Page 3 of Filthy Little Lies

He goes over the logistics of it, basically giving me a six-month reprieve on the money. But with the insane interest he’s going to charge me, I’ll need to find additional money.

Tomorrow’s problem.

Today’s problem is solved.

“Sounds good to me, let’s do it.” I smile, like he’s just saved me.

“I need your ID to get the paperwork sorted.”

Double dammit.

“Of course.” I open my bag and pull out my wallet. Opening it so he can’t see the abundance of cards filling the slots, I peruse my choices, then pull out the top card.

“All right. Be right back.” He scoops up the diamonds, the certificates, and the fake identification, and takes everything into the back room.

My heart beats in my ears. It’s too quiet in the shop. From a quick inspection, I find four cameras that I can see. There’s probably a few more hidden from view as well. Not that there’s anything in here I can lift without having to break into a glass display case.

It’s like they don’t trust their customers.

A diamond-encrusted emerald ring catches my eye in the display case in the corner. Leaning over the glass, I read the price tag attached. Fifteen thousand dollars. Without getting a much closer look I can’t be sure, but that ring is not worth fifteen thousand.

It’s not worth even fifteen hundred.

The emerald isn’t real, the diamond is premium moissanite at best, and the gold band is probably gold plated. A pair of pearl earrings in the same display case shows a price tag of twenty thousand. Even the best curated jewelry stores wouldn’t charge half that for those earrings. The rest of the jewelry in the case is more of the same. Even for a pawn shop, these prices make no sense.

Unless they aren’t selling these to customers who want the jewelry but want to hand over cash.

My stomach dips.

The perfect way to launder money.

This. This is why I don’t just jump into a job. I could get lucky. It might not be what I fear. That huge guy in the leather could just be a normal guy who owns a pawn shop that cleans money. Just a pawn. He’s not necessarily part of something bigger and more dangerous.

Feeling the cameras on me, I inch my way down the length of the counter, creeping closer to the front door. If Bob comes back without a bundle of cash in his hands, I’ll bolt. The car is only a hundred feet away, I should be able to get away.

More time goes by and no one comes back out. The thick air in the shop suffocates me. Or my nerves are wrapping themselves around my lungs.

I’ll leave.

I should go.

Cut my losses and get away from here before this whole thing goes sideways.

I hurry to the door. My hand is on the handle when there’s a loud metallic click. The deadbolt has slid into place, locking the door.

I spin around, sure there’s someone there, but I’m still alone. They have a remote on the lock?

My throat closes.

The door leading to the offices swings open and the leather jacket man steps out. His eyes trained on me, my papers in one hand and the bag of shitty diamonds in the other.

“You have some explaining to do.”

CHAPTER 2

Savvy

“I need to go.” I back into the door, holding onto the door handle. “Can you unlock the door?”