THE CHILD WHO WATCHED Isaac Bell enter the jeweler's shop-a boy who was clean enough not to be chased out of the jewelry district and had a shoeshine box strapped to his back as a disguise-waited to be sure that the Van Dorn had not ducked inside just to give them the slip again. He was the fourth to have trailed their quarry on his circuitous ramble. Eyeing the shadowy silhouettes of Bell and the jeweler through the window, he signaled another boy and passed him the box. Take over. I gotta report.
He ran the few short blocks west into the tenement-and-warehouse district that bounded the North River, darted into the pier-side Hudson Saloon, and made for the free lunch.
Get outta here! roared a bartender.
Commodore! the shoeshine boy growled back, fearlessly stuffing liverwurst between slabs of stale bread. Make it quick!
Sorry, kid. Didn't recognize you. This way. The bartender ushered him into the saloon owner's private office, which had the only telephone in the neighborhood. The owner watched him warily.
Get out, said the boy. This ain't none of your business.
The owner locked his desk and left, shaking his head. There was a time when a Hell's Kitchen Gopher ventured downtown into this neighborhood, he'd end up hanging from a lamppost. But that time had ended fast.
The boy telephoned Commodore Tommy's Saloon. They said Tommy wasn't there, but he'd call him right back. That was strange. The boss was always in his saloon. People said Tommy hadn't been outdoors in daylight in years. He stepped out to the free lunch for another sandwich, and when he returned the phone was ringing. Commodore Tommy was mad as hell that he'd been kept waiting. When he got done yelling, the boy told him about Isaac Bell's wander around the city starting from the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Where is he now?
Maiden Lane.
Chapter 27
ISAAC BELL RETREATED IN COMPLETE CONFUSION FROM the fourth jewelry store he had entered in an hour. He had time for one or two more before heading uptown to grill Abbington-Westlake at the Knickerbocker.
Shine, sir? Shoeshine?
Not a bad idea.
He leaned his back against the wall and submitted his left boot to the polish-stained fingers of the skinny kid with the wooden box. His mind was reeling. He had been simultaneously informed that a diamond set in platinum was the only appropriate stone to make a girl feel properly engaged and that a large semiprecious gemstone mounted in gold was considered most fashionable. Particularly when compared to a small diamond. Although even a small diamond was an acceptable token of betrothal.
Other foot, sir.
Bell removed his throwing knife, palming it, and let the kid polish his right boot.
Is it always so busy down here?
May and June are the bridal months, the kid answered without looking from the cloth he was whipping so fast it was a blur.
How much? Bell asked when the boy was done and his boots gleamed like mirrors.
A nickel.
Here's a dollar.
I don't got no change for a buck, mister.
Keep it. You did a fine job.
The kid stared at him. He appeared about to speak.
What is it? asked Bell. You all right, son?
The boy opened his mouth. He looked around and suddenly grabbed his box and ran, dodging shoppers, and disappeared around the corner. Bell shrugged, and entered another jewelry store, Solomon Barlowe, a smaller establishment on the ground floor of a five-story, Italianate-style cast-iron-clad building. Barlowe sized him up with piercing brown eyes as shrewd as a police magistrate's.
I want to buy an engagement ring. I think it should be a diamond.
Were you considering a solitaire setting or incluster?
Which would you recommend?
If expense were an object, of course--
Assume it is not, Bell growled.
Ah! Well, I can see that you are a man of taste, sir. Let us look at some stones for your approval. The jeweler unlocked a case and laid a black velvet tray on the counter between them.
Bell whistled amazement. I've seen kids shooting marbles smaller than these.
We are fortunate in our supplier, sir. We import our own. Ordinarily, I would have more stock to show you, but the bridal months are upon us, and the choice gems have already been snapped up.
In other words, buy now before it's too late?
Only if you need something immediately. Is your wedding impending?
I don't think so, said Bell. We're neither of us children and both rather busy. On the other hand, I would like to nail things down.
A large solitaire diamond of a unique hue has a way of doing that, sir. Here, for instance--
The door opened and a well-dressed gentleman about Bell's age walked into Barlowe's shop flourishing a gold-headed cane studded with gems. He looked vaguely familiar, but the detective could not quite place him. It was rare his memory for faces failed, and he suspected it would be a case of seeing someone completely out of context, as if they had last met in a Wyoming saloon or been seated side by side at a Chicago prizefight. He was clearly not a desperate bachelor. There was nothing of the tentative buyer in his demeanor, which was supported by a confident smile.
Mr. Riker! Barlowe exclaimed. What a wonderful surprise. To Bell he said, Excuse me, sir. I'll just be a moment.
No, no, said Riker. Don't let me interrupt a sale.
Barlowe said, But I was just discussing you with my customer, who is in the market for something special and has a bit of time to look for it.
He turned to Bell. This is the very gentleman I mentioned to you, our gem supplier. Mr. Erhard Riker of Riker and Riker. We're in luck, sir. If Mr. Riker can't find your stone, it doesn't exist. He is the foremost supplier of
