On The Fly

Los Angeles, CA. - Beth Eaton, 83, of  El Camino Village passed away at 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at Kaiser Permanate Medicial Center in Harbor City.  Beth was born July 9, 1935 in San Bernardino, California. She was adopted at birth by Ernest and Marie Carver of Pomona, California. Raised in the farming tradition on the Carvers’ Hatchrite Turkey Ranch , Beth graduated from Pomona High School in June 1953. She attended Mount San Jacinto College. She studied business and later worked at Security Pacific Bank in Claremont, CA. Beth met and married Gerald Davies from Marlette, Michigan. They married in Pomona and lived in Claremont, where their daughter Lori Jo was born in 1959. The family moved to Santa Barbara and in 1962 had a son, Kenneth Andrew. Shortly after they moved to Michigan to start a business and raise the children closer to the Davies family. In 1978 the family moved back to California so Beth could be near her widowed father, settling in he...

“Bontemps, wake up – Adamas, my boy, wake up.” I awoke from deep sleep to a pair of piercing yellowish-green eyes looking directly into mine. Immediately, I realized it was the lean, smiling, congenial face of my colleague Alister Peridot. Groggy from jet lag, it was all coming back to me; it was day two of our trip to India – Yes, of course, . . . the sapphire case. Peridot was standing over me, completely dressed, in his slippers, wearing a necktie and a silk vest. “We have an appointment this morning with the client who engaged us to examine the Ceylon Sapphire he’s interested in purchasing. Kal Purush Kaniyar is a former Bollywood Star who immigrated to America - home visiting his parents. Our hotel room was a suite with two bedrooms and a sitting room in the center. A comfortable room with hardwood floors, a large flat-screen TV, plush chairs, Wi-Fi, and all the business amenities. While I showered and dressed, Peridot calmly walked to the desk, opened his laptop, and began ...

In frustration, I whispered back to Peridot, “That’s what I’m trying to do. What am I missing?” We were seated in Florence for dinner with Davies, Richard Leyland, and Renaldo Rossi, across the street from La statue de la Justice. Leyland handed Peridot his parcel, and with a flick of his fingers Peridot opened the paper and that lovely yellowish Green gem appeared.  Identical  to the one I was holding. In his best professor’s voice he began. “Gentleman, it appears we’ve had a slight mixup here.” “How can you be sure?” asked our art collector, Leyland. “Bontemps, what is the unique property that gemologists measure to determine a stones identity?” “It’s refractive index, of course.” I said.”  “Correct, and what is the refractive index of Peridot ?” “ Peridot has a refractive index of 1.654 to 1.690. It exhibits a high birefringence, and a greasy luster.” Peridot raised his index finger. “We need to be more specific my boy. Refractiv...

“What about this American, this amateur art collector, a Mr. Leyland I believe, who contacted Monsieur Rossi? Should we not contact him as well?” was my question to Peridot as we left the outdoor cafe headed for our rendezvous.  “My hunch is,” said Peridot, “tonight's dinner will enlighten our situation enormously.” I simply could not imagine how crystal clear all the events that brought us to Florence would soon become. With the Arno River on our left our early evening stroll took us past the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. We then turned north and followed the narrow cobblestones to a central round about with the Column of Justice ( La statue de la justice ) in its center. As our destination approached, I caught Peridots glance. He appeared to recognize a man sitting at a small table, just outside the cafe, curiously looking at his phone. Peridot walked directly over to the man, cleared his throat, to get his attention, and held out his hand, “Well Mr. Davies, how have yo...

Gerald Davies Right “Are the Tigers playing in Detroit?” A question I’ve asked many times preparing to visit Motown. However, this time I found that question printed in a tattered, yellowing,  newspaper clipping from the Detroit Free Press dated Saturday, September 25, 1948 carefully tucked away in a scrapbook. The ball-club was and two young boys realized a dream, I can only imagine what that was like . . . While going through a box of old files from Lori’s late father I came across an article titled Youth’s First City Visit . A piece co-authored by 15 year old Gerald Davies from the farming community of Marlette, Michigan about his experiences visiting Detroit. The photo journal and article was a promotion sponsored by The Detroit Free Press as a student exchange. Gerald (Jerry) Davies from Marlette MI would meet his namesake Jerry Davies from Detroit, together they would visit and work on the farm, take a trip to the city, and attend a big-league ball game.  T...

An anomaly that often struck me about the peculiar manner of my friend Hercule Peridot was the precision of his methods, yet the impulsive nature of his personality. Still, somewhat early morning, I carefully descended the hotels narrow staircase. To my surprise, found Peridot sipping coffee in the gathering room. He was impeccably dressed; a fine silk vest, dashing red necktie, and his shoes their customary adamantine luster. “What a marvelous view!” Ponte Vecchio Bridge “Yes, yes indeed, this splendid morning, we find ourselves in the heart of the city center, on the Arno River. He motioned to the window, “the famous Ponte Vecchio Bridge. Join me for breakfast, my boy.” said Peridot, as he waved his hand over our Petit-déjeuner. “We have a tasty selection of cheese, and pastries. With a theatrical motion he kissed the fingers on his right hand, “And the coffee is simply superb. What could be better, I believe the Italians call it La Dolce Vita , the sweet life." ...

Photo by: Robert Weldon “Meet me at the airport in Atlanta this Saturday,” was the text message I received on my iPhone early that morning in my study. It was still dark; about 4:30 a.m., I knew Hercule Peridot kept odd hours. I immediately texted Peridot back - “Que se passe-t-il?” Instantaneously an  email  from Peridot popped up, “We will review the facts on the flight –  we're  off to India. Click the attached link in this e-mail; Your flight is confirmed.” My name is Adamas Bontemps, G raduate  Gemologist ( G.G .). I'm an avid student of gemstones and the lost art of deductive  observation . My heritage is French. However, my formative years were spent in the Midwest, the Chicago area. My home is in California; as  you will see,  the nature of my work allows me the freedom to travel the world extensively. My good friend and mentor, who you will come to know through our adventures, Hercule Peridot, always had a surprise up h...