Read the mystery.

It was a cold winter morning. Mr Kunkel, the director of the museum, opened the door and saw that the most expensive thing in the museum, a red ruby, was gone. He called the detective agency.

“This is Mr Kunkel. I’d like to report a robbery in the museum. Could you please send someone?”

“Detective Jones is on his way.”

Mr Kunkel was waiting for the detective when he came into the hall.

“Hey there!” said Detective Jones. “What’s the robbery you would like to report?”

Mr Kunkel answered, “An expensive ruby has been stolen.”

Detective Jones and Mr Kunkel walked into Mr Kunkel’s office.

Detective Jones sat down and opened his notebook.

“I’d like to interview everyone who was here last night,” said Detective Jones.

“I think only Martha, my cleaning lady, and I were here last night,” answered Mr Kunkel.

“Well, first I’ll start with you. Can you tell me exactly what you did last night before you left?” asked Detective Jones.

“Well, first I said good night to Martha. Then I turned off all the power. Martha said she would lock the doors when she left. I don’t think that she took the ruby because she’s very honest,” said Mr Kunkel.

“Could you please tell her to come here. I’d like to ask her about last night,” said Detective Jones.

“Yes, of course,” said Mr Kunkel.

Mr Kunkel called Martha. She finally came five minutes later.

“What’s the problem, Detective Jones?” said Martha.

“Well,” said Detective Jones, “someone has stolen the red ruby.”

“Oh, no!” said Martha. “That’s strange. It was there when I left last night.”

“Did you see anything unusual last night when you were leaving work?” asked Detective Jones.

“I saw Judy parking her car when I left. I talked to her and she said she was going to check her computer to see how many people she was going to take on an excursion,” answered Martha.

“OK, thank you,” said Detective Jones with a smile.

“Could you please call Judy? I’d like to ask her some questions.”

Judy came into the room. She looked a bit frightened.

“What happened?” she asked.

“The red ruby was stolen last night,” said Mr Kunkel.

“Oh! How did it happen?” asked Judy.

“I’d like to ask a few questions.” Said Detective Jones. “Where were you last night?”

“I was reading at home, then I came here just to check my computer. It only took me ten minutes and then I went home,” answered Judy.

“Was there anything unusual?” asked Detective Jones.

“No, I can’t remember anything,” answered Judy.

Detective Jones called the police and told them to send some policemen to the museum to arrest the thief.

Text adopted from New Millennium 7



1. Complete the title of the mystery. The first letters will help you.
THE CASE OF T...S...R

2. Read the questions and match them to the answers.
1) What happened?
2) When did it happen?
3) Who was investigating the case?
4) Who were the suspects?
5) Did Martha have an alibi?
6) Did Judy have an alibi?
7) Who did Detective Jones want to arrest?
8) What clues helped him to solve the mystery?