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“THIS RAPTOR?” ASKED the voice on the other end.
“Yeah.”
“You’ve got a package for me?”
I glanced at my saddlebag. “I do.”
“Meet me at your house. In twenty minutes,” he said and then hung up.
He knew where I lived. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Yeah, we were brothers, but he was still The Judge and something told me that blood meant nothing to him, unless he was getting paid to spill it.
Sighing, I got on my bike and tied a red and white bandana around my head. Then I headed home.
“OH GOOD. YOU’RE here,” said my mother, as I stepped into the busy shop. She was showing a young couple some diamond engagement rings. “I sent Gerald home already. Could you help Mrs. Jacobs clean her jewelry?” She nodded toward the back of the shop where an elderly woman was waiting. “Tim and I are both just too busy at the moment.”
I looked across the room at Tim, who many said looked like Zac Efron’s twin brother. He was surrounded by three teenaged girls who appeared to be interested in both the charm bracelets and the young guy behind the counter.
“Sure. No problem.”
“Hi, Adriana,” said Tim as I walked by him. He looked at me over his shoulder and gave me dimpled smile.
“Hi, Tim.”
“You look lovely today. Hey,” he squinted. “Is that a new necklace? It’s gorgeous.”
“It’s not new. By the way, you’re looking pretty swanky yourself. Tell whoever’s dressing you that they have amazing taste.”
He winked. “I certainly will.” As usual, he was dressed to the nines in a black tailored suit. His boyfriend, Juan, worked at Macy’s, and had excellent taste in fashion. From what I understood, he selected all of Tim’s clothes and wouldn’t let him step out of the house without approving his clothing choices.
I hung up my coat on the hook behind the counter, and began helping Mrs. Jacobs. When her jewelry was cleaned, she asked to look at some earrings that were in the case.
“These are so lovely,” she said, trying on a set of pearl ones. “I keep looking at them every time I visit your shop.” She sighed. “I should just get them.”
“I would. They’re beautiful, and they’re not lab-created,” I told her. “Hence the price. You’re going to pay for quality and Vanda goes to great lengths to make sure we sell the finest pearl earrings in Iowa.”
“Yes, I believe it. I do know that you get what you pay for, too. I’ve learned that over the years.”
I nodded.
“The price is reasonable. I keep waiting for them to go down, though.”
“We had a sale last week,” I whispered, leaning forward. “Twenty percent off. If you want the earrings, I’ll do what I can to get you that same deal. I know the owner and I’m pretty sure she’ll okay it.”
She smiled. “If you can do that, I’ll take them, for sure.”
I winked. “Let’s wrap them up so you can take them home.”
“Thank you, Adriana. I’m going to tell your boss that you’re a ‘keeper’.”
I laughed. “Thank you. Hopefully, she’ll believe you.”
“You two are having fun over here,” said Vanda, walking over to us after ringing up her couple. “I like that.”
“A happy customer is a return customer,” said Mrs. Jacobs. “And you know, I keep coming back.”
“And we are thrilled that you do,” she replied and then looked down at the earrings. “Ah, you’re getting them. The ones you’ve been eyeing for weeks. I just marked them down, too. Perfect timing.”
My eyes widened. “You did?”
“Yes,” she replied. “I took twenty-percent off last night.”
“So, I’m getting forty-percent off of the original price?” raved Mrs. Jacobs, grinning. “My goodness. This is really my day!”
My mother’s eyebrows shot up and she looked at me.
I laughed nervously. “I promised her twenty-percent off the current price. Sorry, I didn’t know you’d already lowered it.”
I could tell by the look in her eyes that she wasn’t too happy with me, but she faked it for Mrs. Jacobs. “It’s quite all right.” She winked at the older woman. “I guess this is your lucky day, isn’t it? Well, I don’t know who deserves it more than you. I really do appreciate all of the business you’ve given me, Mrs. Jacobs. All of us do.”
“Call me Mary.”
“Mary. Thank you, Mary,” she replied.
The phone in the store rang and Tim answered it.
“Adriana, it’s for you,” he said, putting the caller on hold.
“I’m with a customer,” I said. “Can you take a message?”
“It’s okay. I’ll ring her up,” said my mother. “Take your call.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Enjoy your earrings, Mary. They look lovely on your ears.”
She touched her ears. “Thank you, Adriana.”
Smiling, I walked over and grabbed the phone.
“Hello?”
The caller didn’t say anything.
“Hello? This is Adriana. Can I help you?”
I heard the distinct sound of a lighter being flicked. Then someone inhaled what I could only imagine to be a cigarette. Then they blew it out.
“Hello?” I said, getting frustrated. “I’m going to hang up if you’ve got nothing to say to me.”
The sound of man’s deep laughter made my blood turn cold.
I gripped the phone tightly. “Who is this?”
The person hung up.
My hand was shaking when I placed the phone back on the receiver. I knew who it was. I could tell by his coarse, evil laughter.
Breaker.
“Who was that?” asked Tim, looking concerned.
I forced a smile. “Wrong number.”
“That’s strange because the man actually asked for you.”
“Huh,” I said, moving around the counter and toward the front of the shop.
“Where you going?” called my mom.
I didn’t reply. I walked to the front door and glanced outside, terrified of what I’d find.
“Is there something wrong?” asked Jim Evans, our security guard.
“I don’t know,” I said, looking around the parking lot. There were six cars, including mine, but no menacing black truck. I relaxed a little.
Jim stood up. “You’re worrying me, Adriana,” he said, looking out the window himself. “Is there something we should know?”
He was like a hawk. He noticed everything and trusted nobody, outside of my mother and me. He even had a hard time trusting Tim and Gerald. It made him an excellent security guard. “No,” I replied, turning to him. “Everything is fine. Really.”
At least I hoped.
Vanda approached us. “What’s wrong?” she whispered frantically. “Why didn’t you answer me?”
“I’m sorry and nothing is wrong, Mom.”
She didn’t look like she believed me. “Who was on the phone? Tim said you looked like you’d seen a ghost.”
I managed a smile. “Oh, well that was just a crank call. Some punk kid. Where is Mrs. Jacobs?” I asked, looking behind her.
“Bathroom. I think she’s used it more than me,” said Vanda, chuckling.
“That’s what happens when you get old,” said Jim, who was pushing fifty himself. “Leaky faucets and rusty pipes.”
“You’re not old,” replied Mom. “And I’m sure your pipes are working just fine.”
His face turned red and he smiled. “Easy for you to say. You look like Adriana’s sister, not mother.”
“Flattery will get you ten-percent over cost on something for your own mother,” she replied, grinning. “Come Mother’s Day.”
He laughed. “I’ll hold you to it.”
Vanda chuckled.
“I’m going into the back for a quick cup of coffee. Would either of you ladies like me to grab you any?” he asked.
“No,” I replied. “I’m fine.”
“No, thank you, Jim,” said Vanda. “I’ve had enough cups myself today.”
“Let me know if you change your mind,” he said, walking away.
Vanda watched him leave and then turned to me. “Oh,” she said, reaching over to my necklace. She lifted up the sapphire. “You wore your father’s necklace. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it.”
I looked down. “I guess I couldn’t stop thinking about Dad this morning.”
Her eyes grew moist and she smiled. “He was such a good man.”
“He was. The best.”
She looked outside again and then back to my necklace. “I must admit, it makes me a little nervous – you wearing it out in the open. It’s very expensive and not exactly... subtle.”
“I know. I probably shouldn’t have,” I admitted. “It’s just... I wanted to feel close to him today.”
“I understand,” she replied, glancing down at her wedding band that she refused to remove, even though he’d been gone for the last seven years. “I wouldn’t dream of taking this off.”
“I’m sure if you did, though, Dad would be okay with it.”
Her eyes widened. “Why would I ever take it off?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know... I mean, you’re only forty-seven. You might fall in love again.”
“I’ve been in love. I don’t need to replace your father.”
“Don’t you get lonely?” I asked.
She patted me on the shoulder and turned to walk away. “I have you, Adriana. I’m never lonely.”
“I know, but –”
“Let it rest,” she interrupted. “We’ve been through this conversation before. I’m content with my life.”
I sighed. We had been through it before and she was always so stubborn. I knew if she opened her eyes, she’d see that Jim had a thing for her. But, that was Vanda. She was so obstinate.
The phone rang again and I jumped. This time, fortunately, it was for Tim.