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As I stared at a cabinet full of cereal trying to decide between Wheaty-O’s and Oatey-Squares, I got stuck What was the difference? It was all packaged crap, none of it real My life felt idle, easy, bland, safe, a neutral-colored apartht to mind the estate sale where I had found the necklace I had to go back to Mrs Stein’s house and see as in that bloodred book

When I showed up at 8:30, Nana was her usual sprightly self, her early-otten I didn’t bring it up I always took good care of her, but today I took super-extra-great care of her, ar, you see me?" she asked in her most innocent Southern-belle voice

"No, Nana," I said just as sweetly "Just doingher an extra half an Ahtmares away

When she was all squared away for the day, I backtracked to the estate sale No signs, no cars in the driveway, no lights on in the house The sale was clearly over But I had to get that book and see if it had the answers to

I tiptoed up to the house and peeked through thebeside the front door Lots of the stuff inside was gone The table where people had paid for their purchases was still there, but the cash box and notebook were s that hadn’t been sold, if they had been trashed or given to Mrs Stein’s greedy kids or sold to the junk y old book, if it was still there

Wait, I thought You already stole one necklace Now you’re trying to justify breaking into the house and stealing the book What are you beco?

I’m not a thief, I told myself sternly in answer

You already are a thief What’s oneto yourself, I thought, trying to shake the voices out ofto look inconspicuous When I glanced up and down the street, I couldn’t see a single neighbor Mrs Stein’s neighborhood was always quiet I felt as if I was alone in a huge world And I felt as if the house aiting for me

Unfortunately, I had already turned in my key I ran around back and tried the door, which had an old-fashioned keyhole I jiggled the knob, but the lock held Beneath the old welcome mat, I found a key I couldn’t believe that a suspicious old biddy like Mrs Stein had actually kept a key in such an obvious place

The house was silent, except for the boards creaking underin my ears

I ran past her closed bedroo everyI passed for h roan in the ancient house As I pounded up the dark, rickety stairs to the attic, I realized that I would be cornered up there if anyone showed up And I’d never been a very good liar

The bright red book was easy to spot I didn’t even stop to open it, just ran back down the stairs and out the back door, twisting the lock and slarass, I allowedon gravel, and I tossed the book behind soainst the back of the house I walked around the corner, pretending to inspect the grass

"Excuselady," came an annoyed Southern drawl "Can I help you?" She was built like a ship, in a lavender power suit and black hose Judging by herAvon

"Oh, I hope so," I said, my voice steadier than I expected "I was at the estate sale yesterday, and I think I dropped my wallet outside"

"No one turned in a wallet," she said, her shifty little eyes roving over ht blue with flowers and a zipper"

My wallet was actually tan leather I didn’t even knohy I lied to her, where the e of the nonexistent wallet had co, one after the other

"Did you buy anything with your credit card? Isweetness that told ar?"

"Valerie Taylor," I said "But I didn’t actually buy anything"

She flipped through her pink leather notebook anyway,"Valerie Taylor, Valerie Taylor" under her breath As if it ht actually be there so Sorry I couldn’t help you Perhaps you should take this matter to the police?" She held out her arm toward our cars and put on her best hostess srass, if you don’t mind," I said "I’m sure it’s out here somewhere"

"I’m not sure if that’s appropriate Private property and all"

"Oh, I’m sorry," I said with a warm smile "But I proht?"

She spluttered and turned red right down to the pearls looped around her neck "Yes, well, uhts and all … transition of ownership … deeds …"