(no subject)
Nick stared out the window of the Chief's car. His face was wracked with some sort of hidden trauma, and deep lines cut into his face. The chief glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. He was worried. Nick had been....well, Nick had always been a strange one, but recently, he seemed like he was finally fraying at the seams. He could bust at any moment. The Chief sighed, knowing it would take days to get the smell out of the car.
Silence had permeated the trip up to that point, but the sigh had caught Nick's attention.
"Hmm? What is it?" he queried, his gaze never leaving the small drops of rain trailing down the window.
"Nick, you look pretty bad. Like you haven't slept in about a year. Or something. And you haven't said a word this whole trip up until now, like you have a lot on your mind. What's going on?"
Nick finally turned, a thin smirk on his face. His eyes relayed a strange mixed message; one seemed to twinkle, while the other remained cold, grey; dreary. It sent a chill down the chief's spine.
"Well, now that you mention it, something has been bothering me."
The chief nodded, urging his friend on.
"See the rain dripping down your window? I've been playing a sort of game with myself up to this point about whether or not it would wash this leaf off the window," he pointed over his shoulder at a brown leaf stuck to the window, which had been obstructed from the Chief's view by Nick's head, "So far, I owe myself $300." He grinned, and turned back to his musings without another word.
The Chief stared at the back of Nick's head for a few seconds, then shook his head and sighed, yet again.
***
They arrived at Frankington's Jewelry without further incident. Established in 1924 by Edward Dean Frankington, the Frankington Jewelry was now the premier jewelry shop in the city. They also made some fine crullers.
Nick and the Chief entered the shop, and were greeted by a cool blast of air and a small, thin man with a thin mustache in a suit. "Yes, may I help you two fine gentlemen? Anything I could do for you? Perhaps a pastry?" The little man rubbed his hands together.
The Chief took off his hat. "No, that's quite al.."
Nick pushed him aside. "Nonsense! We'll take two."
The man bowed slightly, and walked into the back room. He returned a few seconds later. "Hello gentlemen! How may I help you? Maybe a cruller?"
Nick and the chief turned toward each other, brows furrowed. Nick turned back toward the man. "Um, didnt you just ask that?"
The man, turned flush. "Why..um...why no? Oh dear. Have we met? I don't think we've met. But maybe we have? Oh dear." The man pulled a chair up, and sat down, wringing his hands.
The chief stepped forward. "Uh...are you ok? Look, we have some questions for yo.."
"Two crullers? Excellent choice." The man jumped up, pivoted on one foot, and scurried off to the back yet again.
The chief stood still for a few seconds, his mouth opening and closing.
"What a strange little man." Nick said, resting himself in a nearby chair.
The chief nodded, keeping a watchful eye on the door to the backroom. He didn't have to wait long, as the man reappeared carrying a tray of pastries, as well as a fine gold watch.
"Here you go, your pastries, and the watch. Anything else I can get you?"
The chief took the tray, "Uh...yeah...look, is there anyone else we can talk to?"
Nick bit into a cruller, and picked up the watch. "Why did you bring this?"
The man turned pale again, and sat down. "Oh, dear. YOU didn't ask for the watch. Oh, dear. Oh dear oh dear." The man started to mumble to himself incoherently, then buried his face into his hands. Almost immediately, he looked back up, a broad smile across his face. "Oh, hello gentlemen, may I help you?"
The chief rubbed his face, and then threw his hands in the air, and turned to walk out in disgust, when he was stopped short by another voice from the back.
"George, that will be all, thanks." Nick stood up, and the chief turned around.
George snuck past Mr. Frankington, a sharply dressed man in a suit. He had broad shoulders, and an air of dignity. He looked as if he could carry himself well, and as if he a good head on his shoulders. He also had a bit of cruller stuck in his beard.
"Sorry about that, gentlemen, George is a little..well...it's been a tough year. Is there anything I can do for you two?"
The chief breathed a sigh of relief. Nick took the initiative, and held up the ring. "Do you recognize this ring?"
Frankington stroked the cruller in his beard. "Ahem. Why, yes, that was the ring I made for Mr. Stantly a few months ago. Nice chap, paid in cash. Bought a few crullers too."
The chief continued Nick's questioning, trying to keep his eyes of the large man's beard. "Um. Yes, can you tell us anything about this inscription?" He pointed to the inside curvature of the ring, holding it up to the light.
Frankington leaned closer, pulling a monocle to his eye. "Ah, yes, I thought it a little strange too, but he said it had a purpose, and he said that two men would be asking about it in a few months time. He told me to give you this."
He produced a manilla envelope from a pocket in his coat, and handed it to the chief. He stroked his cruller. "Now, that should be all, unless there is anything else I can do for you? Perhaps a cruller?"
The chief swallowed deeply, desperately trying to avert his gaze from the pastry trapped in the vine-like snare of Frankington's beard. Nick grinned "No, no, that is quite alright. But we'll let you know if we need anything else."
Frankington shook their hands, and turned to leave. "Alright gentlemen, I wish you a good day. And drive carefully, it's really starting to pour."
The chief and Nick exited the store, and walked back to the car, envelope in hand.
"If nothing else, this case is proving to be a good opportunity to meet people." Nick mused.
"Yes, indeed. Very strange people." The chief replied, turning the envelope around in his hands.
He opened the car door, but stopped short when he heard footsteps, as of someone running in their direction. Nick looked at him and grinned, nodding his head.
"Why, hello gentlemen! huffhuff Can I help you with something? huffhuff"
***