Page 10 of Etched in Stone
“I am a very distinguished client. I have to make sure that I am hiring quality.” Jesse didn’t believe that for a moment. She still entered but she didn’t close the door behind her.
She walked over to the garden and opened that door too, just to be ready. If she had to make a quick escape, she could run into Ray’s place and lock that door behind her.
From the front, the man was no less mysterious. There was a large scar that ran along the side of his neck. He was chubby and filled out his expensive suit. It was a lemony yellow with a pink shirt and a white silk tie and pocket scarf. It was definitely too late in the year to be wearing such a spring palette, but he didn’t seem to care.
“I am Pablo.” He said it as if that were his only name, like Madonna or Cher. “This is an interesting studio you have here.”
“Yes. It’s also where I live. Which is why I’m surprised to see you here without knocking.”
“Oh, is it? The door was unlocked.”
“Unlocked?”
“Yes, but don’t you want to know why I am here?
“Frankly I'm more concerned about how much you are freaking me out right now,” Jesse said.
“I've decided to make an offer.”
Honestly, Jesse couldn't see herself taking any offer that this guy made her. Why he seemed to think otherwise was quite a mystery.
“I don't think I'm interested.”
“Oh, I plan to make you an offer you can't refuse. I don't like being turned down. Just ask anyone.”
If he hadn't been sitting there in his lemon suit sipping coffee from a teacup, Jesse would have thought that sounded like a mobster from a TV movie. Here, it just made him sound like a wannabe
gangster.
“I've attained a crystal. And I want it set. I want it specifically set.”
“I'm not a jeweler, Mr.-”
“Pablo.”
He handed her a card. Sure enough, on one side of the card was a phone number. On the other, a rose and a fancy font that read only Pablo. This guy was either full of himself or the real deal. Jesse had yet to ferret out which.
“On the table is a box with all the information that you need to create my desired object,” he continued. It was a simple white box tied with a red bow. It looked like a present or a gag gift out of a cartoon.
“I'm going to have to say thanks but-”
“No, no, don't decide now. I'll leave the crystal with you for the time being. But I am confident that you will say yes.”
“I'm not so sure.”
He stood up, brushing imaginary crumbs from himself. “Again, twenty thousand dollars is a lot of money. I'm assured you can put that to good use.”
“Pardon?”
“Good afternoon, Ms. Jenkins. I'll show myself out.” And with that, the mystery man disappeared as quickly as he had come.
Jesse took a deep breath and then realized that she was still standing there with a jug of milk. She shook her head and headed toward the fridge.
“Who was that?”
She closed the fridge to see Ray standing in the garden doorway, the one that she had left open as her safety route.
“Just a potential client.”
