Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
She chewed on her lip. “You know, I do. We could make it a double date. Yeah, let’s do that. That sounds like fun.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Sometimes, a meeting just worked out better than planned.
Lisa kicked a marble across the floor. “I still haven’t picked all of these up,” she said. “They keep coming out from under the furniture. I guess I should also offer to buy you a new coat.”
“Nah.” I waved a hand in the air. “That’s okay. I like this gray one. I understand it’s been an upsetting time for you. I don’t suppose you’ve gotten any of your stuff back from the robbery.”
“I have,” she said, brightening. “I was just going through it all in the back.”
No wonder her mood had improved from the other day. “What was returned?” I asked.
“All of the Depression glass, some of the Belleek, a couple of the hunting knives…none of the cash,” she said. “I’m still going through the boxes, but they didn’t break any of the stuff they took, although they made quite a mess of some of the cheaper vases I had. They weren’t worth much, though.” She shook her head. “They think they’re acting like they’re such great Robin Hoods, but honestly, they kept plenty of my glassware and cash.”
“Yeah, that’s their MO,” I said. “Sorry about that, but I am glad you received some of it back.”
“Me, too,” she murmured. “Not only that, but that article about you in the paper has brought in tons of business. I know nobody’s here right now, but it was busy like crazy this morning.” She winced. “I should get back to work so I can get everything on the shelves again. Do you need anything else?”
Good to know my embarrassing picture in the Gazette had helped somebody. “Nope. I’ll talk to the Wilson brothers and then give you a call.”
“Great.” She rattled off her number.
Spencer already knew about Lisa’s temper, and the guy did sound like he could use a good romance. “I’ll be in touch, Lisa.” I turned for the door, but Bud didn’t move. I paused. “Bud?”
He cleared his throat. Lisa looked at him.
“Do you have any antique watches?” he asked.
She perked up immediately. “Yeah, over here in this wider booth.” She walked around a corner, her kitten heels clomping on the older wooden floor.
“Come on,” Bud said.
I was too loyal to the Basanellis to buy anything. “I’ll look around here.”
“No.” He grasped my good arm and started walking toward Lisa. “You stay in my sight.”
I rolled my eyes. “Geez, Bud, you’re taking this protection thing a little too seriously.”
“Ha,” he muttered.
We turned the corner, and Lisa pulled out a drawer from a lovely looking china hutch. “These are the ones I have organized right now. Quite a few were stolen, but the Cupids didn’t bother opening this drawer. Unfortunately, I haven’t gone through all the boxes returned to me to find what other ones I may have to sell.”
Bud leaned forward and oohed and aahed. They were sounds I had never heard from the tough cop. He grasped one and lifted it under the light. The pocket watch was gold and open-faced, with a couple of scratches on the face. He looked closer. “This is eighteen-karat gold with an approximate manufacturing date of 1925 to ‘29.”
He squinted as he opened the back lid to look inside. “It has been repaired and has a replacement bow.” The guy sounded almost giddy. “How much?” he asked.
Lisa shook her head. “I couldn’t let that go for less than four thousand.”
I looked closer. “Four thousand dollars?”
“That’s a decent price for this.” Bud shook his head. “I can’t do it right now, but when I can, I’ll be back. It’s a beaut.” He gently laid it back in the felt drawer and then lifted another watch. It looked to me like a silver one. “You also have an Elgin National Watch Company pocket watch.”
I squinted to read the script, noting the timepiece's beauty and polished surface, its bold script complemented by Roman numerals.
“This is a nice one. Thick and heavy,” he murmured. “It’s an older one, probably made in the early 1800s. The classic white dial is lovely.” He took a deep breath. “How much do you want for this one?”
She peered closer and then studied him. “I could let that one go for two hundred.”
“One hundred,” he countered.
“One-fifty,” she said.
He scratched his chin. “I’ll give you a hundred and twenty-five, final offer.”
She was quiet for a moment. “Deal.” She held out a hand, and they shook.
Bud’s grin split his face. He looked like a kid with a new toy.
“I’ll wrap it up for you,” Lisa said.
He reached for his wallet from his back pocket. “Excellent. Thanks.”
I looked at him.
“What?” he asked. “Everybody collects something.”
I was learning more and more about Bud. “See, now I know even more about you. We are friends.”