Darned if You Do by Monica Ferris

leaning in between them, said, “Can I see it?”
    Doris handed it to her, and Phil held out the rings, which Georgine, after a glance, took as well.
    â€œHmm,” said Georgine. “I wish I had my loupe with me.” She held the silver-colored ring close to one eye. “I can’t tell for sure, but I think this stone is a real sapphire.”
    â€œWhat, that’s
real
?” asked Godwin, wriggling his way close to her and peering around her arm.
    â€œIf I’m right, yes, and the ring itself is platinum.”
    â€œOh, come on!” said Phil. “Tom Take owns a sapphire and platinum ring?”
    â€œAnd a black opal and a ruby, both with real diamonds.” Georgine was looking all three pieces over. “I’m pretty sure.”
    â€œWhere do you suppose these came from?” asked Emily.
    There was a thoughtful silence. Then Connor suggested, “The metal detector.”
    â€œWhy, I bet you’re right!” said Valentina.
    Phil said, “You read about people finding great stuff with them.”
    â€œHow much are they worth—if they’re real?” asked Valentina.
    â€œHard to say, exactly.”
    â€œWell then, tell us inexactly,” said Godwin.
    â€œOkay. The platinum and sapphire, around ten to fifteen thousand; the black opal and diamonds ten to fifteen thousand; the ruby brooch—I’m not really up to date on rubies, so much depends on the color as well as the cut. I’d guess that ruby is three and a half or even four carats, and they’re going for between seven and twelve thousand a carat. Plus the diamonds, plus the gold in the brooch itself.”
    â€œJeee-zuz!” said Phil. He added to Doris, “Sorry, sweetheart.”
    Jill said, “That’s something else to take to the bank.”
    â€œWhat’s the other?” asked Georgine.
    â€œThe Morgan dollars.”
    â€œHow many Morgan dollars?” asked Georgine.
    Jill said, “We stopped at sixty-five; probably close to a hundred.”
    She stared at her. “Oh my, that’s a lot!”
    Phil reached for the brooch. “Meanwhile, can I hold on to these for a while? It’ll make me feel rich, at least temporarily.”
    Valentina said, “Yes, you may.”
    Georgine said, “But have you got something to wrap them in? Don’t leave them loose in your pocket.”
    Doris went into her own pocket and came up with a little packet of tissues. Phil wrapped each piece in a sheet then wrapped a fourth around the lot before putting it into his shirt pocket. With a solemn expression, he patted the pocket tenderly to settle them deep in there.
    â€œAnything else?” asked Valentina.
    Connor said, “Nothing—except for all the soft drink cans.” He gestured at a cluster of gray plastic leaf bags that were leaning against one wall. “Hundreds of them. I wonder why he didn’t cash them in?”
    â€œGod knows,” sighed Valentina. “All right, everyone, back to work.”
    â€œHold on a minute,” said Jill. “I think Connor should take that mailbag over to the post office now. Get it out of our hair.”
    â€œFine with me,” said Connor. He checked his watch. “It’s quarter to twelve, so how about, since I’m going out, I bring lunch back with me? Betsy said her contribution to today’s cause will be to buy it. Do you want pizza or burgers?”
    â€œNot pizza!” declared Emily. “Without access to hot water and a nail brush, these hands are not going to touch something I put in my mouth! At least I can hold a sandwich by the wrapper.”
    That made the others look at their hands—Georgine hastily stuffed hers in her pockets—and agree, except Valentina, smug in her white cotton work gloves.
    Connor found a scrap of paper, borrowed a pen from Jill, and took everyone’s order. Then he shouldered the mailbag and left the house.
    The others