Page 48 (1/2)

1

“Blood stones”

“Excuse me?” I looked up fro table It sparkled like plastic diamonds under the hot Tampa sun

“Blood stones,” the old woain She nodded at the necklace I’d been exa, tawdry julitter—at least, the necklace itself didn’t The fine-linked chain was ing frole key made from the same black metal and studded with four tiny cri and felt unusually heavy in my hand

“You mean these?” I pointed to the stones set in the head of the key “I thought they were garnets” There’s no way they could be rubies Nothing that valuable would turn up at a flea market on the bad side of town At least, I assumed this was the bad side of town I’d only been in Tampa a few hours but so far I wasn’t impressed

“They’re rare” The old wo a piece of secret wisdom “A piece like this…it’s not for just anyone”

“Riiiight,” I said skeptically I could tell what the old wo to do—she wanted to make the necklace seee more for it

I was tempted to put it down and walk away The flea market was crowded and loud and the heat fro a fur coat I couldn’t take off The long-sleeved Henley shirt I had on wasn’t helping but changing clothes wasn’t an option All these ravations added up and I was in no mood to be hustled, especially by a saleswoman who looked like one of the three weird sisters from Macbeth

But soo

“Try it on,” the old woht when you try it” She had straggly gray hair and a hooked nose with a wart on one side Seriously, all she needed was a brooe

“I don’t know…” I said But alreadyindependently of hts

The necklace settled naturally around my neck and the key slipped into the open collar of my shirt and cah it was co out in the bright, hot sunlight, the ainst my skin—almost cold in fact