"Lloyd Arthur Esbach - Sister Abigail's Collection" - читать интересную книгу автора (Eshbach Lloyd Arthur)

Sister AbigailтАЩs Collection
by Lloyd Arthur Esbach

****

Rob Moreland had walked past the pawnshop countless times over the years and he
knew it was there, of course; but ordinarily for him its dirty windows, screened by a
heavy steel latticework, simply did not exist.

Except today.

It was the skull that caught his at-tention, impinging on the very edge of his
perception. He halted, faced the window and peered through the dinginess. He
moved closer for a better view. Unusual. A time-browned human skull skillfully
encrusted with carefully fit-ted fragments of polished turquoise. Mexican, probably,
and centuries old. Or possibly Mayan. Amazing, the skill of the primitive lapidaries;
and strange to find this, a museum piece, in a pawn-shop window.

He appreciated good gem work. Gem polishing and silver smithing тАФ jew-elry
making тАФ was his hobby.

He half turned away тАФ spun back, staring. As he gazed, it seemed as though
a hand had clutched his throat, cutting off his breath. His eyes widened in unbelief. It
тАФ couldnтАЩt be!

There on a strip of black felt amid a disordered spread of all sorts of jewelry
was a beautiful oval pendant of pierced silver about three inches long. Set in its
center was a large opal, flashing its vari-colored beauty even through the smudged
glass, encircled by small, evenly spaced cabochons of alternating bright green and
lavender jade. More-land stared at the pendant with total incredulity. It was beautiful
тАФ and he knew every stone, every construction detail тАФ for he had made it himself
тАФbut it simply could not be there! Eight months ago he had buried his wife тАФ and
that pendant, her favorite jewel, on a Sterling chain and resting on her breast, had
been buried with her.

With features set in grim lines Rob Moreland entered the pawnshop, paus-ing
momentarily inside the door. With a single glance he took in the crowded confusion
of merchandise covering walls and filling cases, then strode up to the storeтАЩs single
occupant, a short, heavy, dark-haired man standing behind a counter.

тАЬThat opal pendant in the window тАФ where did it come from?тАЭ

Heavy brows lowered and the profes-sional smile vanished. тАЬThatтАЩs
infor-mation we never give out. Are you interested тАФ ?тАЭ

тАЬMister, that happens to be stolen goods.тАЭ MorelandтАЩs tones were icy. тАЬAnd
donтАЩt tell me IтАЩm wrong. I made that piece and thereтАЩs not another like it in
existence.тАЭ

The pawnbroker forced a smile. тАЬMy friend, you must be wrong. The lady