"Yeah, that Craven guy is pretty weaselly. Just watch your back."
I thanked him for the heads-up, and we hung up. Before I'd even put the phone down, it rang again. I answered without thinking, figuring he was calling back.
"Dave?"
"No, Mr. Shepherd. This is Delvaney Craven from UltraShopMart. I'd like to talk to you about your property—"
"Nope." I hung up.
Then I drove home, wondering where exactly I was going to get a sparkly tuxedo.
9
Tess
Eleanor headed off to her lunch date and travel agency appointment with Bill, and I waited on the steady stream of customers looking for a unique Christmas gift. In between sales and a few pawns, I called the Piersons and Mrs. Quindlen about the presents.
Mrs. Pierson was understandably miffed and said she'd already reported the theft to Andy. I told her I'd talk to him and apologized again.
Mrs. Q just laughed, though. "If it's not one thing, it's another in this wacky town."
I loved that woman.
Everybody I'd invited over for pizza backed out on me. Aunt Ruby was too busy with UltraShopMart stuff. Uncle Mike had a donkey with an earache. Charithra and Phin took in an emergency surgery for a goat who'd eaten a wrench. Andy, after he found out about Charithra, said he'd be too busy with Susan out of town. I asked them over for Saturday, instead, and then I texted Jack:
Just you and me for dinner. Don't need as many pizzas.
Jack:
Got it. I'll be there around 7. Doing some work at the house.
Me:
Is your granddad back yet?
Jack:
LOL. No, he's still basking in the undivided attention of the entire history department at UCF. He should be back tomorrow.
Right before closing, Otis ambled in with Beauty, the retired greyhound he'd adopted. The dog deserved her name; she was silky gray with huge brown eyes. She immediately headed over to me and sat patiently at the right edge of the counter, which is where the drawer that held dog treats was. I suspected the dog might be smarter than Otis.
To be fair, my cat was probably smarter than me, too.
I smiled at them and handed her a dog biscuit. "Otis, Beauty."
She delicately took the treat from my hand and munched on it while I studied Otis. He looked better than he had in a while—not that he ever looked bad, just sort of worn. He was in his seventies and might weigh a hundred twenty pounds—if he was carrying a five-pound bag of sugar—and usually dressed in various forms of camo and khaki. But today he was wearing newish blue jeans and a sweater with no holes in it.
He flashed his gap-toothed smile at me, and I got nervous. Whenever Otis tried to be charming, it usually cost me money.
"Saw you down at Beau's, Tess. Made me think about this coin I found. Maybe it's worth something?" He dug around in his pocket for a few seconds and then placed a gold coin on the counter.
This was new. Otis was usually more of a "pawn my badly taxidermied animal" customer. That's how I'd gotten Fluffy, our shop mascot.
"Okay," I said. "Let me put up the sign and get my magnifying glass."
The shop was empty, since it was just before six, and I was ready to go home, anyway. I walked over to the door and turned my sign from OPEN to CLOSED.
After I crossed back to the counter, petting Beauty's head on the way, I pulled my glass out from the drawer. Then I put the coin on a small piece of black cloth I kept for looking at jewelry and coins and studied both sides.
