Twins are double trouble—Wisdom from a Jewel Thief

Friday, 3 p.m.

I felt their eyes on me even before Glimmer’s low growl warned me, they were there. My long-haired dachshund knew trouble when she saw it. Two pairs of guilty hazel eyes peeking over the sofa confirmed it—Amber and Kyan, my thirteen-year-old nieces, were up to something.

Of course, they were. Babysitting the twins never turned out to be drama-free, but my sister’s car hadn’t even cleared the driveway yet. “Out with it. What have you done now?”

“So, like, technically it wasn’t our fault,” Amber began.

“Not all our fault,” Kyan added, twisting her tawny hair. That gesture never meant good news.

They exchanged one of those twin looks that carried whole conversations. Hope and I shared that same unspoken language.

After Amber’s slight nod, Kyan crossed the room, leaving dusty boot prints across the floor. I barely noticed. What caught my eye was the glitter in her fist. When she dropped a single diamond stud into my palm, my stomach sank.

“You lost your mother’s two-carat diamond earring?” I asked.

Tears welled in Kyan’s eyes. “Missy said the earrings were fake and she called Mom a stuck-up bit—

Glimmer barked, cutting off the curse word.

I hugged her. “Defending family honor—I get it. But your mom won’t.”

Amber spoke up, “Glimmer can find it! She’s a diamond dog. She can smell diamonds from, like, a mile away.”

Glimmer barked again, always ready for duty.

“We can try,” I said. “Where did you last see it?”

Amber chewed her thumbnail. “Third-period English. I showed Missy the stone under the loupe.”

“You brought a loupe to school?” I shouldn’t be surprised. The girls had grown up in the jewelry business.

“Duh. I had to compare the imperfections in the stone to the diamond’s plot.”

She’d learned her lessons well. I tried not to smile until the words hit me. “Wait—those drawings are in the jewelry store’s safe.” A high-security, no-way-a-teen-could-open-it safe.

Both girls stared at the floor.

“How did you get into the safe?” I asked slowly.

“That’s not the point,” Amber muttered.

“It’s exactly the point.”

Another twin glance—coordinated strategy. No wonder my sister looked exhausted.

“Grandpa’s, like, a jewel thief,” Kyan blurted.

“A master thief,” Amber added. “It’s literally in our DNA.”

I fought to keep a straight face. Hope and I had once used the same excuse. Still, I crossed my arms and waited. Silence worked better than threats.

Kyan cracked first. “We didn’t hack it. Mom opened the safe, then took a call—”

“And you helped yourselves.” Understanding dawned.

“You’re not gonna tell her, are you?” Amber asked.

“Oh, I won’t need to.”

Kyan groaned. “Because we’re totally gonna tell her ourselves.”

Amber looked hopeful. “Can Glimmer at least help us find the missing earring? That’s the difference between being grounded for a month or forever.”

“Of course,” I said. “But you’re still confessing the second your mom walks in.”

The twins nodded, solemn and united.

Glimmer worked her magic. She found the earring buried in the back of Kyan’s locker—it must’ve fallen from her backpack. When Hope returned the next evening, both girls blurted out the story before she’d even set down her purse. I watched my sister’s expression shift from shock to fury to reluctant pride.

“One month restriction,” she decided. “And you’re both helping at the store every weekend, so you learn why we have security protocols.”

The twins accepted their sentence with minimal protest. As they trudged upstairs, Amber whispered something to Kyan that made them both grin.

Glimmer barked once.

Some things even a diamond dog couldn’t sniff out—like whatever those two were already plotting next.

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THE FIRE DIAMOND – A “Gem Hunters” Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: October 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Every diamond has a story… but some are worth killing for

When Sunset Peak’s legendary Peak Diamond disappears during the town’s glittering centennial gala, Taylor Hunter knows one thing: this was no ordinary theft. As a renowned “Diamond Detective” and reluctant heir to a family legacy of jewel thieves, Taylor has solved high-profile cases around the globe—but this time, it’s personal.

The stakes spiral when a perfect replica of the diamond is found, a notorious diamond broker turns up dead, and her twin sister Hope’s fingerprints are discovered at the crime scene. With Sunset Peak’s future—and her sister’s freedom—on the line, Taylor must partner with the one man she swore she’d never trust: Police Chief Rocky Rockman, her ex-husband’s dangerously charming best friend.

Armed with her expertise, her sharp instincts, and Glimmer, her diamond-sniffing dachshund, Taylor races to unravel a tangled web of stolen gems, buried secrets, and hidden betrayals stretching far beyond her small Arizona town. But someone is willing to kill to keep the truth buried—and if Taylor’s not careful, she could be their next target.

Perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich, Ellery Adams, and Jenn McKinlay, The Fire Diamond is a fast-paced cozy adventure mystery where family secrets cut deep, small-town gossip hides deadly truths, and every diamond comes with a price.

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About the author
Award-winning author CB Wilson began her writing journey with a childhood rebellion—after finishing a Nancy Drew mystery, she decided she could write a better ending.

A passionate animal advocate, she created the beloved Barkview Mysteries, blending her love of puzzles and pups. Her newest series, Gem Hunters, shines with adventure. Drawing on her Gemology degree from the prestigious Gemological Institute of America, CB weaves authentic sparkle into every page, featuring an extraordinary “Diamond Dog”—a clever Dachshund named Glitter who can sniff out diamonds fifty feet underground.

Her most creative ideas strike while horseback riding through Arizona’s desert trails. When she’s not plotting twists, CB enjoys pickleball and indulging her chocoholic side, convinced the best stories—like the best chocolate—are meant to be savored slowly.

Connect with CB Wilson on her website at cbwilsonauthor.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram.