Read Out of Time 01 - Out of Time for Free Online Page B

something suitable.
    Simon watched her disappear into the back of the store and then turned his attention to the owner.
    The man wasted no time appraising Simon, and a thin smile stretched his pinched mouth. “Name’s Smitty. What do you have for me today?”
    Simon didn’t have much experience in bargaining, but he knew a shark when he saw one. He took the ring out of his pocket but didn’t hand it over just yet. “A family heirloom. It’s quite valuable.”
    Smitty’s lips quivered in anticipation. “Of course.” He held out his bony hand.
    Simon hesitated, looking at the man’s black, smudged fingers. He had little choice though, and set the ring on the counter. He loathed the idea of pawning it. Even though the ring brought with it painful memories, they were the last he had of his grandfather. The watch and the ring had come to symbolize those final moments—frightening and confusing, but all he had left.
    Elizabeth poked her head around the corner and held out a pale, floral print dress. “Is there somewhere I can try this on?”
    “There’s a partition screen in the back,” Smitty said, as he stopped examining the ring and leaned over the counter to stare at Elizabeth.
    She came around the corner and put the dress on the counter. As she started to pull the sweater over her head, Simon gave in to the ridiculous urge to block Smitty’s view. Not that she was undressing, but there was something sensual about the way she moved, the way her hair fell across her shoulders.
    She smiled and handed Simon his sweater. “Thanks for the loan.”
    He watched Elizabeth walk to the back of the store and then turned to Smitty, whose leer slid effortlessly into an oily smile.
    “Mr. Smith,” Simon bit out. “If you don’t mind...”
    Smitty’s lips tightened, his mouth looking like a gash cut into the middle of his face. Simon clenched his jaw. He couldn’t afford to say the things he wanted to. Not now, when they needed money so badly. The sooner they finished their business here the better. “The ring,” he said tightly.
    “Of course,” Smitty said and examined the small scarab. He turned it over in his hands and looked at the setting closely. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
    “We’re new in town,” Simon said. Now he was going to be forced to make small talk with this creature.
    “Where ya staying?”
    Simon hesitated. “We haven’t settled in quite yet.”
    Smitty looked up from examining the scarab. “You on the lam?”
    “Of course not,” Simon said and racked his brain for viable story. “We just got off the train and... I really don’t see how it’s any of your affair.”
    “You’re a little jumpy aren’t ya? No luggage, odd clothing. If this ring’s hot it’ll affect the price.”
    “Now, see here—”
    “You wouldn’t be the first.”
    Simon’s patience was wearing thin. “We are not on the run.”
    “No?” He glanced down at Simon’s hand and saw he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. “Out for a little fun then?”
    “What exactly are you implying?”
    Smitty shrugged. “You wouldn’t be the first man to have a little milk without buying the cow.”
    Simon reached the end of his rope. No matter how badly they needed money he wasn’t going to tolerate such insolence. “Mr. Smith,” Simon ground out. “If I were you—”
    “We’re newlyweds,” Elizabeth said as she came to Simon’s side. She hooked her arm through his and turned to Smitty with her sweetest smile. “He’s still getting used to the idea.”
    “Yes,” Simon stammered. Smitty seemed to step back a little. Apparently, Simon’s claim on her was enough to bring the man up short. It was a ridiculous charade, but if it gave Elizabeth a modicum of safety he’d gladly keep up pretenses. “It all happened rather unexpectedly.”
    “Very,” Elizabeth said with a grin, her eyes bright with mischief.
    Smitty narrowed his eyes. “You don’t have rings.”
    “There wasn’t time to see to