Gold!

Gold!


Susan ran as hard as she could down the block from the bald man following her.  Thankfully he was generously overweight and it looked like she was going to be able to out run him.  The slippery sidewalk didn’t help her any and she thanked her higher power that she had chosen her flat soled sandals instead of her wedges that morning!  Turning the corner she hailed a cab, and miraculously it stopped for her!  She scrambled inside out of the rain, and hastily gave directions to the driver.  He was of Indian descent, and his perspiration gave off an oppressive odor that only added to her discomfort from the high humidity.  She began to sweat profusely, and wiped at her brow absent mindedly. 

In the relative calm and safety of the backseat she pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She checked her voice mail as she tried to catch her breath.  She had several messages, and one was from her fiancé Peter.  His voice helped to further calm her rattled nerves as she listened to his plans for them for dinner that evening.  She smiled in spite of her pounding heart at his thoughtfulness.  The next message was an automated reminder of her dental appointment the following day, and she barked a sour laugh at the thought of dental work. 

The last message chilled her to the bone, and caused her breath to catch in her throat.  It was from Tito, the fat man who had been chasing her.  She turned instinctively to look out the back window of the cab, but the window was so grimy that everything was a blur.  Her heart thudded in her chest, and she fingered the antique ring on her right hand.  It was the safest place for the ring, but the very thing that placed her in such danger.  She had to tell Peter the truth; otherwise all their carefully laid plans would collapse around them.  Her hand began to shake, and she wondered how her life had gotten so crazy so quickly, and how she could put everything right again.

When the cab pulled up at the restaurant she paid the driver and hurried through the now pouring rain into the building.  She felt wet and bedraggled, and not worthy of such a fine establishment.  Peter was waiting for her by the coat rack, and his warm smile made her forget how disheveled she must look.  He strode forward immediately and took her hands.

“Darling, you’re completely drenched!  What happened to you?”

“It’s a long story,” she said “we had better sit down first.  There’s something I have to tell you.  Something I should have told you a long time ago.” 

Peter couldn’t help but smile when he saw Susan tumble into the restaurant.  She looked for all the world like she had had the worst day of her life.  She was completely soaked from the pouring rain, but his heart still jumped at the sight of her.  How lovely she was in her rumpled state!  He immediately noticed her flushed cheeks, and rapid breathing, and hurried forward with a concerned frown creasing his brow.  She looked frightened, and he couldn’t imagine what had happened to her.  The possibility of her having been attacked crossed his mind in a flash of anger.  Her words had hinted at the idea that she had been keeping a secret from him, but that was impossible.  They had become the best of friends, and most devoted of lovers over the past year.  The idea that she had withheld a secret from him came as a shock.

He had planned this evening very carefully to celebrate their one year anniversary, in the very restaurant where he had proposed to her just a few short weeks ago.  He knew this was her favorite restaurant, and planned to order her favorite dishes for her.  He had gone to a lot of trouble to arrange everything to be perfect, and now this – this secret had come between them!  He took her by the hand and guided her to their table.  Once seated he encouraged her to explain what had happened to her. 

Susan was immediately interrupted by a waiter who offered menus for them, and took their wine request.  She gulped down half a glass of water, as Peter waited nervously. 

“It’s about my grandmother’s ring,” she said anxiously, fingering the ring on her hand.

“The ring?” Peter asked hesitantly, “It’s just a fine old piece from your grandmother’s estate.”

“Not exactly,” began Susan. 

The waiter returned with their wine, and took their requests from the menu.  There was a quiet murmuring throughout the restaurant, and the soft clinking of flatware on china.  Occasionally the sound of laughter could be heard above the soft classical music that played.  Everything should have been perfect.  Peter tightened his jaw at the delay, and took a sip of his wine to calm himself.  When the waiter left Peter took a deep breath, but it was Susan who spoke first.

“I can guess what you are thinking Peter.  You are wondering why I have kept a secret – any secret – from you all this time.”

Peter nodded as he said, “I don’t know why, but I’m sure there must be a good reason why you have.  I want to hear it.”

Susan attempted a weak smile, “You have every right to know, and I’m so sorry I’ve kept this from you.  I’m afraid I might be in a lot of trouble, and I’m going to need your help.”

“Of course, darling!  Anything!” Peter said adamantly taking her hand, and looking at the ring.

“The ring was given to my grandmother by her secret lover.  He was involved with the mob.”

“Good God!” Exclaimed Peter his eyes bulging.

“There’s more.  There’s a man who has been following me.  He want’s the ring.”

“Why would he want an old cocktail ring?”

Susan drew a shaky breath, “Inscribed on the inside of the ring is the location of the gold from one of the biggest bank robberies of the 1940’s.  You commented once that the ring has an odd shape.  That’s because it is also the key to the secret vault where the gold was hidden.”

Peter groaned, and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.  Susan was in terrible danger from the man who was following her.  He was probably a mobster himself, looking to collect the gold for his own purposes.  She could be killed!

“Honey, you have to get rid of the ring!  You could be killed!” Peter insisted.

“I can’t, Tito already knows that I know the location of the vault.  If I were to have the ring melted down, he would kill me!  If I don’t give him the ring he will kill me.  If I turn it over to the police he will kill me.  I don’t have any option but to leave town, and hope that he can’t track me down.”

“You want the gold for yourself?” Peter guessed.

“Can you imagine how it would improve our lives?  Do you know how much good I could do in the world?  Imagine what it would mean for our families!”

“No,” Peter said insistently, “It isn’t worth the risk!  You have to turn it over to the police!  They can put you into a witness protection program!  We can go away, and start a new life together—“

As he was making his impassioned plea to Susan her face suddenly turned white with fear. 

“It’s too late,” she said “he’s here.”