The Ruby Kingdom by Patricia Bow

Author:Patricia Bow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV000000
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2007-02-10T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

EYES LIKE DIAMONDS

Amelia dropped the receiver on the floor with a clatter and sat down hard in the chair. “Now. He wants me to meet him now.”

Simon scooped up the receiver, tapped the hook switch, and dialed again. “Ike? Guess what?”

Amelia took a minute to get her breath. It felt like she’d hardly been breathing, trying not to make a noise: hiding like a rabbit from a snake.

“See you downstairs,” Simon said into the phone. He hung up and looked at Amelia.

“I’m scared.” She didn’t feel the least bit embarrassed about saying it.

“He scared me too. That’s why we’re bringing Ike and Celeste.”

“Why would we —” she began hotly. Then changed her mind. As she headed to the coat closet and started pulling on layers, she said, “Well, okay. After all, we don’t know what this guy is. He could be a child molester or a con man or something.”

But Celeste wasn’t in the store. “Left for Elora fifteen minutes ago, to meet a seller,” her helper said. “She’ll be back in an hour or so.”

“We can’t wait an hour,” Simon said. “He’ll be gone by then.”

Ike fell into step with them as they came out of Boomer Heaven. The front of his parka bulged. “Camera,” he explained. “Zoom lens. Got to keep it warm.”

“Wait a minute,” Amelia said breathlessly. They were slogging through ten inches of snow. “Wait — what are we going to do? I can’t just hand the ring over!”

“No, you should stall him — as long as you can,” Ike panted. “So I can get a good shot!”

“But I don’t” — she gasped — “don’t want to give it back.”

And then it was too late. They reached the corner of Barth’s Drugstore, next to the town hall square. Ike stopped, and Simon and Amelia walked out into the square.

“What about Ike?” she asked.

“We can’t let him see Ike with us, or he’ll never get the shot.”

The space in front of the town hall was white and wild. Snow devils eddied as high as the roofs. The only building around the square that showed any sign of life was the doughnut shop on the far side. The square was deserted except for the two of them and a dark figure that sat at one of the concrete chess tables beside the skating rink. Amelia stopped.

“I see him,” Simon said. “Don’t be scared, I’m with you.” His voice trembled. Amelia let the “Don’t be scared” remark pass. She didn’t think she could speak.

The man turned his head and watched them come. Amelia shaped her mouth into what she hoped was a confident smile. From here he looked nothing like his voice. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it wasn’t this.

She stopped behind the chair on the near side of the chess table, just beyond arm’s reach.

“Sit.” His voice was deep and husky, but there was no hissing.

“No, thank you,” Amelia said.

“I can pay.” He opened his hand and a toonie slid into the snow on the table.

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