Friday Barnes and the Case of the Stolen Diamond

The promote the release of the audio book of 'Friday Barnes 1, Girl Detective' on 2nd February 2021, I have recorded this mini-mystery from that book. It is the first case Friday ever solved.

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https://raspratt.threadless.com/designs/bedtime-stories-with-r-a-spratt-2/kids

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:37

Hello, and welcome to bedtime stories with me RA spread while we've got a couple of big releases coming up on the 2nd of February, 2021, the new Friday Barnes book, it's the ninth in the series and it's called Friday bonds. No escape is going to be going on sale. And I know the fans have been waiting for this because there's been a hiatus since the eighth book and everyone was like, you can't end it that way. Write another book. So I did finally crack and write another book and it's coming out just over a week away. Um, so that's really exciting that book, but on the same day, the audio book of Friday Barnes girl, detective, which is the first book in the series, that's also going to go on sale so you can download it through audible or wherever you download audio books from. I guess Spotify would have it in iTunes and all that sort of thing. So because the ninth book's coming out next week, I will read to you the first chapter of that book next week. But to prepare you for that, I'm going to read you the first mystery from book one. It's not actually the first chapter. It's the second and third chapter so that you fall in love with it and rush out and get the audio book, or because you can just download it on your phone. I guess you don't really actually have to rush anywhere just quickly click on something and buy it. Anyway. I'm going to read to you from that book. So here we go. Chapter two from Friday Barnes girl, detective a brilliant deduction as Friday page through uncle Bernie's case file. She sucked on a lollipop. She always did this. When her brain was processing a difficult conundrum, she actually didn't eat many lollipops because she usually found most problems. Like the ones that teachers gave her were easy to solve, but the mystery of the stolen diamond was very difficult. Indeed. She was onto her third lollipop and she still hadn't solved it. Friday. And uncle Bernie poured over the paperwork, surveillance, videos and affidavits from all the bank staff. The problem was there was nothing to see everything in the bank. Vault proceeded. According to protocol, a diamond appraiser inspected the Juul at 1:00 PM on Tuesday. Then put it back in a safety deposit box. Then nothing happened until 2:17 PM. The following day, when the owner of the diamond, Mr. Fredericks opened the box and discovered that it was gone Friday, watch the footage over and over again, focusing on all the details, the nervous way the bank manager kept touching his tie. As he accompanied the appraiser down to the vault, the way the appraiser methodically cleaned first one lens of his glasses, and then the other before handling the stone. The number of times the security got Sneed per minute and the way Mr. Frederick Strode into the bank in his built up cowboy boots and towered over the average height security guard. As he presented his card with a little flourish of the fingertips, finally, there was the pandemonium as Mr. Fredericks discovered the diamond was missing and raise the alarm. A siren went off. Staff ran down from the offices above and in the chaos, Mr. Fredericks must have stubbed his toe because he hobbled as he was ushered upstairs Friday, watched it all time and time again, trying to unravel the story of what really happened after three hours, uncle Bernie gave up and left Friday to it. So he could swap to watch in reality television and find out if the spinster chose Eric, the farm boy or Peter, the Playboy millionaire. He woke up as the closing credits rolled and looked at the clock. Oh, it's quarter to 12 exclaimed uncle Bernie. As he leaped up from the couch, we've got to hide the pizza boxes. De-tune the commercial channels and put you in bed. Your parents could be here any second. It's all right. They won't be here for another 15 minutes, said Friday, not looking up from the paperwork. They're never early or late. They make complex calculations on traffic speed based on all the latest available data before they go anywhere in a car. Well, you should be beds and uncle Bernie. It's a school night, Friday look confused, but the most effective use of my time would be for me to sleep in school. Although I doubt I will be going to school tomorrow. What do you mean? Asked uncle Bernie? You haven't got food poisoning from the pizza. Have you? I told you you should order one topping. That was a vegetable vegetables do not in and of themselves. Prevent disease set Friday. They provide vitamins. That act as co-factors in enzyme reactions, carbohydrates for energy and fiber, that assists ease of bowel function. Then why aren't you going to school tomorrow? Asked uncle Bernie, because you are going to take me down to the bank so I can prove who committed this crime. Discover where the diamond is hidden and claim the$50,000 award announced Friday. You are asked uncle Bernie. You're not just saying that. So you can get out of taking some tests that scheduled for tomorrow. Of course not. I love test at Friday. No I know who did it and I can prove it. It was eight in the morning and the bank hadn't opened yet. Uncle Bernie thought that if someone was going to be arrested and dragged off by the police, it would be best. If it happened before customers started to arrive, he was pretty confident someone was going to be arrested because if Friday couldn't prove who had done the bank robbery, then she was going to be taken him for wasting police time. Uncle Bernie had as per Friday's instructions assembled the police chief, the bank manager, the security guard had been on duty. The CEO of the insurance company, his secretary, he never went anywhere without a secretary, just in case he needed a cup of tea at a moment's notice. And the owner of the diamond, Mr. Fredericks, who's monstrous claim. The insurance company desperately didn't want to pay out. And for reasons, only Friday understood uncle Bernie had instructed everyone to dress in precisely the same clothes they were wearing. The afternoon of the robbery. Can we get on with this? Ask Mr. Fredericks as he checked his watch. If this is going to be a complete waste of time, I'd rather get it over with. I've got a trustees meeting at high Christa Academy. It's the best school in the country. And it took me two years to get on the board. So I don't want to be late for my first meeting. Hmm. Interest in set Friday. And what is this child doing here? Demanding Mr. Fredericks. Good question. Agreed. The police chief taken out his notebook. What's your name? Young lady. I should be passing it on to the truancy officer Friday bonds within, he said Friday, reading over the chief's shoulder to check. He spelled it correctly. I find Mr. Fredrick's comment. Interesting because traditionally in detective novels, the person who first complained about having their time wasted by a murder investigation is the person who committed the crime. What is she talking about? Murders for demanded Mr. Fredericks, the principle is the same. So Friday the police chief scratched out the word, a truancy officer from his notepad while muttering. Hmm. Perhaps I better report it to the mental health team instead. Friday was, but uncle Bernie trying to be discrete, although in a bank vault, things tend to echo so everyone could hear this is real life not fiction. I thought you had something real to reveal. Oh, I do said Friday. I know who the murderer is, but no one's been murdered, said the bank manager mopping his brow. He turned to the police chief. No one has have they. The robbery is bad enough. Sorry. Force of habits at Friday, most detective stories are about murders. So it's hard to stop thinking of crime in those terms. Nevertheless, I do know who did it, which in his case is robbed the bank. This is ridiculous. And Mr. Fredericks again, that is what all murders. I mean, criminal say set Friday, Mr. Fredericks, your conversation is quite the cliche bonds. So the CEO by which he meant uncle Bernie. If I canceled my eight 15, tee-off for a waste of my time, I shall not be impressed, please, sir. I said, uncle bunny, my niece may be eccentric, strange small Dowdy and inconsequential looking. I am as Friday, but she really is very, very smart. Continued uncle Bernie. If she said she knows who did it, she probably does know. Then please get on with it to the police chief. One of my officers arrested himself last night for being drunk in charge of a firearm. So I really do have to get down to the station and yell at him. Let's review the evidence declared Friday as she took uncle Bernie's laptop and brought up the surveillance footage. Everyone else groaned Friday, continued to undeterred. The bank was robbed last Tuesday. No one knows how the thief got in or got out. All we know is that when Mr. Fredericks came to withdraw the diamond at 2:17 PM on Tuesday afternoon, the diamond was no longer there. It had last been seen at 1:00 PM. The previous day, when an evaluator from the insurance company inspected the diamond for the official evaluation. Yes, yes. At the police chief, we all know the facts you say that said Friday, but it's not true because I know more than any of you. The identity of the murderer Friday was beginning to enjoy herself. She'd been watching a lot of Agatha Christie movies and she was beginning to speak with a trace of a building accent and to twirl and imaginary mustache, as she started about the volt, like a QL Paro identity of the thief corrected uncle Bernie. Yes. Yes. Same difference. Modern Friday, the video evidence from all the security cameras has been scoured. No one came into contact with the security box in that time, which only one of three things can have happened. Number one, the security camera footage was tampered with, but the recordings of the security camera, uh, housed in a titanium box, protested the bank manager, and it's isolated from the internet. So there's no way it can be broken into physically or by hacking into it. Exactly a great Friday. The second alternative is that the thief use laparoscopic technology to drill a hole up through the sub floor and extract the diamond by a tube if that had occurred. So the police chief that'd be filings and a one inch diameter hole big enough for the diamond to pass through. I know a great Friday opening the security box to show the others. And as you can see, there is no such hole. What's the third option as the police chief, like most law man, he loved a good crime mystery that someone walked into the bank, went down to the security deposit boxes, open the box and took, it said Friday, but you've just said that was impossible because no one was caught on films at the bank manager. He didn't really care about the diamond. He just desperately wanted to make sure that the bank's protocols had not been violated. So he couldn't get in any trouble. Ah, but he was caught on film set. Friday. One person opened the box and that person was Mr. Fredericks. Friday pointed at Mr. Fredericks for dramatic effect. When he opened the box, he didn't discover the diamond was gone. He stole it. Uncle Bernie grind, Oh dear, I'm going to lose my job over this. Why on earth would I steal my own diamond? Demanded Mr. Fredericks for the insurance money of course said, Friday, this is ridiculous. And Mr. Fredericks, I want this girl arrested for slander. You can't be arrested for slander as it isn't a felony. You have to take civil action. Explain the police chief though. I think you'd have a pretty good case. You've got plenty of reputable witnesses, but I can prove I'm right. Set Friday. I'm going to Mr. Fredericks, starting to move toward the vault door, hanging about to the CEO. We're all here. And my group is teeing off without me. So we might as well hear the young lady out after all. So the police chief, if she slanders you further, you'll only have a stronger case. Take a look at this part of the security footage set Friday showing the point where Mr. Fredericks arrived in the volt, but he's just entered to the police Jeep. He hasn't done anything yet. But look at this at Friday, as she slowly moved the footage forward frame, by frame his hand in the security guard, that's me said the security guard proudly, pleased to see how slim he looked on screen. How's your cold Friday. How did you know? I had a cold asked the security guard because you sneezed 16 times in seven minutes while Mr. Fredericks was in the volt set Friday, you can't have hay fever because you're working in an airtight underground bank vault where there's no Poland and you can't have flu or you won't be able to perform a job that requires so much standing. Therefore I deduced a simple cold. I'm fine now. Thank you. So the security guard, can we get on with this as the police chief? Yes, of course. At Friday, returning her attention to the security footage on the computer screen. Here it is. Mr. Fredericks presenting his business card. So said, Mr. Fredericks look at the flourish said Friday, he doesn't just hand over the card. He flicks it up into his fingertips. Normal people don't do that. The only people who use that little dramatic gesture to present a card are magicians. What? By the police chief, it takes hours and hours of practice to balance the case. It's perfectly on your fingers to do that said Friday. She took out one of her uncle's business cards and handed it to the police. Chief. You try the police chief flick the cut up, but it slipped out of his fingers and flooded to the ground. It's not easy said Friday, but Mr. Fredericks did it without even thinking it was instinctual automatic. It shows he had, at some point in his life spent years cultivating the techniques of slight of hand magic preposterous said Mr. Fredericks and I was easily able to prove it was true continued Friday because the Barnum and Bailey circus skills university does not have very good online security. Friday clicked away busily at the computer for a few moments. So when I hacked into that transcript database, I found that you, Mr. Fredericks graduated Magna laude 20 years ago with a major in acrobatics and a minor in slight of hand, Friday turned the laptop around and showed everyone. Mr. Fredrick's transcript that doesn't prove anything. Bless it. Mr. Fredericks, a man is entitled to have a misspent youth, uh, start again without it being held against him. What are you saying? Friday asked uncle Bernie. I'm saying that Mr. Fredericks had all the slight of hand skills necessary to Palm the diamond. When he opened the box and pretend it wasn't there accused Friday, hold onto the bank manager. They've just reported. We have strict protocols. No one can leave the bank without being searched. Mr. Fredericks did not have the diamond on him when he left the bank. No agreed. Friday. He had it under him. She always talk in riddles, complained the CEO. Sometimes she can go days without talking at all said, uncle Bernie. I wish this was one of those days. Might have the CEO. I draw your attention to Mr. Fredericks. Boots said Friday. Now it's a crime to wear boots. Is it asked Mr. Fredericks? We'll see, you said Friday. You'll notice Mr. Fredericks is wearing riding boots. The style is called the Stockman. It has leather soles and a three inch Cuban Hill. These boots are handmade to order and have all the style options available. Mr. Fredericks deliberately chose those. So as a police Sergeant, why would a man who is six foot four continue Friday 6:00 PM. Five. Mr. Fredericks interrupted Friday, looked him up and down. I think you'd find your shrunk. Since he last measured yourself. Friday, turn back to the others. Anyway. Why would such a tall man deliberately choose a shoe with a three inch heel. You already, ours are the most man. A shoe with a heel is much less comfortable as any woman wearing heels can tell you the secretary nodded, she was wearing five inch to letters and they were killing her. Therefore continue Friday. The only possible reason Mr. Fredericks could have for wearing such ostentatious height, elevating shoes. And so they would have heels large enough for him to hollow one out and hide a diamond inside. Everyone looked at Mr. Fredrick's feet. This is ridiculous. Mr. Fredericks explained again. Footwear is not probable cause not in and of itself. Agreed Friday when footwear's combined with a limp Friday turned on the surveillance footage again, uh, Mr. Fredericks could be seen clutching his foot for a moment. Then leaving the bank with a slight limp, a limp that you had when you left, but not when you entered at it Friday, that is damning evidence. Indeed. They're not staying for this ridiculous child's fantasy. I've got a meeting to attend. Some hysterical student told a tablet. They saw a giant ape in the school's swamp. And the board has to decide whether they want to Sue the student for defamation said, Mr. Fredricks, is he Strode to the door? If you've got anything further to say to me, you can say it to my lawyer. He grabbed the handle of the door. I asked the bank manager to lock the door when we entered said Friday. So the thief couldn't escape. Let me out demanded Mr. Fredericks. Show us your shoe. First at the police chief, who has this search warrant demanded Mr. Fredericks, I don't need a warrant to search the shoe of suspect in a bank robbery. So the police chief now take off your shoe. I may look like an aging man to you, but I should inform you that. Back in my day, I was the all state wrestling champion for the police force three years in a row. And I had to wrestle against firefighters and ambulance officers. And they are tricky. Blighters who cheat, Mr. Frederick slowly and reluctantly bent down and slid off his boot and showed it to the police chief. There you see nothing inside. Let me have a closer look. So the police chief, he inspected the boot very carefully. He took out the insole, looked over every stitch in the soul and even sniffed it. Lovely smelling leather said the police chief, but he's right. No,$5 million diamond hidden in there. May I have a look at Friday? This is ridiculous. Snap, Mr. Fredericks, I'm going to Sue your department for this, a charade and a bit tired of the lack of respect with which you speak to me, Mr. Fredericks, you threatened me twice. If you threatened me a third time, I shall arrest you for attempting to intimidate an officer of the law, regardless of what jewelry you may or may not have in your footwear. So the police chief, he had it tried out the shoe. She sniffed it too. It does smell nice. A great Friday. The boots obviously knew she turned the boot over and looked at the large Cuban heel. Then she grabbed the shoe firmly between both hands and wrenched on the heel Friday explained uncle Bernie. That's an$800 boot exclaimed. The secretary who had a great deal of respect for footwear expensive footwear in particular. But surprisingly, the heel did not come off in Friday's hand it twisted on one of the boot nails, revealing a cavity within a cavity. That was the exact size and shape of a$5 million diamond. Wow. Explain Friday. I was right until this point you'd only have assault fictional crimes. Our whole is not proved for tested Mr. Fredericks, save it for the jury said the CEO, but where's the diamond dust. The police chief, you should search his office suggested Friday. He wouldn't hide it at home because it's tied, perfectly matches his shirt and socks, which clearly his wife dresses him and therefore has unfettered access to his sock drawer. So Mr. Fredericks we'd have more privacy in his workspace. It won't be in his desk or filing cabinets because there'd be a danger. The secretary might stumble across it while looking for something else. So try the light fittings. Most corporate offices have ceilings that are only eight and a half feet high. Therefore Mr. Fredericks would easily be able to reach the light fitting without even standing on a chair. You've been spying on me. Haven't you accused Mr. Fredricks, which inadvertently was a confession. No, such Friday. Confused by the suggestion. There was no need. All the information was right in front of me. Mr. Fredericks was now making frantic, but futile attempt to get out through the vault door. The police chief took great delight in Dustin off some of his wrestling moves. He put Mr. Fredrickson and Cobra lock, then handcuffed him. Thank you. Young ladies at the police chief, we were up on violent crime arrest this month, but down on white collar criminals. So this is going to do wonders for us statistics. The police chief led Mr. Fredericks away. I'm going to get you yelled, Mr. Fredericks, as he was half dragged up the stairs by the police chief and security guard, you won't get away with this. I'm a powerful man. You'll regret crossing me a bit of harsh, please. At the police chief threatened a child. When he had more years to your sentence, you're kidding yourself. I'm going to get the best lawyers in the country said, Mr. Fredericks, I'll be out in no time with good behavior. Then you just watch out. I'd steer clear of Friday in the future of our year, Mr. Fredericks, uncle Bernie coil after him, I think you've met your match in her. Mr. Fredericks disappeared in the upstairs office area, his loud abuse fading into the distance running the golf course. The CEO snapped to his secretary saying, get me a nine, 15 tee off bonds. I'll get accounts to cut a check for your niece here. The C walked up to Friday and shook her hand. Thank you, young lady. You've just saved my company a lot of money and I haven't entirely lost my morning of golf. Find work. Maybe we can start you again. Next time the professionals are out of their depth, the CEO, Glenn and uncle Bernie has. He said this uncle Bernie realized that he'd just been insulted, but he didn't care. He wasn't going to be fired. At least not today, which was a big relief. Wow said, uncle Bernie$50,000 is a lot of money. What are you going to do with it? All? I have an idea. I said, Friday, the end. Thank you for listening to support this podcast. Just buy a book by me, RA Spratt. There's lots to choose from, from across the Friday bond series. The nanny begins books and the pesky kids series as well. And now there's the audio books of Friday bands called detective as well as the adventures of nanny Piggins. You can order any of these things through your local bookstore, or you can go to my website, IRA, sprat.com and click on the book, depository banner. They have all my titles and free international shipping. That's it for now until next time. Goodbye.