Taking Death by G.E. Mason Page B

whatever other items the down-on-their-luck crowd could get rid of when in need of cash.
    A customer stood talking the clerk at the counter. Donna nodded at the man, and then slipped into a back room to wait for him. She had the egg in her purse, still in the velvet bag.
    She picked up the newspaper checking to see if the missing egg had made it into the news. She'd checked ever y day, but hadn't seen a story. Yet.
    A few minutes later, a clean-shaven man , Derek, entered the back room. "Hey, it's been awhile."
    Donna nodded from her spot at the table. "I wanted to lay low for a few weeks."
    "You're back now, baby."
    She laughed. He rubbed his shaved head.
    "I have a unique item this time."
    "You always have unique items," he said.
    He yanked out a chair, turned it backwards, then straddled it. The overhead light glinted off his head.
    She pu lled out the egg from her purse. Sliding off the velvet bag, she placed it carefully on the table. He didn't touch it for a moment. His gaze ricocheted from the egg to her face then back to the egg. He let out a low whistle.
    "You really like to challenge me," he said.
    She grinned. "It was a challenge to me, too. This was stolen from someone else by the person I stole it from."
    "A little Robin Hood action." He finally reached out and touched it. "Wow."
    Picking it up, he turned it over in both his hands. An electric clock buzzed in the background.
    "She's a beaut," Derek said.
    "Do you think it is real?"
    Derek frowned. "I've got someone who can tell me. Even if it is fake, it'll probably get you a few hundred. You'll let me keep it to find out?"
    "Of course. You know I trust you."
    "So there is honor among thieves."
    ***
    Donna waited a night before burglarizing another place. This time she picked a penthouse in the Tribeca area. She'd met the couple at an art gallery. They'd bought a painting of an up and coming artist.
    That wasn't what Donna intended to steal. Instead, she wanted the diamond necklace the woman had worn that night. Hopefully the woman wasn't wearing it to whatever event she was at now.
    This building was older and had no doorman or security system other than you had to have a key to get to the penthouse via the elevator.
    She entered the lobby with her head down just in case she hadn't found any cameras when she'd checked the place out earlier.
    No one was in the lobby so no one could identify her. She figured this one would make the papers and the cops would investigate. But after she was long gone.
    Insurance would cover the theft and unless the necklace had sentimental value, the owners would not really miss it.
    The elevator doors opened. No one stepped out. Donna stepped into it, letting the doors close behind her. Pulling out her cell phone she scanned the electronic lock that was similar to a hotel door lock. Without much ado, her app unlocked the penthouse and up the elevator went.
    The door opened directly into the penthouse which had views across the Hudson. She paused to look at the lights from New Jersey. She hoped to live in a place like this someday.
    "That's quite a view."
    Donna figured the safe was in an office. If the jewelry was even in a safe. This high up in a building the occupants usually felt as if their castle was impenetrable. Not so. Her presence proved that.
    Sitting in an unlocked box, was the necklace.
    "Guess they thought no one would steal it."
    She procured the item then stuck it in her pocket. Now to get out without being seen.
    Back down to the lobby, she held her breath as the doors to the elevator slid open. No one waited to go to their apartment. No one hung out in the lobby.
    She slipped out the front door onto the street, her heart racing.
    Striding down the block as if she owned the place, Donna saw a cop car. Had she tripped a silent alarm? On light feet, she hid between two buildings until the cop passed. She peaked out. The cop had stopped right in front of the building she'd just been in.
    Her heart beat double