In Sickness and in Lies novel · Chapter 7 of 32

Chapter 7: A Card With My Name

"Give me that," Cilla said.

She had gone pale around the mouth.

I held the slip up and took a picture of it with my phone.

Then I took another, and the gallery owner stepped to my shoulder so Cilla could see she was watching.

"It's a mistake," Cilla said. "A clerk's error. Desmond's assistant handles those cards."

"Then it won't matter if I ask."

"Gwyneth."

I handed her the slip.

She shoved it into the tote with the envelope and went for the door.

She forgot to be gracious on the way out.

The bell over the door rang twice behind her.

"Go," the gallery owner said. "Go now, before she calls him."

The jeweler's shop was on Michigan Avenue, between a watch dealer and a place that sold only umbrellas.

It had a doorman and a carpet so thick my shoes didn't make a sound.

A woman in a black suit asked if she could help me.

"I'd like to talk to someone about a purchase on Sunday," I said. "A tennis bracelet. Forty-one thousand nine hundred dollars."

"Of course. May I have the name on the account?"

"Gwyneth Keane."

She typed.

Her smile changed.

"Mrs. Keane. It's an honor. Mr. Keane told us you'd likely come in."

"Did he?"

"He said you might be confused about a surprise." She turned the screen a little away from me. "May I see your identification?"

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