The staff prepared each purchase carefully. Handbags packed into oversized signature boxes, wrapped in crisp tissue. Watches returned to their presentation cases.

Shoes, belts, wallets, and accessories arranged beside them. One by one, the cashier scanned each item. The total climbed past ten thousand dollars. Then twenty thousand.

When the last barcode was entered, it had risen to well over thirty thousand. A growing stack of luxury boxes waited beside the register. Only one thing was missing — the payment they were certain I’d provide.

At 12:15, Gordon called. My phone stayed off. He called again. Then again. Every attempt went straight to voicemail.

Rita glanced toward the entrance every few minutes. “She said she’d be here in half an hour,” Gordon muttered.

“She probably got tied up at work,” Rita said confidently. “You know how demanding her job is.”