The Judas Pair

'Well…' he was saying, when Sheila came to the rescue.

'It's actually my nail file,' she broke in. 'I was really careless. It's one of a set, you see, in a case.'

'Well, miss, dealers aren't allowed—'

'I know exactly where it is, Jim,' I said, calmer now. 'I'll bet you five of those notes I could put my hand on it in three seconds flat.' That was a mistake and scared him.

'Here, Lovejoy,' he began, starting to close the door. 'I don't want none of your fiddling—'

'You stay here, Lovejoy,' Sheila said chidingly. She stepped into the doorway and turned to push me back. 'You're always so abrupt. The gentleman said that dealers weren't allowed in after fixed hours so you'll have to wait here, that's all.' On a tide of feminine assurance she swept past Jim, who humbly put the door to. I heard their footsteps recede along the passageway and keys rattle in the showroom door.

I hung about the sidewalk getting in people's way and generally prowling around for quite five minutes before Sheila reappeared. I was up with her in a flash.

'Thank you so much,' she was saying to old Jim, who was smirking at all his extra gallantry. 'I'm so sorry we delayed you. You've been so kind. Good night.'

I honestly tried to grin at Jim, but he wasn't having any from me and banged the door.

Sheila walked to the car. 'I've got it in my handbag,' she said, swinging the strap to her other shoulder. 'Don't grab, or Jim will see.'

She was really quite smart at that. Old Jim would no doubt be lusting after her as we left. You could see virtually the whole hill from the office. With quivering fingers I set the handle and cranked. We rumbled up the hill and I pulled in by the park railings in town.

The cars pouring from the car park got in the way of this maneuver. I'm sure they didn't really mind having to stop suddenly. Muriel Field was at the wheel of a gray Rover, but I'd no time for light chitchat. After all, she had no antiques any more. Not like Sheila, who had the device out. I carried it into the lights of the lamps on the war memorial. It was a Durs screw mechanism, the weirdest I'd ever seen, but authentic, star cross-hatched on the handle and casehardened, maybe in all five inches long.

'I'm afraid I have a confession, Lovejoy,' Sheila said, beside me.

'Eh?'

'I'm afraid I… I stole it.' She pulled away as I tried to embrace her, laughing. 'Promise me.'

'What? Anything.'

'You'll pay for it tomorrow.'

'You're off your head.'

'Promise, Lovejoy.'

I sighed at all this whimsey. 'I promise.' I gave her a rubbery kiss under the memorial's lamp despite the pedestrians. A car's horn sounded. Adrian and Jane sailed past signaling applause. He'd have some witticism ready next time. 'Here. You can have the honor of carrying the find home.'

'Is it important, Lovejoy?' I gave it to her and she slipped it into her handbag.

'Somewhat,' I said, beginning to realize. 'Somewhat.'

A hurrying mother pulled her gawping child along the pavement to stop it from openly inspecting the couple kissing in the main street. I kept my eye on her as Sheila and I stepped apart to drive home, and sure enough she gave a swift glance back to see how we were managing. Aren't women sly?

Chapter 9

I dropped Sheila at the station. She had to go to work, poor lady, on some crummy newspaper. We had a small scene outside.

'I'll be here on Sunday,' she told me, and I nodded. She waited. 'Well?'

'Well what?'

'Aren't you going to come onto the platform and see me off?'

'I daren't take my foot off this pedal or she'll never start again today,' I explained. 'Otherwise I'd come in with you like a shot.'

She came around to my side and kissed me. 'You know, Lovejoy,' she said, 'for the world's greatest antique dealer you're an awful dope.'

'I keep telling you your slang's dated.'

'No use trying to needle me,' she said, cool as ever I'd seen her. 'You're falling for me, Lovejoy.'

'Look,' I said testily. 'This accelerator's down to the floor. It's costing the earth in gas just sitting here while you babble—'

She put her arms around me and hugged me tight. This, note, was about ten in broad daylight, with the paper man grinning and the kiosk lady enjoying the show.

'I have a secret to tell you, Lovejoy.'

'You're not—?'

'Certainly not!' She reached under the dashboard in front of me. 'Take your foot off the accelerator.'