I didn’t mean to, she said. Sweet words were spoken and magical spells cast. And he fell. Headfirst. Deep into my soul. My love. He couldn’t find his way out, the brunette ran fingers through her hair. See this. He gave this to me as a sign, a symbol of his love.

I’d say that’s a rock, he said. Let me take a look at that. How many carats?

One. One whole one. Said he spent all his savings on it, she leaned back in her chair. I don’t know if that’s true or not. Probably.  Then again,  he could’ve taken it.

From where?

His mother’s jewelry box. She wouldn’t know the difference.

Why’s that?

Dementia. I doubt if she even knows he exists. She clocked out years ago. Sits in a rocking chair all day long watching TV. She doesn’t laugh or cry. She just sits there till it’s time for bed around seven at night.

Shouldn’t the mother be in a home?

He won’t do it. He won’t do that.

She’s going to wind up getting hurt.

Who knows?

Do you know where he is? Where we could find him? she shook her head. The detective took a swig of coffee.

Aren’t you going to offer me a cigarette? On those TV shows and movies cops offer cigarettes to suspects.

We’re not allowed to smoke in here anymore. Used to. Long time ago. Hollywood. They get everything wrong.

Why did you ask me to come in?

Procedure. Guy comes up missing. We question everyone.

I understand.  Like I said. He fell deeply in love with me. Then, one day, he was gone. Nobody knows where he went to.

That seems to be the case.

Can I go now?

Sure.

The tempest went out to her car and lit a cigarette. Smiled, put it in drive, and laughed all the way home.