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Rosenthal reads the address and then throws the page in the shredder and hangs up

"What now?"

"Now" He stru, an unfriendly look on his face "ait for the phone call"

I let my eyes wander over his desk, which is clear except for one neat stack of papers in the top-right corner and a strangeoff it I can’t help but eye it, thoughts of h my mind

"Give me your hand," he demands abruptly

As much as I don’t want to, I don’t knohat else to do, so I hu over er "You’re a size eleven Would you like to see the latest wedding bands that just arrived?"

"Only if they come with a noose"

Finallyhis face breaks out in a wide sap between hisover to a wall panel, he punches in a few buttons and a lock pop sounds Pushing open a hidden display case full of gold and diamonds, he says, "How about a piece of jewelry for a lovely wouy is unreal Is this what he does while waiting for drops to take place? I open my mouth to decline his offer when a particular piece catches my eyes

"Ahhof course" How he knows exactly what I’ I have no idea, but the littlefive-foot-two--and seizes the necklace froold, rhodium-plated"

The mention of rhodium reminds me of the pile of catalytic converters back at the warehouse I know it’s worth a lot Rosenthal dangles the necklace in front ofraindrops al it around Rain’s slender neck "How h "What’s that, a five hundred percent ot here While he runs a legit wholesaler’s business, that doesn’t ood chunk of his stock is coled inventory at 50 percent less than what’s consideredto rip you off?" That sour look has returned

Trying to rip , but I need to be careful He’s still holding ourthat I didn’t cos the necklace back up, but I know he’s going to cootiation 101 Before he does, we’re interrupted with ringing He’s on the phone for all of three seconds, long enough to say, "HelloOkay" Punching a code into a safe behind his desk, he pulls out an overstuffedit across Stacks of rin, no doubt

Hell, I’ because solance at the necklace again, hung so intentionally front and center I wonder how Rain would react to that? She’d probably tellcrazy I’ve known her for only a feeeks We’ve barely kissed But it’d be a good gift down the road,to sell that to ht And then sood friend of Areftwo"

I dig the cash out and slap it on the table "Now that’s ed in under aWhen I walk out of there, it’s with a smile and a handshake and an "until next time" I make it all the way past the last security door before my smile falls off abruptly