Joy to the Wolves (Red Wolf #1) - Terry Spear Page 0,68
began browsing the merchandise on the shelves.
“We hadn’t known about your cute little shop until we saw the news about the reindeer and just had to check it out,” one of them said.
“That’s great. I have hot cocoa and scones in there if you’d like some.” She was thrilled the reindeer had helped to spread the word about the shop.
“Thanks,” both women said.
Brooke carefully took one of the vases and set it in a box filled with packing peanuts behind the counter, and then did the same with the other. Her skin prickled with excitement. What if they were the real deal? She would be in heaven. But she wasn’t about to start counting her chickens yet. Though she did need to secure the vases in the safe if they turned out to be the genuine item.
She texted an appraiser she trusted to give her an accurate idea of the value and sent him the pictures.
Only a few minutes later, he texted back: If they’re not replicas, you’ve got a mint on your hands. They could be worth up to $35 million—or more!—apiece if they’re authentic.
That was just what she’d hoped! It would be the find of a lifetime, and if so, she suspected her great-aunt had listed them on the treasure list. She would love to know where her great-aunt had picked them up. Brooke had been looking for Ivy’s diaries but hadn’t found them yet.
Brooke’s phone rang, and she about jumped out of her skin. She had to get her jumpiness under control. It was just Josh. “Hey, did you learn anything?” she asked.
“I’ve finally got the license plate for the black truck involved in the reindeer case. The tech department just figured out what it was from another shop’s security video I sent them.”
“That’s wonderful! I’m going to need to put a couple of items in the safe,” she said, feeling a little anxious with the Chinese vases sitting behind the counter with her.
“High dollar value?” Josh asked.
“If they’re authentic. Yes. Really high dollar value.”
“Could they be what the men were looking for?” Josh sounded concerned.
“I really don’t think so. They were in the trunk.”
“The vases?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you more about it later,” she said.
A couple more women entered her shop, and Brooke greeted them.
“More customers in the shop?” Josh asked.
“Yeah. I could use a security detail. Truly.”
“I’m your man.”
She smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“I’m on my way back.”
They ended the call, and one of the ladies came to the counter with a couple of chocolate pots. “I saw some jingle bells in another part of the store the other day, but I couldn’t find them. It pays to get the item you want right then and there and not waffle about it. Did they sell?”
Brooke smiled, glad Josh had her set the antique ones aside when he found them. “Yes, those sold. I do have the set hanging on the door if you’d like it. It’s a replica of antique sleigh bells.” She liked having her jingle bells on the door for the holidays, but she could always order another set for next year.
“Yes, I’ll take them.”
Brooke grabbed her footstool and carried it to the door. She was about to pull down the sleigh bells when Josh filled the door with his tall presence. She smiled and pulled the footstool back. He was tall enough to get the sleigh bells without using it.
He came in out of the cold and said, “What did you need?”
“The sleigh bells for a customer.”
He smiled. “Good. You didn’t sell mine.”
“I wouldn’t dare. I still need police protection.”
“You’d get it anyway.” He handed her the sleigh bells.
“Thanks.” She took them and hurried back to the checkout counter and finished the sale.
When the customer left, Brooke whispered to Josh, “The two vases could be imperial porcelain worth millions of dollars.”
His jaw dropped.
She laughed.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. That’s if they’re authentic.” She sure hoped they were. She didn’t even want to speculate further about the price they might fetch.
“Hot damn.”
The other customer came out of another room with a handful of merchandise.
“Here, let me help you with that.” Brooke carried the merchandise to the counter. “Are you all set for Christmas?”
“Oh, never. It will be here whether I’m ready or not,” the customer said, laughing.
“I hear you.” Then Brooke wished her a Merry Christmas, and when the shop was empty, she showed the vases to Josh again.
He looked them over and shook his head. “I can’t believe it. The emperor’s fine china.”