“Yes, it does. Do you see that line on the side edge? It’s a mechanism.”
Sophia wanted to argue, to walk away, to call the police, anything. But something in the man’s eyes made her hesitate. He didn’t seem like a madman, and he certainly didn’t look like a scammer. The train slowed, the doors opened, people around them moved, getting on and off. The man took a business card from his pocket and handed it to her. Richard Sterling, jeweler and antiquarian, 40 years working with jewelry.
“If you don’t believe me, check for yourself. But if you value your life, take that pendant off and never put it on again.”
He stepped out of the car, and the doors closed behind him. Sophia stood there clutching the card in her hand, her heart beating so loudly it felt like the whole car could hear it.
The workday dragged on unbearably long. The pharmacy where Sophia had worked for 5 years was in a residential neighborhood. Regular customers, familiar prescriptions, familiar faces. Usually this routine calmed her, but today every minute was a struggle.
“Sophia, you’re so pale,” Lucy noticed, coming up to the register during a lull between customers. “Morning sickness as always? Have you taken a pregnancy test?”
Sophia smiled bitterly.
“About 20 times. All negative.”
Lucy frowned. They had been friends since their first year of pharmacy school almost 10 years ago. Lucy was a nurse at the clinic next door and knew more about Sophia’s health than the doctors themselves.
“Maybe a hidden infection. Parasites.”
