He had only one miscalculation in his grand plan: Sarah’s strict, unyielding hygiene schedule. 🧼

Bath time had arrived two hours ahead of schedule, completely ruining his getaway.

Sarah slowly reached down and gently dislodged the heavy emerald from Barnaby’s sticky chest fur.

The stone sat heavy and cold in her palm, dripping with soapy water and smelling faintly of lavender shampoo.

Barnaby watched the gem leave his fur without a single protest.

He merely tilted his small head, letting out a soft, low “coo” sound that could melt the hardest heart on Earth.

He looked at Sarah as if to say, “You can keep the rock, as long as you keep giving me this lovely warm bath.”

Sarah didn’t know whether to burst into tears of relief or laugh until her stomach hurt.

She carefully set the multi million dollar stone onto a clean towel beside the washing tub.

At that exact moment, Dr. Vance, Lord Sterling, and six armed police officers came sprinting around the corner of the courtyard, sweating heavily and looking frantic.

“We’ve checked the entire perimeter!” Dr. Vance yelled, wiping sweat from his forehead. “It’s vanished into thin air! The police think it was an international cartel!”

Lord Sterling was clutching his chest, muttering about insurance policies and ruined reputations.

Sarah held up her right hand, signaling them to stop.

With her left hand, she pointed down at the white towel resting beside the soapy wash tub.

The afternoon sun struck the wet emerald, sending brilliant green beams bouncing off the brick walls of the sanctuary.

The police officers stopped dead in their tracks.

Lord Sterling’s jaw dropped so low it nearly hit the tiled floor.

Dr. Vance stared at the sparkling gem, then at the bottle of baby shampoo, and finally down at Barnaby.

The tiny orangutan stood perfectly still in the bath, his body covered in white foam, looking back at the chief director with total calm.

“He… he had it?” Lord Sterling stammered, his eyes bulging out of his head. “The baby ape stole the Royal Emerald?”

“He didn’t just steal it, Lord Sterling,” Sarah laughed softly, gently rinsing the last bit of soap from Barnaby’s fluffy head. “He gave it a full luxury wash and polish.”

The silence in the courtyard lasted for three full seconds before the chief of police burst into a loud, booming laugh.