ry

agne glass down with a sharp clin

said coolly. "But

olled he

signer purse and pulled

. I'm insuring it for a milli

e box acros

ched

ngers brushe

ened

left m

an emeral

a fern, encrusted w

just any

family h

y mother had worn

in the penthouse-the safe I had le

geous, isn't it? A gift from my fiancé. Well, technically,

began to

em into fists

stol

ever have giv

th

ting my former home, picking through

p a jewele

emerald clos

ip on the underside of the stone, from wh

ed it

e it

ch

as r

was ice. "Mid-century. Clunky. Not very.

age. It belonged to Blake's

o hard the metal dug

ntal instability. She killed her own baby, you know. Terminated it at seven mont

oom s

f rage cloud

ld people? Was that

necklace back

ppraise thi

"Excuse me? Do yo

double meaning hung heavy in the air. "This

turned red. "H

the private

walk

his watch, his broad, athlet

mething happened to the c

e instantly

laced by a trembling li

. "This woman! She insulted me! Sh

n't look

straight at me-the

od fr

st st

eyes scanne

I held m

nt tilt o

ling flicker of déjà vu flas

met?" Bla

pletely ignoring Clair

nst my ribs, a frantic

a ste

es, Mr. Knight," I said.

ed to