Chapter 8 The Necklace

• The Jefferson's family house
• Barry was in deep sleep. He could clearly see the trail of blood that led up the stairs of the decapitated building. He heard her scream his name again. This time though, the sound of unbearable pain in her voice. "Ricko!" She yelled again. Barry tried to increase his pace up the stairs but he was failing miserably. Then suddenly, the sound of a loud gun shot BAAM!
• When Barry arrived at the last floor, he stared at the blood flowing below the open door. He rushed inside to an empty apartment. Blood residue on the floor, clearly mopped. And a figure of a woman drawn on the floor with a yellow paint. "Barry!" She screamed again, but this time more calm.
• "Barry!"
• "Barry! Get up."
• Barry shot up and within a second he had his arms groping on top of the wardrope. He squinted and noticed it was Tanya staring at him.
• "What are you doing?" She asked puzzled.
• "Oh no, nothing. Nightmare!" He held his palm across his eyes, adjusting to the light.
• "Freshen up, we gotta go buy monthly grocery. It's the last day of the weekend. We won't get another chance during the week."
• "Okay," Barry answered, "give me a sec."
• Barry wore his usual casual clothes, took the car Keys and together with Tanya and Monica, they drove to the near by Mall. The ladies were excited when they saw the jewelry store and entered without blinking. Barry followed behind them. Soon they were marveling at the rings and the necklaces.
• "Tanya, follow me. I want to show you something." Monica dragged Tanya to the expensive department of the store. "Look."
• "Oh my god!" Tanya went weak on her knees. Her face gleamed like a toddler receiving her favourite toy. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, her hands clasped together on her chest as she marvelled. "It's the 'Heart of the Ocean' diamond necklace."
• Their excitement attracted the sales attendant who stepped up hurriedly. "Yes, the limited edition, and the only collectors item by Harry Winston. Did you know this is the only set in the country and its worth an estounding $20 million."
• "Oh my god! Kate Winslet wore this piece in the titanic!" Tanya was still at dreamland, she barely heard what the sales attendant had said.
• "I know my friend," Monica added, "you been obsessed by this necklace since high school. Is the Titanic's Jack and Kate still your favourite couple?"
• "Yes!" Tanya answered quickly, and turned to the sales attendant. "Did you say it's worth-"
• "$20 million dollars yes," the woman repeated the price smiling at her. "Is that an amount you can afford?"
• Barry smiled said, "Can you take it out and let my wife see it."
• 'WHAT?'
• The sales attendant turned to look at Barry. She had not noticed that he was with the ladies. Her eyes sturdied him up and down and she frowned. She turned to sturdy the ladies as well and realised something, and with a disgusted expression she blurted out.
• "I'm sorry but for security reasons we do not take this piece out unless we have thurally verified that you can afford it. It's just store procedures."
• Annoyance could be read on Barry's face. The ladies were utterly dissapointed. "It's okay, we understand."
• They smiled akwardly before holding hands and walking out the door. Barry also turned to walk out as the attendant gave him a shameful look.
• "Not a shame in this man's eyes," she started to tell her colleagues about what just happened. Barry could hear them say.
• "Is that not the pauper live in son-in-law of the Jefferson's. How could he afford this necklace? Imagine him asking us to show the necklace to his broke wife. Even the wife is struggling in life. These people have no shame whatsoever."
• "We shall see."