"Francis, Dorothy - Keeping Sharp" - читать интересную книгу автора (Francis Dorothy)

= Keeping Sharp
by Dorothy Francis


Blanche Walker stood behind the Jenkins Jewelry counter. There had been no customers yet, but it was early. She adjusted the gold pin on her black suit lapel, patted her silver hair. She looked pretty good for a gal on social security if she did say so herself. But then, she worked hard at keeping her body and her mind sharp.

She held to a strict diet. She wore stylish clothes even if she had to shop at Second Time Around. In her spare time she played cards, read mystery novels, and worked the daily crossword. Mr. Jenkins had suggested that she might want to retire. No way! She loved her job. She loved people. She dreaded turning into a couch potato just because she was sixty-five. Even so, it worried her that Mr. Jenkins recently had hired a young clerk just out of school.

Ah! A customer. Blanche sucked in her stomach.

"How may I help you?" she asked.

The man wore an expensive business suit, and he gazed lovingly at the dark-haired beauty with him before he smiled at Blanche.

"We want to see engagement rings, please," he said, "and I want the best for Nicole. We're being married soon, and nothing's too good for Mr. Big and his little woman."

"How wonderful." Mr. Big? Little woman? This guy sounded like a real piece of work. Blanche tried to remember if she'd seen Nicole's picture in the newspaper's Engagement Announcements. "Is Culver City your home?"

"It is now," Nicole said. "I moved here recently, and then when we met, well..." She smiled up at her fiance.

Blanche always clipped weekly engagement columns and read them carefully. If a girl pictured came into Jenkins Jewelry, Blanche could usually make a few comments relating to her life. Blanche's flattery impressed the brides-to-be and, more important, her ability to remember details impressed Mr. Jenkins. An old lady had to keep on her toes these days. She thought again about Mr. Jenkins' new clerk.

"What type of engagement ring do you prefer?" Blanche asked.

"I'd like to look at some diamond solitaires," Nicole said.

"Big ones." Her fiance grinned broadly. "Nothing but the best for my Nicole."

Blanche walked to the back of the store to unlock the display case. Was that beer she smelled on Mr. Big's breath? This early in the morning? But a customer's drinking habits were none of her business. She set a tray of solitaires on the countertop.

"Here are some lovely samples. What's your size, Nicole?"

"Seven, please."

Blanche noted the glib reply. Few girls knew their ring size. Even if they knew it, they usually wanted a check for accuracy. Blanche pointed to the size seven row in the display tray. "Half carat, one carat, two carat."

She scrutinized the couple. She noticed the man's grubby fingernails as he fitted a ring on Nicole's finger. Something about this couple made her nervous. But that was silly. Maybe it was the thought of the new young clerk that had her nerves on edge.

Blanche always kept her knee near the alarm button. In case of emergency, she could alert the police immediately. But even so, the robber would probably escape before the police arrived. And, she told herself, the police wouldn't appreciate being called out because a customer had beer breath. Worse, Mr. Jenkins would think she was turning into a frightened old lady.

"I can't make up my mind," Nicole said. "I want them all." She laughed. "Of course, I'm kidding. Could you set two or three rings aside so I can look at them again tomorrow?"

"We could probably make a decision then." As the man patted Nicole's hand, his jacket sleeve rose, revealing a heart tattoo on his wrist.

"Tomorrow would be fine," Blanche said. The couple thanked her and left. Beer breath. Grubby nails. Heart tattoo. She had read plenty of articles about well-dressed men returning to a shop and doing a snatch and grab. But no, she was letting her imagination run away with her. This young couple was about to enter married bliss.

That night Blanche did the daily crossword before she played cards with her club. Afterward, she slept soundly until morning. Had it not been for the hope of making an impressive sale, she might have forgotten about the couple.

Shortly after the store opened, her potential customer came in alone.