Read Gina Cresse - Devonie Lace 01 - A Deadly Change of Course--Plan B for Free Online Page B

better get back to the office before they all rob me blind,” Tony said as he headed for the door.  “It was very nice to meet you, Devonie .  Please don’t hesitate to call if you decide you want to get rid of that thing.  I’m sure I can get you a pretty penny for it.”
    “Thanks, Tony.  I’ll let you know.”
    Joe walked his old friend out of the shop, then returned to the office while I was securing the case.
    “Oh ,   I almost forgot.  Here’s your check for the ring,” Joe said as he handed me an envelope with my name scrawled on it.  Most people wouldn’t cut a check for a consignee the very day of a sale, but Joe knew how tight finances were for me. 
    “Thanks, Joe.  You’ve been a big help.”
    Before I slipped the envelope and Tony’s business card into my purse, I took a moment to read the card: 
     
    Anthony Marino
    Importer and Exporter of Fine Goods
     
    I wondered exactly what “Fine Goods” referred to, but decided not to pursue it just yet.  I gave Joe a hug and headed back to the Jeep.  Something told me I had a big day ahead of me.

 
                 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    I waved to Jason as I pulled into the parking lot in front of his shop.  He was busy helping a customer load a refrigerator into the back of a pickup.  He paused long enough to wave back to me.  Quickly, I made my way to the warehouse.  Sitting down in front of the first safe, I removed the pages of the small address book from my purse.  I tried the first combination of numbers.  Nothing.   I tried them a second time.  Again — nothing.   I closed my eyes and said a little prayer before I tried the next combination.  Very carefully, I turned the dial, being sure to stop exactly on the specified numbers.  I grasped the handle and pulled.  The door silently swung open.  “Thank you, God,” I said as I peered inside the dark vault.
    Anxiety kept my stomach feeling a little upset.  I had visions of finding hand grenades or sticks of dynamite inside the heavy metal box.  Last night I dreamed that I opened it and found a coiled two-headed King Cobra inside.  In my dream, it chased me all over the warehouse— then it chased m e all over San Diego.  I ran until I was waist deep in the Pacific, hoping it couldn’t swim.  It didn’t come in after me but just stayed on the beach, coiled, waiting for me to come out of the water.
    Jason walked in, just in time to witness the opening of the safe.  “Way to go, Dev.  What’s in there?”
    “I don’t know, yet.  I just got it open,” I answered.  I reached in and pulled out a box about six inches by ten inches. “What’s this?” I asked.
    He took it from me and inspected it carefully.  “I don’t know?  It’s some sort of electronic device, but I don’t know what it’s for.”
    There was nothing else in the safe.  “Let’s see what’s in your safe,” I said.  I worked the combination and it opened just as smoothly as the first one.  Jason couldn’t hide the disappointment on his face.  The safe was empty — a black hole.
    “Sorry, Jason.   At least now you have the combination.  The safe is worth something,” I consoled.
    “Thanks, Dev.  You’re right.  I can sell the safe in the shop — or maybe I’ll keep it for myself.”
    The bell rang from the shop, letting Jason know he had a customer.  “I’ll be right back.  I want to talk to you about what’s going on with this stuff you picked up yesterday,” he said as he headed for the door.
    I pulled a long thin steel pin from my purse and started probing the lock on the file cabinet.  I jiggled it and wiggled it back and forth.  Finally, it clicked and the small metal button popped out, just as if I had used a key.
    I pulled the drawer open.  The files were labeled by year.  They started with 1980, with the last file dated 1995.
    I lifted out a thin folder from the 1980 section.  It contained a brief newspaper clipping