharliecouldn'tfindanythingtosuggestherinvolvementinthetheft

    Charliewasrunningoutofleads，andhewasbeginningtothinkthattheneckcewouldneverbefound.Butthen，athoughtoccurredtohim.HewentbacktothejewelrystoreandexaminedtheCCTVfootagefromthedayofthetheft.Henoticedsomethingstrange.OneofAmelia'semployees，ayoungwomannamedLily，hadkeptherhandinherpocketthewholeday

    CharliedecidedtobringLilyinforquestioning.Shewasnervousfromthestart，andwhenCharlieaskedheraboutthedaytheneckcewentmissing，shestartedsweatingprofusely.AsCharliecontinuedtopressher，shefinallybrokedownandconfessedtostealingtheneckce

    LilyhadbeenworkingforAmeliaforseveralyearsandhadalwaysbeenenviousofherwealth.Sheknewthattheneckcewouldmakeherrich，butsheneverexpectedtogetcaught.Lilywasarrestedandchargedwiththeft

    ThankstoCharlie'smeticulousinvestigation，themissingheirloomwasfinallyrecovered，andAmeliacouldbreatheasighofrelief.Charliewashailedasahero，andhisreputationasaprivateinvestigatorgrewevenstronger