Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [92]
Conrad reached the pearl cleaner’s shop without incident. The door was bolted, the shutters pulled across the window, but he could see a faint light within. He rattled on the door. ‘Toby, it’s me, Conrad. You all right in there?’
There was no response for a moment, then Conrad heard something heavy being dragged from behind the door.
‘Conrad, my friend,’ came the hoarse whisper of Tobias Metta.
‘Just checking on you, we thought you’d be staying here.’
The door opened and Toby’s plump arm dragged Conrad inside, slamming it quickly behind him. ‘You are a brave man to walk the streets alone. Brave and maybe foolish. But it is good to see you. A cup of tea?’
Conrad looked around, noting the revolver lying on Toby’s work bench. ‘Not taking any chances, I see. Yes, a cuppa would be nice.’
‘I have many valuable pearls here, including yours, of course. I feel it is my responsibility to look after them. I heard some Chinese are selling gelignite. Never miss a business opportunity.’
‘Gelignite. Good lord, what for?’
‘It would put a hole in that for a start,’ said Toby, pointing to his lead safe in the corner.
They drank their tea in the dim room lit by a small oil lamp. The idea of a break-in worried Conrad.
‘So, have you had a chance to work on our pearls?’ he asked, lowering his voice unnecessarily.
Toby kissed his fingertips. ‘Several are superb. They’re finished, came up magnificently. Let me show you.’ Before Conrad could protest, he was unlocking the safe. The pearl cleaner took out a small black velvet bag and slammed the safe door shut again. ‘Here, Conrad, under the light.’ He adjusted the lamp on the desk, shook the pearls in the palm of his chubby hand and held them closer to the light. The fat round pearls glowed and Conrad beamed.
‘They certainly are magnificent,’ he enthused, ‘Olivia will get us a good price for these from Monsieur Barat. I can’t wait to show them to her. Could I take them now?’
‘Is that wise?’ said Toby, tipping them back into the little cloth bag.
‘I’m armed and no one would think I’d be carrying pearls. It will distract and please Olivia, I’m sure. She has been quite put out by all this turmoil. Settling down a bit now the RM has got tough.’
‘Well, if you insist,’ Toby handed the pearls to Conrad who slipped them in his pocket.
‘You’ll be all right on your own?’ asked Conrad.
‘I have a stout stick here as well as the gun. I feel safe, the troublemakers are after the blood of the Koepangers. It will blow over. Mabel thought it wise I camp here for the night.’
‘I’ll head straight back then, Toby. Done my bit to show the flag in the streets.’
‘Go safely, good friend. And good night.’ With this he ushered Conrad out, bolting the door and ramming the heavy oak chair against it once more.
Conrad stepped briskly along the wooden foot-path, his footsteps ringing in the quiet night. He stepped down on to the dusty road of Dampier Terrace, his footsteps now muffled. For a moment he thought he heard footsteps behind him, and stopped, but all was quiet. A block further on he crossed the street and skirted a laneway. Banks of clouds had rolled in and obscured the moon. Distant flashes of lightning streaked across them, followed by rumbles of thunder.
Conrad was about to turn the corner and head towards home, when a shadow moved between two buildings. Pausing, with his hand on his pistol, Conrad saw nothing and moved on. He had only taken a few steps when he was grabbed from behind and pressed into the doorway of the Chinese laundry. An arm was around his throat stopping him from calling out, and as his hands reached up to drag away the constricting arm, he felt a sharp sensation burn in his chest and in the second before everything went dark he read, quite clearly, the sign across the street—KIMBERLEY EMPORIUM, ALL NEEDS MET.