by B. Groves
Jessica looked around when she walked towards the store, and there was a median where she would need to jaywalk to get back to the truck with trees aligning it for decorative landscape. Then she would slip in between the buildings and drive off.
She had to get to the dagger without Sara noticing, and she was still trying to figure that one out.
Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that, and Jessica could leave the store with a clear conscience.
Jessica said one last prayer to herself.
Her heart pounded, and her breathing quickened as she walked across the street to Sara’s shop.
Her palms began to sweat despite the cool, damp weather. She wiped them on her jeans, cursing her nervous reactions.
There was a moment, where she almost turned around and drove home.
She didn’t see any deputy cruisers parked in front of the sheriff’s station, which was a huge relief.
She knew that Mark usually worked around this time of the day, but she did not spot his Camaro in the parking lot.
She thought of Mark McKenzie the Sheriff of Leon’s Crossing as she continued to walk toward Sara’s shop.
She tried to like Danny, but she knew deep down that she didn’t have any feelings for him after all. Her childhood crush was a great guy, but he just wasn’t for her. They had nothing in common, and she was easily bored when he talked about his cats.
She found so much more in common with the young Sheriff then she found with Danny.
She wondered if something could happen……
Jessica was brought out of her thoughts when she reached Sara’s shop door.
She did extend her hours like Jessica thought, spying the new sign posted on the door.
Jessica hesitantly took the door handle and pulled it open. Taking another deep breath, she entered into the shop, and the little bell on the door rang with its light musical sound.
Jessica looked around, and the antique store smelled old, musty, with the added smell of fresh paint.
Things were piled everywhere around the store, but meticulously labeled for a customer.
Everything from beds to sofas to portraits, and knickknacks were placed in precarious positions.
There was a counter to the left of the items for sale with a glass case and a cash register sitting on top of the case.
A small black and white TV sat on the shelf above the case with the local news on the screen.
There was a huge vase filled with water and flowers on the counter along with a small space heater that was running next to it, plugged in somewhere under the glass case.
The case was filled with smaller goods like jewelry, wallets, small weapons, and other high priced items.
Behind the counter were several displays of things such as swords, knives, and portraits.
Then Jessica almost gasped as she spotted it.
The dagger sat behind the cash register displayed without a case.
Jessica didn’t recognize the religious symbolism on the sheath, but found the handle to be black in color, and the sheath embellished with some kind of symbols with a red cross in the middle with a silver colored finish. It was almost two feet in length from what Jessica could tell.
She knew it had to be the one she was looking for, and a little voice in her head told her it was.
She felt her heart rate increase again; knowing she only had this chance to take it. She had to keep her cool or this would never work.
“Oh my…..it’s Jessica Winters!”
The throaty voice behind Jessica almost made her jump out of her skin.
Sara Miller came through a bead curtain to greet Jessica with a huge smile.
A headband pulled her curly brown hair back behind her ears, and she had on a purple shawl with tiny flowers decorating it.
She wore a pair of black pants and a white blouse with dangling bracelets and earrings. She was very attractive for her age, but Jessica could see the remnants of a hard life on her face.
She held a small cigar in her hand with long red nails on her fingers.
“Hi Mrs. Miller. How are you?” Jessica asked almost nervously, but tried to stifle it.
Jessica looked around as Sara gave her a hug, and then a plan began to form in her head.
She pulled back, smiling to the older lady.
“I am doing so wonderful it’s hurts young lady. How are you and how is your mom and dad? They haven’t been around lately,” She asked, staring down Jessica, making her fidget.
“They’re good. Dad is in Spokane doing a big job, and Mom is working all week,” Jessica answered, trying not to be so obvious by staring at the vase filled with water.
“No wonder I haven’t seen them lately. Tell your mom she’d better get her butt in here,” Sara said, taking a drag of her cigar.
“I will let her know,” Jessica answered, politely.
She continued to gaze at Jessica for a moment.
“You look different young lady,” Sara said, her brown eyes narrowing.
Jessica was a little taken aback, but she tried to just look mildly surprised.
Sara continued to stare at her, making Jessica a little uncomfortable. Jessica was starting to wonder if Sara knew what she was going to do, and why she was doing it.
“What do you mean?” Jessica almost stammered, thinking she was caught somehow.
Sara shook her hand in Jessica’s direction and took a step back.
“The last time I saw you was not long ago, yes?”
“A few months maybe…..”
“You’ve changed young lady. In fact, you’re now a woman. You don’t hunch over anymore and you looked directly at me this time,” Sara pointed out.
Jessica smiled softly at Sara’s observation, and felt a huge twinge of guilt for what she was about to do.
“A lot has happened the last few months, and for the better,” Jessica said, confidently.
Sara took another step back and looked her over while taking another drag of her cigar. “Really? Because you’ve changed a lot from when I saw you last.”
“Just ready to be done with high school I guess,” Jessica answered with an uneasy smile.
Jessica shifted around on her feet while Sara still stared at her straight in the eye. It was almost as if Sara could see right through her, and knew what Jessica was up to.
“MMMM, that’s wonderful. Now, what brings you to old Sara’s shop?” It didn’t get past Jessica that Sara was suddenly on guard, and Jessica wondered why. “Early Christmas shopping?”
Relieved, Jessica gathered her thoughts, and said, “My mom lost her grandmother’s necklace. It was sentimental, and she is pretty upset. I thought I would get a jump on Christmas and get her something nice. It can’t replace her grandmother’s necklace, but I could try.”
Perfect! What a perfect story, Jessica thought with a smile.
Sara’s face scrunched in concern. “Oh no! I remember her wearing that piece. Does she know what happened to it?
Jessica shrugged a little. “She thinks she may have lost it at the hospital.”
Sara shook her head in remorse. “That’s just terrible. I hope she finds it, but in the meantime, what a nice gesture for your mom.”
“Yeah,” Jessica said waiting for her moment.
Sara turned and put her cigar out in the astray also on the counter, and went behind it to the jewelry case.
She fished a key from her pocket, and looked around as she unlocked it.
“Hmmmmm so many to choose from. What’s your price range?”
Jessica was about to answer when Sara put up her hand, and said, “I will give you a huge discount.”
Jessica scoffed, she really felt terrible now. Sara was trying to help her, and Jessica was about to steal something valuable from the woman.
Jessica knew she should have turned around right there, and walked out of the store, then she reminded herself of her mission. She tried to push the regret from her mind.
Jessica looked up from the case, a
nd thought she would make conversation about the dagger.
“Mrs. Miller what is that knife? I’ve never seen that before,” Jessica asked, putting her plan in motion.
Sara looked up from the case in surprise and turned to look at the dagger.
“Oh, that old thing? Well, I will tell you young lady that is not for sale,” Sara began.
Jessica raised her eyebrows and silently cursed her bad luck. She would have to somehow steal it. She knew she couldn’t be that lucky.
“Is it personal?” Jessica asked.
Sara smiled and continued to gaze at the dagger.
“It was given to me from a very good friend. It has masonic symbols from the old Knight’s Templar. There are many replicas, but this one is priceless,” she said, turning back to Jessica with a proud smile. “You could say it is my best protector…well besides my rifles.”
“Wow,” Jessica mouthed.
Sara waved a hand again and said, “I’m sure that a girl like you doesn’t care about some silly knife.”
Jessica smiled and said, “History is not a strong subject of mine, but very interesting though.”
Sara winked and said, “Yes, and great conversation piece for a good looking man.”
Jessica giggled while Sara snorted.
“Now, my dear. Let’s take a look at those necklaces,” Sara said.
Jessica tried to focus her attention on the necklaces, but all she could eye was the vase, and then the dagger, while trying to figure out how fast she could escape the store.
They moved their way down the case, and Jessica was directly in front of the vase now.
Jessica had to be careful not to knock down the space heater too. That would be bad.
Jessica looked up at another necklace hanging from the wall.
“What about that one Sara?” She asked pointing to it.
Sara frowned and turned around reaching for the necklace.
“Well, I’m not sure that is your mother’s style, but…..”
Crash!
Jessica moved quickly out of the way as glass, flowers, and water splashed all over the floor.
Jessica drummed up some fake embarrassment, putting her hand over her mouth. “Oh no! I am so sorry Sara! I’ll pay for it.”
Sara turned, startled by the noise, and then came around the counter as Jessica stood there with startled eyes.
“I don’t know what happened. I just bumped it by mistake,” Jessica said, breathlessly.
Sara suddenly smiled. “Oh, young lady. Don’t worry about it. It was just a cheap department store vase, not an antique. No need to be upset.”
“Are you sure?” Jessica asked.
Sara scoffed and waved her hand. “No….no of course not. Stay here, I’ll get a mop.”
“At least let me help,” Jessica offered, turning her attention to the dagger.
“Stay there, and if any customers come in, just tell them to walk around it,” Sara said walking through the beaded curtain.
Jessica heard movement in the back of the store while Sara retrieved a bucket and mop. So, Jessica took the opportunity, and walked behind the counter. She tested the dagger first, and found it just hanging from some hooks. She picked it up easily, but it was heavy.
“Do you have any towels?” Jessica asked, trying to make Sara take more time to come out, so Jessica could make her escape.
“I got them!” Sara said.
Jessica was too late. She tried to run, but her feet suddenly were not working. She could only stand there and keep swallowing hard. She knew it, she just knew this wouldn’t work. She could now kiss her future goodbye.
She slowly turned to see Sara standing there silently glaring at her from the doorway as Jessica held the dagger.
“What are you doing?” Sara demanded, taking a step closer to Jessica.
Jessica stared wide-eyed at the older woman. “Nothing…..I just…..wanted to look at it.”
Sara continued to glare at Jessica. “Jessica, I never took you for that kind of person. I can’t believe this. You were always such a good girl. I knew you changed somehow, and I know it’s not for the better.”
Jessica shook her head furiously, her mouth suddenly going dry. “I swear to you Mrs. Miller. I was going to put it back where it belonged.”
“Give it to me!” Sara demanded, taking a step closer to Jessica.
Jessica put the dagger on the countertop, and started to shake in fear. She knew this was a bad idea from the get go. She should have just walked away. She should have never come here to Sara’s shop. She was no thief.
“I’m sorry!” Jessica cried. Real tears were starting to well up in her eyes.
“I am going to call the Sheriff’s office, and you can speak to them,” Sara said, angrily putting the mop and bucket down.
“Please…..please don’t,” Jessica pleaded, she could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks. “I will just leave, and we can forget this ever happened, okay?”
“No, young lady. Kids nowadays have no respect, and my store will not be robbed. I am going to make an example of you,” Sara hissed, as she walked towards the phone sitting on the case.
Jessica moved back to the corner of the counter and realized she was trapped inside of the store. She had nowhere to run or go, she would be arrested and her dreams of a good school were over. She felt so defeated.
Sara was so angry, that she almost tripped over her own shawl a couple of times.
Then something happened that would haunt Jessica’s dreams the rest of her life.
Sara stepped into the water, and turned the telephone towards her. Sara picked up the receiver and began to dial the Sheriff’s office when the space heater next to her suddenly jerked. Sara looked over at the heater in stunned silence as she held the receiver in her hand. She had no time to react. The heater dropped to the floor, right into the water with a loud crash.
Sparks began to fly everywhere around her, forcing Jessica to duck and cover her face. She cried out as the sparks flew over the counter, hitting her exposed skin, and burning her slightly. The sparks crackled and hissed, making Jessica turn towards the wall a few more times. Then there was silence. It was deafening. Not a good sign, because Jessica didn’t know where Sara was.
Carefully, Jessica stood and peered over the counter, finding Sara lying on the floor, she screamed in horror, staggering back against the wall in shock, knocking down a picture.
Jessica could not see Sara’s face, but her body convulsed a couple of times, then went still once the sparks stopped flying around.
Jessica put hands over her mouth, and began to sob uncontrollably.
Sara Miller was dead. The heater falling to the floor when she stepped into the water electrocuted her. It happened so fast, that Jessica barely had a chance to comprehend how an innocent mistake could turn so tragic so fast. Jessica couldn’t figure out how the heater suddenly fell to the floor. It was right in the middle of the huge glass case! There was no way it fell on it’s own. No, it was pushed. Pushed by an unseen force.
Jessica had never really seen a dead body before, except at her great grandmother’s funeral, but this was different. This was not a funeral where the deceased was dressed up and ready for viewing, no, this was an actual dead body.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and her hands shook, but she still could not move from the sheer horror of the vision in front of her.
Tears still flowed down her cheeks as she frantically looked around.
She began to run to the phone and call for help, but the dagger sitting on the counter caught her attention.
Fear and panic began to take hold, but there was one thing she needed and that was the dagger.
She heard an odd noise come from the body of Sara making Jessica jump in fear as she picked up the dagger. She had to get out of there before she was caught and arrested for the murder of Sara Miller. Panicked thoughts raced through her mind, as she imagined being handcuffed by Mark, and sent off to prison for the rest of her lif
e.
Jessica looked outside, and could see it was now dark. Hopefully, this would make her escape easier.
Still sobbing almost uncontrollably she put the dagger in her jeans and covered it with her jacket. She hurriedly picked up the picture she knocked over, and examined it. Satisfied there was no damage to it, she hung it back on its hook. She did not want to leave any evidence behind that she had been there. She took her jacket, and rubbed her fingerprints from the frame, then she picked up the phone receiver, and placed it back on the hook, and moved it back to it’s original position. Then she wiped everything down, so no one found any traces of her there.