Chapter 7

The antique store was small from the street, but as Mike wheeled me in, it seemed to go back for miles. Shelves were full, and a little dusty in places. I noticed that my fox power was kicking in, I could immediately see two things glowing brightly. The store was cold, so I left my jacket on. I told Mike he could wander around or wait at the van, I was fine getting around.

He decided to head back to the van, which was warmer. I pushed on, literally. A staff member called up quickly and asked if they could help.

“I called ahead about some steamer trunks.”

“I don’t know if we have those,” she replied.

“I talked to a Karl about them an hour ago.”

“Let me get Nancy.”

The girl walked away, so I pushed on. I got to an odd glowing thing when a much older woman arrived.

“Are you Mr Roberts?” she asked with a smoker’s raspy voice.

“Yes.”

“I’m Nancy Karl.”

“I talked to someone on the phone.”

“Yes, my husband Nick Karl.”

“Great, can I ask about this before you show me the steamer trunks?”

“My husband usually handles that sort of stuff, but he’s out making a delivery. I can look up its number on the computer to see if it says what it is.”

“That would be great,” I said, taking down the bronze statue of six very upset people, and setting it in my lap.

The trunks were exactly what I was looking for. I chose the six largest trunks, then headed to the register with Nancy who looked up on the computer, “it says that it’s a French bronze from around 1945.”

“I’ll take it,” I told her.

She rang me up, and I pulled out a wad of cash from my jacket. It was actually from a safety deposit box in San Diego.

“Since you are buying so much and using cash I can give you a 25% discount.”

“Thank you Nancy, please add delivery to my hotel room as well.”

She gave me the figure and I paid. I carried the bronze, it was quite heavy, sitting in my lap it came up to just under my chin. I left the trunks, three would have fit, but not six. I gave a nice tip to the driver and Mike, enjoying the numbers floating up. I really did need to get out more.

I had set the bronze on a table, and taken a picture of it when there was a knock on the door. Mike wheeled in my lunch.

“Those are some pretty scary looking people,” he said, nodding to the new bronze.

“I think it might be an original.”

“Original what?”

“An original Rodin bronze. I paid about 2600, and I just found one online for 35000.”

“Wow, and if it’s not an original?”

“It’ll scare the cats.”

He laughed and left me to my lunch. I was eating when I had a sneaky idea. I tried to summon the money I’d just spent, not all of it, just a hundred dollar bill. It failed to come, which reminded me the skill only worked on my stuff. I guess once I pay someone that money isn’t mine anymore.

I considered my options, I really needed to get these casts off and go somewhere else where no one would expect me to be wearing them.

I suddenly had a thought, and summoned an item out of my pocket. I sent it back, and concentrated on my arm cast. It appeared in my hand. I sent it back. It was suddenly very much cleaner.

I grinned, and summoned my casts off one by one, then I got up and engaged the lock on the room, pulled my clothes off and got into the shower, making it as hot as I could.

Half an hour later I was still in my hotel robe, the TV running in the background as I ate another delicious peach, sprawled out in comfort on the big couch.