“I know. I know. I’m so embarrassed.” He winced. “My office is two blocks from here. Please, if I could just run back and grab it. It’ll take me ten minutes.”
“I don’t know.” Lucy bit her lip. “I’d get in so much trouble. I can’t afford to get fired.”
“I completely understand. Um…” Marlin pressed his lips together. “Well, here, take this.” He unclipped his watch and handed it to her.
She hesitated. “Um…”
“As insurance. It’s a hand me down from my grandfather. I doubt it’s worth much, but it’s definitely worth more than the meal.” Marlin stood, taking her hand and forcing her to grab it. “I will be back for this.” His grin was adorable as he buttoned his jacket and swiftly left the room.
Lucy gazed down at the gold watch in her hand, aware that a few eyes were on her. She shoved it into her apron pocket and started to head back to the bar.
“Excuse me,” Shorty called her back.
“Oh, I’m sorry, sir.” She walked over to him, looking flustered. “What can I get you this evening?”
“Yes, we’ll get to that in a minute. I just…well, I couldn’t help overhearing your little conversation and I spotted the watch. May I take a closer look?”
She dubiously pulled it from her pocket, glancing over her shoulder as she handed it to Shorty. The mark’s ears were on fire, she could tell. She adjusted her position, so she could spy him a little better and at the same moment noticed that the blond vodka man was also gazing at her. She tried to smile confidently at him, but that foreboding feeling washed over her and she ended up reverting her eyes to Shorty.
“You know, I don’t think that boy realizes just how precious this watch is.”
“I’m sorry?” Lucy tipped her head.
“What’s your name, darling?” Shorty’s posh British accent was in full bloom.
“S-Sarah.”
“And let me guess, you’re in high school?”
She nodded.
“Saving for something special? That’s why you can’t lose your job, am I right?”
She acquiesced with a sigh. “I’m trying to buy my first car.”
“A worthy cause, my dear.” He leaned in close, going for conspiratorial, but speaking loud enough for the mark’s table to hear. “If I were you, I’d flag the job and leave now.”
“What do you mean?”
He held the watch up to the light. “This is no cheap hand me down. I’d bet my life this little beauty is worth a pretty penny.”
“Like how pretty?” Lucy bit her lip.
“My dear, I’d say you were sitting on several thousand dollars here.”
“No way.” She gripped the tray in her hand.
He spun it over, studying the engravings on the back. “This is an antique. I can tell by the engravings. Trust me, I used to work in the industry. I was a valuer for an auction house for several years. I can tell this is a limited edition watch, made in Switzerland. This is no mere hand me down, I can assure you.”
“Do you think the guy who owns it knows?” Lucy flicked her thumb at vacant table 18.
“I think the boy who owns it is a rich, clueless prat who probably places no value at all in his possessions.” He gently placed the watch back in her hand. “You hang on to this, my dear. Go to the Winchester Auction House in the morning. You know it?” She shook her head. Pulling a business card and pen from his back pocket, he flipped it over and wrote down an address. “Tell them Fletcher sent you. Have it valued and placed in the next auction. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.” He grinned at her.
She took the card hesitantly. “But what if he comes back?”
“Might be a good time to head home sick.” The man winked. “I guess it depends on how badly you want that car.” As he slid the pen back in his jacket pocket, his phone rang. “Excuse me.” He answered it with an elegant flair and then stood from the table and left, muttering something about having to take the call.
Lucy gazed at the card in her hand, taking her time, giving the mark an opportunity to call her over, but he wasn’t quick enough. Instead, the tall blond man was clicking his fingers at her.
She glanced up and was forced to approach him, swallowing back her annoyance.
His pale gaze travelled over her as she approached, nerves exploding through her system like fireworks. Her brain began to buzz as she neared him, her mind igniting with an image from years before.
“I don’t suppose you’d mind showing me that watch.” An arrogant smile eased over his lips, his hard eyes sparkling in a way that was more menacing than anything. “If you’re interested in selling, I might be able to offer you a decent price.” His blond eyebrows rose, making his face look even longer.
That face.
That voice.
Trying to ward off her growing anxiety, she reached into her pocket, deciding it’d be okay if the mark was a different person. She was just handing it over when an image crystallized in her brain. She was suddenly back in a dark stairwell, gazing through a crack in the door. Her mother was screaming and her father was begging a tall blond man with pale green eyes to leave her alone.
Lucy’s breath hitched, her fingers clutching the watch tight.
It was him.
She was standing a foot away from her parents’ killer.
Chapter 15
LUCY