“North, south, east and west,” Myra told them.
Both men gazed at her. Todd continued to stare when Harrison went back to his examination. “Yes, most likely you’re right.” He switched his glasses for a glass one used to examine the stones. “Fabulous.”
“What?” Todd moved to the edge of his seat.
“The gems are not only real, but rare and of the finest quality. My guess is it was made sometime in the fourteenth century.”
“Twelfth,” Myra corrected.
“My dear, I do know my centuries, and this is likely fourteenth or even fifteenth century.” His tone was condescending yet softly spoken.
“You’re mistaken. My great, great...” She stopped, shook her head. “A distant relative commissioned those made as a wedding gift for his wife. The story has been passed down in my family for generations, generations dating back to the twelfth century.”
“Well, we’ll have to see about that.” He sat them down and removed the eyeglass. “Are you sure you want to sell them?”
Todd interrupted before she could speak, “We want to see what they’re worth.” If they were stolen, and he couldn’t help but wonder if they were, selling them could cost him his badge, and land her in jail.
“That may take a few days. We’ll do a carbon dating and cross reference them. Would you mind leaving them with me while we do that?”
Myra’s attention turned to him, uncertainty written on her face.
“I assure you they are safe here, Miss. We have a form for you to fill out and our insurance is secure as is our building.”
“All right.” Todd took the clipboard from him and filled out the questionnaire. “Feel free to call me as soon as you know what they’re worth.”
They stood to leave. Todd thanked the man again, and then asked, “So if you had to venture a guess, what would you estimate their value to be?”
“Ah. Well, don’t quote me, but I’d estimate their worth around one hundred thousand.”
Todd felt his jaw drop.
“Each.”
Once the outside air hit their faces, Todd grabbed her elbow and silently marched her down the street to where he had parked his car.
She practically had to run to keep up with his pace. The dark glasses covering his eyes kept her from seeing his expression. But if she had to guess, she would say he was upset. Very upset.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
He said nothing.
“You’re hurting my arm.” Myra stopped and tried to pull out of his grip.
He rounded on her in fury. “What the hell have you got me into? Two hundred thousand dollars?” He glanced around and lowered his voice.
“Is that a lot of coin?”
He jerked off his sunglasses and stared at her.
“This is no time to joke, Myra.”
“I’m not.”
“If those candlesticks are stolen, not only will I lose my job, but we, and I emphasize we, will both end up in jail.”
His hand still held her arm, his fingers gripped into her flesh. She took her free hand, placed it on his, and added a little spark. Instantly, he let go.
“They are not stolen!” She put two feet between them. “I don’t appreciate you calling me a thief. Or haven’t I made myself clear?”
He studied his hand. “Yeah, well, excuse me for having a hard time believing a woman who has made an art-form out of lying since I met her. Now that my face is associated with yours, and those antiques, you’ll have to forgive me for being concerned about my reputation, not to mention my freedom.”
“If you’re that concerned, why help me? Is there some law, Officer Blakely, forcing you to assist me?
Forgive me for not knowing.” Two could play at sarcasm, and his was making her angry. “Poor little Scottish me, doesn’t quite know all of your American laws.” She placed both hands on her hips, her hair fell to her waist.
People gathered around and watched their exchange. Todd tilted his head at a man he noticed leering. He grabbed her elbow once again.
Instinctively, Myra clasped his hand and willed more fire into her spark, forcing him to let her go.
He jumped back this time, waving his tingling hand. “How the hell did you do that?”
“Just one of my many secrets, Officer Blakely.
Now if you would be so kind as to take me back to your home so I may retrieve my belongings, I’ll be getting out of your life.”
“Fine!” He reached for her again, but stopped when her eyes warned him not to touch her. Instead, he opened the car door and waited for her to sit before slamming it shut behind her.
He drove in circles. Had in fact passed the same In and Out Burger three times before he stopped the car. “What are we doing here?” Myra asked. “Eating.” He got out of the car and waited for her to follow. When she didn’t, he jerked open her door. “Coming?”
“Nay.”
“Get out of the car, Myra.”
“Nay.”
“Dammit, woman, you are driving me to drink.”
He reached down to pull her out.
“Don’t you touch me.” Her voice was ice. “I’m not accustomed to being man-handled, and I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Ha! You hurt me? I don’t think so.”
She pushed the car door wider, and stepped up beside him. “Try me. Try me and let’s-just-see-how-far-you-get.” With each word, she tapped his chest giving him a little jolt.
His face sobered. As did his mood.
“I see I’ve made my point.” Myra shut the car door, and stormed toward the restaurant.
“Where are you going?”
“To eat. Fending off unwanted hands takes a bit of energy, and since you caused it, you can pay.” She marched into the red and white checkered building, leaving a stunned Officer Blakely behind.
He ordered for them both, then took pity on her when she tried to make the soda come out of the machine. Once seated, Myra watched everyone but him. When the food arrived at the table, she stared at it. It wasn’t until he started eating that Myra followed his lead.
With the first bite of a double cheeseburger with all the trimmings, her eyes closed.
A small part of him wanted to remain angry with her. Yet, when she sat across from him looking like she could spark fire out of her eyes one minute then completely enthralled with her meal the next, he all but melted.
The dimple on the right side of her cheek peeked out. He hadn’t seen that since the first day he had met her, and made a mental note to try and cause it to happen more often.