Golden Box Book Publishing GBBPub February Magazine | Page 14

A taller dresser stood against the opposite wall. On it sat a large
jewelry box with glass doors on the front. Traci stopped when she
reached it. While curiosity drove her closer, the sense of right or wrong
held her back.
Trespassing, breaking and entering, and theft. How did you stoop
this low?
She shook her head. “Who said I was going to steal anything? I’m
just going to look.”
She lifted the box down, no longer worried about fingerprints. “If I
get caught, it won’t matter. If I don’t, no one has any reason to be
checking for fingerprints.”
She lifted the lid and a neat tray of rings met her eyes. Sapphires,
rubies, and emeralds, all set with clusters of diamonds. One of the
rubies in the shape of a heart caught her attention.
July’s birthstone. If only things had been different.
With shaking fingers, she pulled the ring loose and held it up to the
light coming in through the window. It sparkled in the sun, the silver
band almost glowing white.
She slid it on the ring finger of her left hand. Too big. She slid it
down her middle finger. Perfect fit. “And I’m not married anyhow. Not
anymore.”
She examined several of the other rings, but only the ruby heart
really held appeal. As she glanced through the rest of the various
drawers and doors, she found bracelets and pendants, broaches and
chains.
She frowned. “I can’t believe no one has been here for any of this
stuff.” Other than the dust, nothing in the room seemed out of place,
exactly like the rest of house. Just waiting for the owner to walk back in
and start living again.