He shrugged his shoulders. “Not like I have anything else going on in this dump is it?” His gaze darted around the room before coming back to rest on Adam. “Go for broke.”
“Right, so this is what happened and what Ben and I are planning to do.” Adam started talking and didn’t stop until he’d put it all out on the table for Simon.
“Are you freaking kidding me? I got stuck inside because of your bloody girlfriend and your father’s good name.”
“Not exactly, because you did commit fraud and we both know it.” Simon looked down at the table, his mouth twisting in disgust and Adam felt for him. “But you got stuck with the whole thing which isn’t fair.” And I aim to fix it.
Simon sneered. “You think? Tell that to my wife and kids. See if they think it’s fair or not.”
Don’t push your luck, pal. At least keep a civil tongue. “Look, I’m not here to make you feel better about what happened or get up you for what your part in it was. I’m here to see if I can get you out of this place. Ben and I have been talking about a retrial and if you want to go ahead with that, we need your help.”
Adam watched Simon mulling over his words. He knew when the possibility he might go free registered in Simon’s mind. His dull almost lifeless eyes filled with tears which overflowed and trickled down his pale cheeks. It took him a few minutes to compose himself before he could speak.
“What do you want to know?”
Chapter 20
“See how pretty they are, bella.”
That’s an understatement. Lena gazed in the window at the display of old white crockery rimmed with gold leaf and nodded her head. She could already see them set out on rustic tables in the dairy, the old milking machines in the background with her pantry staples on show. “They’re perfect.”
“I thought so too when I first saw them. It will all come together, you’ll see.” Sofia rubbed her hand over her daughter’s back and smiled. “Right, let’s go and browse then. Leave the bargaining to me.” She led the way inside. The chime over the door pinged when it opened and they stepped into another century. Vintage crystal glasses vied for position on a carved dresser, its open drawers laden with hand embroidered doilies ready to grace a ladies boudoir. A fine sheen of dust layered the crystal chandelier as it hung low over an old oak table set for dinner with the gold on white setting, shining its sparkling shards of light over the rich polished wood.
“Help you ladies?” Lena looked for the owner of the voice and finally found an elderly gentlemen, his white fly away hair sticking up in patches poking around a collection of old books. He pushed his glasses back on his nose and dusted off his hands as he walked toward them.
“Perhaps. This dinner service.” Sofia pointed to the round table. “How much?”
“Well now, that’s a real find that one is.” The light shone in the old man’s eyes as he started to talk while ambling his way over to her. “Belonged to a very well to do family just out of town in the early part of the century. Don’t make ‘em like that anymore.”
“Yes, yes, but how much do you have on it?” Sofia walked away and ran her hand over a scrolled book case.
“For the whole setting, cause I won’t break it up, I’m asking twelve hundred dollars.” He looked between Sofia and Lena, probably trying to decide who would be the best person to work on to get his money.
And so it begins. You won’t win with my mother in the mix. Lena walked away pretending boredom, well used to the way her mother bargained for what she wanted. She picked up an old comic book and tried to get lost in the pages.
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not worth half of that.” She looked at it over her shoulder and shook her head.
“Madam, you wound me, truly you do. It’s a valuable set of fine china.”
“If it was so valuable, it wouldn’t still be sitting in your shop collecting dust after three years. I know that’s when the house was shut down and everything was sold off.”
Lena watched over the top of the comic book as the owners mouth pinched tight. Her mother had done her homework once again. Go Mama!
“I will offer you four hundred dollars for the entire setting.” She lifted her handbag and took out her purse.
“That’s highway robbery.” The old man swallowed and seemed to think over the offer. “Make it five-fifty and it’s yours.” He waited for Sofia to ponder her decision.
She opened her purse and counted out notes she was prepared to part with. Sofia held them toward him, hoping the cash would seal the deal. “Five hundred and that’s final.”
Lena held her breath knowing this was make it or lose it. She couldn’t afford to pay more than that for the setting, but desperately wanted it for her café.
He reached out and snatched the money, a scowl on his face. “Don’t go telling anyone you beat me down that much. Gotta reputation to uphold in this town, you know.” He tottered off to the counter and turned the key in an old cash register, then slid the money under the coin tray before slamming it shut. Lena sidled over to her mother.
While she was on a role, may as well keep going. “Mama, I need chairs. Perhaps our kind shop keeper knows where we can get a large quantity from.”
Sofia smiled and touched her hand to her nose in a silent gesture. She glanced up at the old oak t-back chairs hanging from every available beam on the high ceilings. They are perfect.
Casually, Sofia walked over to the counter, making a point of looking directly at the shop owner. “I wonder if you could help us out
