Unlike the previous night, Crispin went to bed very early and got a good night's rest. The reason for his early bedtime was that he had set an early appointment with his newest client. He called Mrs. Jones before closing time and asked her to meet him at a certain location at eight the next morning. She asked why so early, and all Crispin could tell her was that he had broken the case and that everything would be revealed in the morning. So, the next morning Crispin went to a small café that was located right by the beach, ordered two cups of coffee and took a seat one of the café's tables on the front deck that had a magnificent view of the ocean. When she finally arrived, Mrs. Jones didn't look very happy to be there. Whether it was the early rise or being by the water was unknown, but Crispin has chosen their time and location for a reason, so he didn't really care.
"Good morning," Crispin said, offering her a cup.
"Whatever," Mrs. Jones said, taking the cup. "What are we doing here?"
"It has to do with the case," Crispin said, "I have everything figured out and I thought you'd like to know what happened to your jewelry."
"Alright, but couldn't we do this at the office?" she asked him.
"No," Crispin answered, "This location is vital to the case."
"Alright," Mrs. Jones said, sitting down. "Let me have it."
"Well, I come baring both good and bad news," Crispin informed her, "Do you have a preference to which you'd like to have first?"
"I'm a eat your veggies first kind of lady," Mrs. Jones answered, "Give me the bad first."
"Alright," Crispin said, taking a deep breath. "Your fears were pretty much spot on. William did steal your jewelry."
"Damn it," Mrs. Jones cussed, upset to hear the truth. "How did you find out?"
"I found the jewels at a local pawn shop," Crispin explained, "And I saw your son on the shop's security footage pawning off your jewelry. They can still be recovered if you want."
"I don't care," Mrs. Jones said, "Where is he now? Is he getting high?"
"Well, that's the good news." Crispin said, "I hit every dealer in town, and none of them have sold anything to him. As far as I know, William hasn't bought any drugs at all."
"He hasn't?" Mrs. Jones said, taken back by that development. "Then what did he do with the money?"
"It turns out William has found a new habit," Crispin answered, "Something that is just as addictive but not as deadly as drugs."
"What is it?" his client asked.
"Your answer is right over there," Crispin said, pointing at the beach. "William is the one wearing the bright yellow trunks."
Mrs. Jones turned to where Crispin was pointing and looked out at the beach. Out there in the waters were two men, on surf boards catching some waves. One of the men was her son William, in the yellow trunks, trying his best to stay on his board but falling off.
"Are you sure that's him?" Mrs. Jones asked.
"I confirmed it with the other man," Crispin said, "That is Smasher, the owner of the surf shop where my office is located. Turns out your son showed up three weeks ago to buy a board, and he asked my friend if he could teach him how to surf. William has been coming out here three times a week for lessons, and Smasher said he's been doing alright."
"So, it's not drugs?" Mrs. Jones said, tearing up.
"It's not drugs," Crispin confirmed. "He's just surfing."
"Why didn't he just ask me for money?" she asked him.
"Some habits die hard I suppose," Crispin explained, "So while he's off the dope for the time being, gathering money this way just seemed easier to him. It's up to you if you want to press charges or not."
"I don't care about that," Mrs. Jones said, as she never took her eyes off the beach and watched her son try to tackle the waves again.
She was just happy to see him clean and doing something normal rather than being somewhere getting high. It was a better outcome than the ones she had been preparing herself for.
"This is amazing," Mrs. Jones declared, clearly delighted. "What do I owe you, Mr. Mills?"
"Considering your son spent all of his money at our shop," Crispin said, as he stood up to leave. "I think we've taken enough of your money, Mrs. Jones. We're good."
"Thank you very much," Mrs. Jones said.
"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Jones." Crispin said, knowing this was the best gift she could have gotten from her son. He walked away and left her alone to keep watching her son catch the waves with his instructor. As much as Crispin wanted to stay at the beach and enjoy the view, he had a shop to open up for the day.