“Yeah, but he’s chillin’ in the back right now with like some boxes of books that came in and I think he’s busy with that so he told me to come out here and help the customers.”
The operative word being help, as in to actually offer assistance when needed.
“Can you just tell him Sloane is here? He knows me.”
“Oh uh, I dunno. He said not to bother him, and he gets kinda mad when I do, so…”
I crossed to the other side of the counter and walked toward the back room. The kid seemed put off by this and shouted out after me.
“You can’t go back there,” he said.
“No worries,” I said, and I pushed open the partition that separated the main part of the store from the back room.
A voice from the back sounded off.
“Dammit Kyle, I told you not to—”
“Kyle’s still up front,” I said. “It’s just me, Robert.”
The man poked his head around one of the boxes and looked up at me.
“Oh Sloane, how are you?” he said.
He grabbed a paper towel from the green Formica countertop next to him and wiped his hands off and then stood up.
“I hope you don’t mind me coming back here,” I said.
He swished the air in a downward motion with his hand.
“Naw,” he said. “You’re my best customer.”
“Who’s the new kid?” I said.
He rolled his eyes.
“My nephew. I promised my sister I’d give him a job for the summer. He’s only here for another five days or so.”
“Sounds like you’re counting them down,” I said.
“You have no idea. I’d pay him not to come in at this point.”
“Wow, that bad, huh?”
“I got what you asked for.”
“Really?” I said. “You found it?”
“It wasn’t easy, but I sure did. Come over here and take a look.”
I followed him over to his desk. He opened the drawer and pulled out a big piece of cloth and set it in my hands. I unfolded it and stared in wonderment at the book before me.
“Well,” he said. “What do you think?”
“I can’t believe you were able to find one in such good condition,” I said. “I’ve dreamed about owning this for years.”
“Sorry it took so long to procure it for you,” he said.
“Don’t be. It was worth the wait.”
In my hand I held a UK first edition copy of Agatha Christie’s first novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I’d collected her works for years and always hoped one day I would be able to afford the first book she ever wrote.
“It’s too bad I wasn’t around when it first came out,” I said. “I would only owe you seven shillings and sixpence.”
He laughed.
“You missed that by a good ninety-some years, I’d say.”
I wrapped the cloth back around the book and placed it in the protective case it came in.
“I need to ask a favor,” I said.
“Another book?”
I shook my head.
“This is far more important,” I said.
I reached in my bag and lowered my volume to a whisper.
“I need you to take a look at this,” I said.
Robert withdrew the pink paper from my hands and held it flat on his palm while he walked over to his desk and put his glasses on. He held it a few inches from his face and scrutinized every part of it without uttering a word. After some time, he glanced up at me.
“May I ask you something?” he said.
“Anything.”
“Is this for a case you’re working on?”
“It is. Can I count on you to be discreet?” I said.
“You don’t even need to ask.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” I said.
“What is it you would like me to do?”
“Is there anything you can tell me about it?” I said.
“Well, it appears to be made of parchment of some kind.”
He took his fingers and grazed them across the top.
“And this ripped part at the top here,” he said, “it’s called a deckle edge.”
“Do you have any idea who makes it or where it came from?” I said.
“I don’t carry this in the store, but I may be able to find it. Leave me a piece of it and I’ll see what I can find out for you.”
CHAPTER 25
I stood in front of the wall at my office and pinned up 3/4 of the last note Sinnerman left for me to his profile board. I stared at it and tried to focus on what my next move would be, but all I could think about was Giovanni. Every time he was around it clouded my judgment, and now, with him nowhere in sight, it was even worse. My concentration was off.
The night before I’d spent a lot of time wrapped up in my thoughts about Giovanni’s request to work together. Under most circumstances, I didn’t want help, and I never asked for it. It was odd to me that I considered allowing someone in my world when I knew so little of his.
When my grandfather was alive he taught me the importance of what he liked to call “the power of observation.” He said most people reveal themselves when they don’t think anyone else is watching, and in those moments you can truly unravel their essence and learn what they’re made of and why they do the things they do. I’d taken his advice to heart.
In my life I’d formed my own circle of trust, and the circle was small. To let someone in required time and plenty of observation on my part. I’d made it a point never to show my cards until they showed theirs. I watched and I waited until they exposed themselves to me. This method was flawless until the day Giovanni Luciana stepped into my life, and I found I wanted to show my hand before he even decided to call or wager.
CHAPTER 26
Sam Reids stood behind a paisley curtain in a window of an office that was desolate except for a chair he’d brought in to sit on when he didn’t want to stand. Sloane had a puzzled look on her face, and he wondered why and what her thoughts were in that moment. Is she thinking of me… he thought to himself. A warm sensation flushed up and down his arms at the very thought of it.
Sam adjusted his binoculars and directed his attention to the most recent addition to the board, the pink slip of paper. Clever girl, he thought, keeping that one all to herself. He knew it wouldn’t lead her any closer to him. Still, he enjoyed looking at the visual remnants of his crimes attached to the cork board on her wall. It gave him a sense of pride, a sense that he belonged in some odd way. Like he mattered, even if her motive was to ultimately end his life. He was sure in time she’d come to see things in a different way.
Sloane wasn’t like most women; she was fearless, like he was. Maybe that was the reason he’d grown so fond of her. Of all his adversaries, she proved the most worthy. It was fun to leave her little crumbs and tidbits here and there and then to sit back and watch her find them. He wanted to test her, to see if they rattled her, and he was surprised when they didn’t. She reminded him of a curious puppy after a certain scent. The question was, would she get a good whiff of it? He didn’t think so, although to underestimate her wouldn’t be wise, so he kept tabs on her just like he was doing now from an office across the street from her own.
The game he played with Sloane had been fun, but now Sam wanted to go in a different direction. His patience waned, and he was ready to reward himself for his efforts. He felt he deserved it, and he knew what he needed to do. The time had come to see what Sloane Monroe was made of and to let the fireworks begin. His most recent two had gone off, and he was ready for the grand finale. The moment where he would secure the best, the one he saved for last.
CHAPTER 27
My cell phone rang. It was Giovanni.