He picked up the ring. He didn’t look at the stone first. He looked at the shank.
Leo tried to look shocked. "That’s impossible. She wore that to the opera."
He stepped into Miller’s Fine Loans & Jewelry . The air inside smelled of gun oil, old electronics, and desperation. do pawn shops buy fake jewelry
"It’s brass with a nickel plate," Elias said, wiping the acid away. "I couldn't get five dollars for this at a garage sale. Pawn shops don't buy fakes because we can't sell fakes. If I put this in my case and tell a customer it’s an emerald, I’m the one going to jail for fraud."
Elias leaned back, his chair creaking. "Maybe a costume jewelry specialist or a theater troupe needs props. But a pawn shop? We deal in value we can verify. If the acid turns green or the tester stays silent, the deal is dead." Leo nodded, turned, and headed for the door. "Hey," Elias called out. Leo stopped. He picked up the ring
"She wore it well, then," Elias replied, finally looking up. "But I can’t buy this, son." "Not even for the silver?" Leo pushed.
Elias didn’t touch it at first. He just looked at it. A novice would have been dazzled by the green flash. Elias just sighed. He reached for his loupe—a small magnifying lens—and tucked it into his eye socket. Leo tried to look shocked
"What can I do for you?" Elias asked, his voice like gravel.