Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Morgan didn't go directly to work.
Instead, she stopped at a small jewelry repair shop on Madison Street.
A brass bell jingled when she entered.
Behind the counter sat a silver-haired man wearing magnifying glasses.
"Can I help you?"
"I need someone to look at a necklace."
The man introduced himself as Arthur Bell, a jeweler who had operated the shop for thirty-seven years.
Morgan carefully unwrapped the glass.
Arthur examined the necklace without touching the water.
His expression changed almost immediately.
"Where did you get this?"
"My husband gave it to me."
Arthur removed his glasses.
"Did you wear it?"
"No."
"Good."
The single word sent a chill through her.
"Why?"
Arthur looked toward the front windows before lowering his voice.
"Because this isn't what it appears to be."
He put on protective gloves and carefully lifted the necklace out with a small tool.
Under a bright examination lamp, the pendant's damaged casing became obvious.
The gold-colored finish had deteriorated, exposing a poorly sealed compartment.
Arthur pointed toward the tiny black rectangle.
"That looks like an electronic component."
Morgan stared at him.
"Electronic?"
"Possibly part of a tracking device. But I can't tell you exactly what it does without having it examined."
He paused.
"And this setting isn't genuine gold. It's inexpensive plated metal. Whatever your husband paid, he didn't buy it from a reputable jeweler."
Morgan swallowed.
"Could the water have damaged it?"
"Absolutely. Moisture can loosen adhesives and expose components inside cheap jewelry. That appears to be what happened here."
He studied her expression.
"Ma'am, is there a reason you're concerned about this necklace?"
Morgan hesitated.
Then she told him about the woman on the bus.
Arthur listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he reached beneath the counter and retrieved a business card.
"There's someone I think you should speak to."
The card belonged to a licensed private investigator named Evelyn Price.
"She's a former fraud investigator," Arthur explained. "I've referred suspicious jewelry cases to her before. If this involves surveillance or financial deception, she'll know what steps to take."
Morgan stared at the card.
"Do you really think I need a private investigator?"
Arthur looked at the necklace.
"Someone put a hidden component inside a gift your husband was determined to make you wear. I think you deserve to know why."
He offered to keep the necklace secured in its glass container until Morgan could arrange professional examination.
Before she left, Arthur asked one more question.
"Has your husband recently been pressuring you about property or money?"
Morgan went still.
"My grandmother's cottage."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"Then I wouldn't sign anything until you've spoken to an attorney."
Morgan thanked him and stepped outside.
Her phone immediately vibrated.
A message from Julian.
Where are you?
She typed:
On my way to work.
His response arrived within seconds.
Send me a picture.
Morgan stared at the screen.
Julian had never asked for proof of her location before.
Then another message appeared.
And don't forget the necklace.
She looked across the street.
The dark gray sedan was parked beside a pharmacy.
For a moment, Morgan couldn't move.
Then the driver's window lowered.
May you like
And a woman wearing a green beret looked directly at her.
It was the elderly stranger from the bus.
