The Yarn Ball Emporium hosts a weekly knitting circle in the back room. It runs on Thursday evenings and is attended by eleven regulars, two newcomers and one cat. Last month a size eight needle disappeared. This case study records our investigation.
The disappearance
The needle was last seen at 7:10 on a Thursday, resting on a cushion beside Mrs Alder. At 7:25 it was gone. Mrs Alder had not moved. Neither had the cushion. The needle had simply left, like a guest at a quiet party.
The suspects
Our investigation team, led by Skein, identified three suspects:
- Mrs Alder, who denied everything but looked guilty in a general way
- Mr Finch, who was seen near the cushion and holding a biscuit
- The cat, who was seen near the cushion and holding nothing, which Skein found suspicious
Evidence
The team collected the following evidence:
- A trail of faint scratches across the floor
- A single strand of cream wool leading under the sofa
- A pleased expression on the face of the cat
- A very small sound, at 7:26, like a needle being batted
The search
On the second Thursday the team moved the sofa. They found three buttons, a pencil, a biscuit, a hair tie and a ball of wool from a previous decade. They did not find the needle. They did find a sign of habitation, in the form of a small bed made of lint and fear.
The breakthrough
On the third Thursday, Mr Finch sneezed. The needle fell from his cardigan sleeve, where it had been since the first night. He was surprised. The cat was not. The cat had been sitting by his knee all evening, waiting to see whether he would notice.
Conclusions
- The needle was never stolen. It was misplaced by a human
- The cat knew all along
- The cat has declined to comment
- Mrs Alder has been cleared of all charges
Recommendations
We recommend that all needles be stored in a tin, and the tin in a drawer, and the drawer in a locked cupboard. We then recommend that the cupboard be guarded by Skein. We have been told this is excessive. We have also been told the needle is a size eight, and that size eights are rare.
Skein has asked us to close the case. We have done so, with a small ceremony. He sat on the file.