I stood motionless in the quiet hardware aisle, scraping a patch of dried varnish off my right thumb with my thumbnail.

“What was in the box?” I asked.

“That pricey dark red silk scarf she had on yesterday morning,” Sarah said.

“The one she claimed she got on sale at the department store downtown.”

“Did you go over to their table?” I asked.

“Rob spotted me walking past the hostess stand,” Sarah said.

“He jumped right up and jangled those heavy keys in his pocket like he owned the joint, telling me they were just celebrating a property deal.”

“Did Vanessa say anything at all?” I asked.