Chapter 7 - THE BOX
The jewelry box had belonged to my mother.
Cheap wood.
Blue velvet lining.
A little brass lock.
I hadn’t seen it since David left.
“He stole it?” Adrian asked.
“I thought he took it because the ring was inside.”
“But he sold the ring.”
“And kept the box.”
Adrian was already reaching for his phone.
“Find David Carter.”
“Bennett.”
“What?”
“David Bennett. Thankfully, I never married him.”
Something unreadable passed across Adrian’s face.
“Good.”
I stared.
“Good?”
“For him.”
I almost smiled.
Almost.
His people found David in forty minutes.
Atlantic City.
Of course.
He was staying at a casino hotel under his real name because David had always been too arrogant to believe consequences applied to him.
Adrian wanted me to stay behind.
I didn’t.
Four hours later, David opened his hotel door wearing boxer shorts and holding a beer.
“Emma?”
Then he saw Adrian behind me.
His face collapsed.
“Oh, shit.”
“Hi, David.”
He tried to close the door.
Adrian stopped it with one hand.
We entered.
David backed up.
“What is this?”
“Where’s my mother’s jewelry box?”
“I don’t know.”
Adrian closed the door.
David swallowed.
“I sold it.”
“To who?”
“Some guy.”
“What guy?”
“I don’t remember.”
Adrian stepped closer.
David raised both hands.
“Okay, okay.”
I hated how satisfying his fear felt.
“A guy contacted me after I pawned the ring.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“What did he want?”
“The box.”
“Why?”
“He said it had a compartment.”
My heart hammered.
“Did you open it?”
“I tried.”
“Did you find anything?”
“No.”
“Who bought it?”
David looked at Adrian.
“I want protection.”
Adrian smiled.
It was the least friendly smile I had ever seen.
“You’re negotiating?”
“I know things.”
Adrian moved so fast I barely saw it.
One second David was standing.
The next he was pinned against the wall.
“Here is how this negotiation works,” Adrian said quietly. “You answer her. Then I decide whether you continue having a peaceful evening.”
“Adrian.”
He looked at me.
I shook my head.
He released David.
Barely.
David coughed.
“Victor.”
My skin went cold.
“What?”
“Victor Salvi bought the box.”
Adrian’s expression sharpened.
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“Then why is he still looking for evidence?”
David hesitated.
Because David was stupid.
But he wasn’t stupid enough to miss the danger.
“The box was empty.”
I frowned.
“Then why tell me I have the key?”
David looked at me.
“Because of the ring.”
“You sold it.”
“No.”
My anger exploded.
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I sold a copy.”
Silence.
“What?”
“Your grandmother’s ring had a weird little piece under the stone. I thought it might be valuable. I removed it before I pawned the ring.”
My hands started shaking.
“What piece?”
“A tiny metal key.”
Adrian and I looked at each other.
“Where is it?” I asked.
David stared at the floor.
“I gave it to someone.”
My chest tightened.
“Who?”
David’s eyes filled with shame.
“Your father.”
I stopped breathing.
“My father is dead.”
David slowly shook his head.
“No, Emma.”
May you like
He looked straight at me.
“Your father is the man who hired Victor.”
