Page 38 of Abra's Acquisition
“Before we go in, I want you to tell me the real reason why Cicero brought you here,” Abra says.
Well, damn. I was hoping he’d let that go. I should have known better. “It was my idea. When I saw the shop, I recognized the name as the one from your journal. You wrotedown the name of this shop as the one where that young man pawned his family’s jewelry to pay for his wife’s surgery. Cicero didn’t want to stop, but I made him.”
“What was your plan?” Abra asks in confusion.
“Turns out it wasn’t a good plan. Or at least Cicero didn’t think it was. I thought Cicero could distract the guy behind the counter long enough for me to sneak in the back and check the records.”
The look of disbelief on Abra’s face has me blushing with embarrassment. “I told you it wasn’t a good plan. Cicero explained why I wouldn’t be able to get into the office without getting caught. Which is why we were leaving when Dontel came out.”
“Well, I’m glad one of you had some sense,” Abra says, shaking his head before taking my hand and leading me inside. Zip is right behind us.
“Afternoon,” Abra calls out as the shop owner stares at us. “I’m Abra, this is Zip. We’re members of the Demon Dawgs. I’m searching for something pretty for my girl here.”
I bristle at him failing to introduce me, except as ‘his girl,’ but I realize Abra isn’t diminishing me, but protecting me. He doesn’t want the pawnbroker to know my name.
“Demon Dawgs? Jewelry? Yes, yes. Of course,” the man stutters as he moves around the counter and draws our attention to a display case nearest the door.
I move over to look, while Abra stays with Zip. The two of them chat while I peruse the rather impressive offerings. You’d think a pawn shop would have junk, but many of the pieces are very nice. I immediately spot the locket my parents gave me when I graduated from high school and the bracelet that Max and my brothers bought me when I passed the bar exam. Neither piece is unique, but I recognize them as mine.
“Can I look at that locket?” I ask.
The man unlocks the case and hands me the piece so I can examine it.
“It’s a beauty, isn’t it? That’s a real ruby. Just got it in today. A young man had to sell it to pay for his grandmother’s assisted living care. Along with this bracelet,” he says, drawing out my bracelet. “This is a beautiful piece, too. Those are diamonds and rubies.”
“They’re both gorgeous,” I tell him, turning to look at Abra, who stands alone. Where is Zip? Before I can ask, Abra steps over to join us.
“Find something you like?” he asks.
I hold up the two pieces. “These two. They’re mine.”
“Well, what do you know? Are you in the habit of selling stolen merchandise?” Abra asks the man.
The shop owner stumbles back and turns to escape, but Abra simply reaches across the counter and snags him by the shirt.
“Lock the door and turn over the sign before you call your brother,” Abra tells me.
I do as he asks. Once I tell Max what we found, he assures me that he’s on his way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: ABRA
As soon as Rey confirms that the pawnbroker was selling her stolen jewelry, I reach across the counter and grab him by the shirt. Pulling him forward so he can’t escape, I order Rey to lock up the shop and call her brother. Movement to my right has me glancing over in time to see Zip sneak back into the shop. He nods as he shoves a folded sheet of paper into his kutte, telling me he found the information we needed on the person who sold the gold and ruby jewelry to this asshole.
I know Rey has a soft spot for the young man who was so desperate to save the life of his wife that he pawned his family’s treasure for a pittance. I can’t blame her. When I heard the story of how this asshole took advantage of a desperate man, I broke into the pawnshop and stole the pieces. I wish I had had the presence of mind to get the information on the man who pawned them. I knew the pawnshop had a buyer, which is why I moved so quickly.
“Max is on his way. He said he’s only a few minutes out. He’s also called in a black and white,” Rey says as we hear the sounds of sirens coming closer. “That’s probably them.”
A few minutes later, a black-and-white police car pulls in front of the shop, its lights flashing. Rey unlocks the door to let in two police officers. They have their weapons drawn as they enter and scan the surroundings.
“You’re Max’s sister, Rey?” one asks her. She nods.
“These are my friends. Abra and Zip.”
I release my grip on the pawnbroker as the cop circles the counter to take control. He has the man in cuffs and is reading him his rights while the pawnbroker whines about his innocence. The pawnbroker stutters to a stop when Max steps through the door. He pales when Max steps toward Rey and runs a hand down her arm.
“What did you find?” he asks.
Rey holds up the bracelet and the locket. Max narrows his eyes as he glares at the pawnbroker. “I know you got the information about these items,” Max says. “They were on the list of stolen items, so why didn’t you call us when the thief brought them in?”
