3: 3
At nine the next morning, Nanette didn't show.
At nine thirty, the doorbell rang.
My father opened the door, and Nanette, Asher Sawyer, her husband, and a handful of relatives who liked to stick their noses in all crowded into our home.
Nanette's eyes went red the moment she stepped inside.
"Oh, Elaine, I've let you down."
My mother's face went pale. "Nanette, where are the pieces?"
Nanette pressed a hand to her chest like she'd been wronged beyond all telling.
"They're gone."
The living room went silent in an instant.
I looked at her. "How, exactly?"
She had her story ready, and she burst into tears at once.
"After the party ended last night, there were so many people. I was carrying the box out to the car, and somewhere in the crowd someone bumped into me. I didn't notice the box was gone until I got home. Elaine, my heart aches over this too, but it's already happened…"
Crying all the while, she pulled a stack of cash from her bag and slapped it down on the coffee table.
"That set cost eighty-eight thousand back when you bought it, didn't it? I'll pay you ninety. That's more than fair."
My mother was shaking with anger. "Do you have any idea what gold is worth now? You think ninety thousand settles it?"
Nanette dabbed at her eyes right away. "That's an ugly thing to say. Whatever it cost then, that's what I'm paying now, plus two thousand extra. I didn't lose it on purpose. Do you want me to ruin myself over this?"
My uncle chimed in to smooth it over. "Elaine, we're all family here, and your aunt's already paying you. Ninety thousand isn't small. Don't blow this up."
Another relative jumped in. "Asher just got engaged yesterday, and here you are picking at it today. Bad luck, all of it."
I looked at that stack of cash and almost wanted to laugh.
In my last life, she'd worn this exact face.
Paid me ninety thousand for gold worth over two hundred, and expected me to be grateful for it.
I didn't touch the money. I just opened my phone and started recording.
"Aunt Nanette, you're certain all three pieces are gone?"
Her crying hitched.
Asher frowned. "What are you getting at?"
I ignored him and kept my eyes on her. "In your own words: the jewelry box is lost, and none of what was inside can be recovered. Is that right?"
She looked like she'd had enough of my questions, and her voice went shrill.
"Yes! Gone! I'm paying you, aren't I? Elaine Winfield, don't be so greedy!"
I nodded.
"Then what's this ninety thousand for?"
Nanette answered at once. "To pay you back for your gold set. Everyone here is a witness. I've paid, and after this we're square."
I took out a sheet of paper and slowly wrote it down.
【Received from Nanette Winfield: ninety thousand dollars as temporary compensation for lost jewelry. Whereabouts of original items pending.】
Nanette gave it one glance and her face changed on the spot.
"What do you mean, whereabouts of original items pending? You trying to shake me down?"
I drew the paper back.
"Then I won't sign."
Nanette was so furious her face went a shade of green.
Asher let out a cold laugh and turned his phone on me to film.
"Everybody take a look. She just thinks the money's too little. My mom's kind enough to pay her ninety thousand, and she still won't let it go."
Nanette shoved the stack of cash across the coffee table at once.
"The money's right here. Whether you take it is your business. Either way, I've paid."
They came in a noisy crowd, and they left in a hurry.
Right before she went out the door, Nanette made a point of telling the relatives, "From now on, none of you go to Elaine when you need help. Not a shred of feeling between family, only money."
After the door shut, my mother was so angry she was near tears.
"She's bullying us, plain and simple."
I bagged up the ninety thousand from the coffee table and sealed it.
"Mom, don't touch this money yet. She's not paying us. She's leaving herself a piece of evidence."
My father froze. "What do you mean?"
I walked to the window.
Down below, Asher was driving Nanette away.
The car didn't head toward the Sawyer place. It turned toward the west side of town.
I watched the taillights and said quietly, "Her home isn't on the west side."
There's nothing over there but a row of pawnshops.
