CHAPTER FOUR

Felix sat on the wall outside the tobacconist’s, swinging his legs to and fro as he waited for Roz. He slipped the gold chain complete with its Star of David from one hand to the other, watching the spring sunshine catch the points of the star as he did so. He had thought that finding the necklace would be the best outcome, but now he wasn’t so sure. Roz already knew that she lived with immoral liars, but this? This was something else. His head snapped up as he heard her hail him from across the road. Smiling, he slid down from his perch and walked over to greet her.

‘Well?’ she asked, her tone laced with hope.

In answer he held up his hand and released the star so that it slid down the chain.

Roz let out a cry of delight as she cupped her hands to receive the precious piece of jewellery. ‘You clever, clever man! Where on earth was it?’ Her smile vanished when she saw the rueful look on his face.

Felix explained that he had found the necklace stuffed in between the pillows of the bed next to Roz’s own. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip. ‘I’m afraid it couldn’t have got in there by accident; I had to remove both pillows from the case before I saw it.’

Roz stared at him in dismay. ‘I can’t say I’m surprised because I know what Suzie’s like, but to steal from someone who lives with you?’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t reckon even Callum would do that.’

‘I daresay she’s never seen anything like it before,’ Felix said, then added hastily, ‘and I know it’s not an excuse, but she probably couldn’t help herself.’

Only Roz knew better. ‘She’ll have taken it out of spite, just to hurt me. She knows I can’t ask for it back, so she was relishing the idea of having power over me.’

‘Question is,’ said Felix, glancing at the necklace, now in Roz’s hand, ‘what are you going to do now? Suzie will know you’ve found it, and if she uses her brain, she’ll soon realise that this morning’s shenanigans were a ruse for someone to search the loft.’

‘Oh bother,’ sighed Roz, ‘I hadn’t thought about that.’ She looked at him from under thick lashes. ‘What do you think I should do?’