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I pressed the button next to the door and was buzzed into a clean, well-lit shop. It was farther away, but the other two shopkeepers hadsuggested I’d get a better price here. The walls were a bright white, and glistening display cases lined the room, containing gold and silver coins encased in plastic and an array of rings and bracelets. Above them hung a framed certificate that readprecious metals dealer’s license, so the store had more diplomas than me.
“Good morning, sir,” said a man emerging from the back. He was in his fifties, with bristly hair atop a fleshy face and wire-rimmed glasses that sat low on his nose. He had on a neat white polo shirt with khakis and his name tag readgreg. He stepped up to a glass counter that held a large plastic calculator.
“Yes, I’m looking to sell a Rolex Submariner. It’s about fifteen years old but I only wore it once. I have the stuff that goes with it.” I opened my backpack and took out the padded green case with the watch, the registration, and the instruction manual, since a Rolex was fancy enough to require one.
“Thank you.” Greg palmed the boxy green case and opened it up to reveal the glistening watch, still in its suede holder. “You weren’t kidding. You have the extra links?”
“They’re underneath.”
“Good.” Greg took out the watch and examined it, nodding. “Let me take this in the back a moment, if you don’t mind.”
“Go right ahead,” I said, and Greg turned away just as a young girl who looked like his daughter emerged from the back, carrying a cardboard box that she set down heavily on the counter.
“Sorry for the mess,” she said with an apologetic smile, showing braces. “We’ve got to get everything out of the office.”
Greg glanced over his shoulder. “This is my daughter Lily. She’s pitching in. A pipe broke in the back, and the office flooded. The walls are soaked, so are the files. Guys are coming at noon to tear out the carpets and put in humidifiers.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Be right back.” Greg went back into the office with Lily, who reemerged a moment later with another cardboard box that she put on the counter.
“Lily, if those boxes are heavy, I’m happy to help.”
“No, thanks, it’s only jewelry, see?” Lily opened the top flap, and inside were transparent baggies of jewelry with receipts. I peeked inside, startled at something orange that caught my eye—my mother’s coral earrings.
Whoa. “Those are pretty,” I said, pointing.
“These?” Lily plucked them out. “They’re old, but I like them, too. You can’t buy them yet. This is the hold box. We have to hold everything in here for seven days, in case it was stolen. We can’t sell any of this until then.”
“Can I take a look at them?”
“Sure.” Lily handed me the baggie. “My dad will give you a good price if you come back later. He’s very fair.”
“Thanks.” I handed her the bag, my mind racing. Whoever stole the coral earrings was our office burglar, either Rigel or his co-conspirator.
Lily went in the back, and Greg reemerged with my Rolex. “This is in mint condition. Do you want to sell it or pawn it?”
“Sell it, but let me ask you about those coral earrings.”
“Like Lily said, we have to hold them, in case the cops come in asking for them.”
“Do they, usually?”
“No. They call looking for super-high-end jewelry like diamonds. Otherwise, nothing.”
“Who brought them in? Do you remember?”
“No, but I scanned his driver’s license. Anybody who sells me anything has to show a driver’s license or a state ID. If we make a deal for your Rolex, you will, too.”
“I’m curious, could I see the driver’s license?”
Greg hesitated. “I don’t do that.”
“It’s not against the law, is it?”
“No, but I don’t do it.”
“Does anybody ever ask?”
