(5-minute mystery) T.A. Jones Strikes Again

[Politicalbeast]

T.A. Jones Strikes Again


The sign on the door said:


Ever Alert Locksmiths Ltd.
“The unusual is our business!”
T.A. Jones, Pres.

When Lennie Strachan got no reaction to her knock, she just walked in. On the wall inside, another sign facing her repeated in even larger letters:

EVER ALERT LOCKSMITHS LTD.
“THE UNUSUAL IS OUR BUSINESS!”
T.A. JONES, PRES.

Beneath this sign, in a chair propeed against the wall and with his feet on the desk, a man snored peacefully. The name tag on his shirt pocket declared him to be the ever-alert T.A. Jones.

Lennie cleared her throat very obviously. This got no response. Again. Still no response. She dropped her purse on the desk, rattling the pitcher and glasses that took up one corner of it. Finally, the desired effect. T.A. Jones shifted in his chair, smiled lazily and, without opening his eyes, murmured, “Ice. Lots of ice. And water. No soda.”

“Sir!” Lennie had lost her patience.

In a single practiced motion, T.A. Jones opened his eyes, dropped his feet, stood up, offered his hand with an ingratiating smile and said, “May I be of service?”

Lennie was so taken back by the recovery that she almost forgot why she was there.

“Chains,” she blurted, “ch-chains. You fix chains, don’t you?”

By now, T.A. Jones was fully awake. “That’s why we’re in business.” He had shifted into his most charming manner. “You have a chain to repair?”

“Not…well, not exactly. I have this necklace here….” Lennie felt very uneasy.

“Necklace?” Jones was surprised. “I’m a locksmith. The jeweler’s down the street. Why don’t you just….”

Lennie cut him off. “I’ve been there.” She took a breath. “It’s not an ordinary necklace. It’s…well, here.” She put a necklace on Jones’ desk. “My husband got it in Germany. It’s made of alternating beads – jade, then crystal, jade, crystal and so on. Except for these two – these two crystal ones together.”

“Look. You’ve got two crystal ones together,” Jones said.

Lennie turned to judge the distance to the door, but decided on one more try. “The crystals won’t come off,” she said. “There is no clasp. The chain is continuous platinum wire. If you cut it, that’s the end of the necklace.”

T.A. Jones picked up the necklace. “There’s no clasp,” he mumbled. “It’s a continuous platinum wire.”

Lennie was aghast.

“And if you cut it,” Jones carried on, “that’s the end of the necklace.”

Lennie leaned over the desk. “Is there a fee for this analysis?” she wanted to know.

“Not at all, young lady,” replied Jones, totally oblivious to her frustration, “but you do want a proper-looking necklace, don’t you?” He sat down and began to rummage through the bottom drawer of his desk.

“What are you going to do?” Lennie was anxious now.

“The unusual is our business!” said Jones as he continued to rummage through the drawer. A little smile came over his face. “I’m going to fix your necklace.”



What is T.A. Jones planning to do?

[bijou]

My guess below





























He is going to smash the extra crystal bead to restore the pattern.