The Missing Necklace

Anna works at a small hotel in a quiet town. She likes her job very much. Every day, she helps guests with their bags, shows them to their rooms, and smiles at everyone. People say Anna is kind and helpful. Anna wants to make sure every guest feels welcome and safe. One evening, it is raining outside. The wind blows very hard, and the trees move back and forth. Anna sits at the front desk and drinks hot tea. The clock on the wall says eight o’clock. Suddenly, the hotel door opens. Anna sees a man step inside. He is tall, has brown hair, and looks tired. He wears a long, wet coat and carries a suitcase. The man walks to Anna’s desk. “Good evening,” he says with a soft voice. “I am Mr. Brown. I have a room here tonight.” Anna checks the book and finds Mr. Brown’s name. She smiles and gives him a key. “Your room is number three, Mr. Brown. It is upstairs.” Mr. Brown thanks Anna and goes up with his suitcase. Anna watches him walk away. She notices Mr. Brown is wearing a gold necklace around his neck. The necklace shines in the light. Anna thinks it must be very expensive. Later, Anna helps another guest with some towels. She walks up and down the hallway, making sure everything is clean. She sees Mr. Brown in his room. The door is open, and he sits on his bed. Mr. Brown takes off his necklace and puts it on the table. He looks at it, then closes the window because the wind is strong. Anna finishes her work and returns to the front desk. The rain stops, and the hotel is quiet. She reads a book for a little while. At ten o’clock, Anna closes the book and walks past Mr. Brown’s room. The door is closed now. Anna wishes him good night softly, and Mr. Brown says, “Good night, Anna.” In the middle of the night, Anna hears a noise. It sounds like footsteps in the hallway. Anna gets up from her chair and walks carefully to check. She sees a man in a black jacket. The man moves very fast and goes toward the stairs. Anna cannot see his face; he wears a hat and has his hands in his pockets. Anna feels a little scared but does not say anything. She thinks maybe the man is one of the guests who forgot something outside. The next morning, Anna wakes up early. She goes to the kitchen and makes coffee for everyone. Mr. Brown comes down and looks worried. He tells Anna, “My necklace is gone! I left it on the table last night. Now it is not there!” Anna feels sad for Mr. Brown. She wants to help. Anna calls the police and tells them about the missing necklace. Soon, a policeman and a detective arrive at the hotel. The detective is a woman named Miss Evans. She wears a blue hat and has a notebook in her hand. Miss Evans asks Anna and Mr. Brown some questions. “When did you last see the necklace?” Miss Evans asks Mr. Brown. “Before I went to sleep,” Mr. Brown replies. “I put the necklace on the table. I locked the door, but someone took it.” Miss Evans asks Anna, “Did you see anyone in the hallway at night?” Anna remembers the man in the black jacket. She says, “Yes, I saw a man in a black jacket near Mr. Brown’s room. He was moving quickly and went down the stairs.” Miss Evans takes notes and walks with Anna to the hallway near Mr. Brown’s room. They look everywhere for clues. Anna and Miss Evans find a black jacket near the stairs. The jacket is wet and looks new. Miss Evans checks the pockets and finds a small box. Inside, there is a gold necklace! Miss Evans smiles and says, “We found the necklace!” Anna is happy and so is Mr. Brown. Miss Evans asks more questions, and the police talk to the other guests. Soon, they discover that the man in the black jacket was not a guest but someone who came in during the night. The police catch him before he can leave the town. Mr. Brown thanks Anna and Miss Evans. He is glad to have his necklace back. “You helped me so much, Anna,” he says. Anna says, “I am happy you are safe. The hotel must be a safe place for everyone.” After the police leave, Anna feels proud. She helped solve a problem. She will always watch the hotel carefully, so people feel safe and happy.