Page 63 of Grave Obsession

“No,” I reply flatly. I eye the jewelry sales associate across the store. He must feel my eyes on him and he starts to scan the area. Locking eyes with me, I point to the jewelry counter and he nods.

“Okay, is there another time I could call back and discuss this amazing, one time offer with you?” The shrill voice echoes through my skull as I approach the display case.

“No.” The man already has the ring Mallory was looking at earlier pulled out, along with two other rings I hadn’t noticed before.

“Sir, I don’t think you understand the offer you’re missing out on by not locking in today.”

“I’m not interested. Have a good day,” I reply and hang up the phone before she can drag this on any longer. I feel a twinge of guilt for cutting her off, but I’m not trying to get caught by my little siren, purchasing the ring she was entranced by earlier.

“Hey, sorry about that,” I say to the jewelry clerk.

“Quite alright, sir.”

“What are these two?” I point at the two bands laying on either side of the ring with the black stone.

“As I explained to the lady earlier, this ring…” He holds up the white gold ring with the black stone, which I now realize is more of a smoky colour, “Is part of a wedding set. This one goes in between the other two bands.” He picks up all three rings, stacking them on his finger to show me.

“Wrap it up.”

“Sir?” he questions.

“Quickly please, before my girl comes to see what’s taking me so long.”

“Right away.” He scurries off to do whatever he needs when my phone rings again. I swear, if it’s the same woman from five minutes ago I may lose it. But, it’s not. ‘Captain G’ blinks on my screen as I step outside.

“Graves,” I say curtly into the mouthpiece. I’m overly direct and short worded where my job is concerned. Less ability for miscommunication that way.

“There’s been another murder,” my uncle’s exhausted voice comes through the speaker.

“Fuck,” I whisper.

He clears his throat, “I hate to do this to you Lennox, but I’m going to need you to come back in.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“ETA?” he asks. I’m taking a wild shot in the dark with this one since we’re about two hours from Mallory’s house and I need to unload furniture now. I shouldn’t have done this today but the desire to make up for our time apart was too much to resist.

“Nox?” Mallory’s melodic voice cuts through the silence in the empty lot.

“Yeah, babe?” I call out to her as she crosses the gravel to my side.

“Babe?” my uncle’s voice rings in my ear. “Please don’t call me that.” I laugh, glad to see his sense of humour is still intact with all that’s going on.

“Do you need to go?” she asks, and I’m sure my uncle can hear her on the other side of the call.

“Yeah,” I reply, deflating internally.

“Graves.” My uncle is all business now, using his authoritative captain voice.

“Yes, sir?”

“Get that girl home safe and say a proper good-bye. We will all be unavailable for the foreseeable future.”

“Sir, with the utmost respect, what the fuck does that mean?” I ask. Something isn’t right, I can hear it in the way my uncle is choosing his words carefully because noise carries.

“He’s left us a note.”

Chapter Forty-Six

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