Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

71

"Yeah, let's get some light on that." I peeped around the doorway as the older woman looked the hunk of metal over.

"Spray-painted tungsten." She declared ruffling JJ's feathers.

"Spray-painted tungsten? Really? Okay. Why don't you see how, uh, soft it is?" I debated on whether or not I should jump in and help. My left-hand twitches as I wait.

"You mind?"

"No, go for it." The lady smacked the piece with a hammer and nail. There was a thud as she inspected it further.

"Wow. Would you look at that?" I scoffed at JJ's sass.

"Hold your horses. We ain't got to the acid test yet."

"Ooh! The acid test. My favorite, guys."

"Oh my," I grumbled as I figured despite being a goober he had it covered.

"Well, it ain't plated, and it ain't painted."

"Ma'am, I'm telling ya, this is as real as the day is long."

"It looks like somebody tried to melt it down." And it was go time.

"Hi, guys." I voiced entering the room as I waved at John B and Sarah. Taking my time to drift towards the register.

"My mom, she-" I left the back room with my tea cup and made a show of catching JJ.

"JJ? That you? Hey, how'd the jewelry melting go?" I asked, stepping so he was on my left. I eyed the piece of gold in the pawnbrokers hand. "Damn, didn't realize your mom had that much."

"Yeah, well, she figured it was better to melt it down versus try and sell it individually." JJ added playing into the conversation.

The pawnbroker rose an eyebrow as she turned and set the metal in a scale.

"Seven pounds. That's a lot of earrings."

"Okay, to be honest ma'am it's really hard to see my mom fall apart with Alzheimer's." I hid the disappointment in JJ as I masked it with sorrow. My left hand gently rubbing along his back as I stayed low enough to not agitate my side.

"Mm-hm. Give me a minute."

"Take your time, ma'am." I laid my head on his shoulder as she walked away. Both of our faces down cast as his voice wavered.

"You dumbass." I whispered as I watched the pawnbroker leave the room.

"I wanted to give her a sob story. Make it seem believable."

"This is why you're the second best liar. She totally was buying the jewelry until you said that shit." I grumbled sliding away from him slightly as Pope leaned in.

"Remember, base price is 140. Somewhere within that ballpark Nothing less than 90. Okay, she's coming back." Pope was in and out as the pawnbroker came back.

"Okay. I talked to my boss." That was fast. I refrained from raising my eyebrow. My eyes taking in her form. Something changed. I just didn't know what.

"And?"

"And, uh, this is that I can do." She set a small sticky note in front of JJ and I.

50,000

"Fifty thousand? You think I walked in here not knowin' the spot price? Ma'am, I know for a fact this is worth 140, at least."

"Well, sweetie, you in a pawnshop. This ain't Zurich. Do I look Swiss to you?" I was a little taken aback by her sass. My head cocking as I eyed the woman up. She was doing a great job about making me not want to sell this to her. But I guess that's another reason why I'm not in JJ's spot.