Here goes part 3!
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'Ash was probably right about it not being that big of deal. I'm probably just over thinkin' this.' That what Johnny told himself throughout the day. To be fair, the few times he did have to interact with Meena, they just traded small smiles and acted mostly normal. Plus, every now and again Johnny caught a glimpse of Meena wearing the bracelet and futzing with it. That made a small warmth of pride swell up in his chest.
So by the time the workday was over and everyone was heading out, Johnny hadn't found a time to explain his fumble and at this point, wasn't too worried about it. He hoped that he was right to think there wouldn't be any mishaps from this down the line and it truly wasn't a big deal.
By the time he got to the prison to see his father, he'd all but forgotten about the ordeal. Seeing his father lifted his mood and they talked eagerly about pretty much everything. Just seeing his father's warm smile and the fact the older gorilla was still holding up alright in this place set Johnny more at ease. It wasn't until near the end of the session that any thought about the old box of jewelry finally hit Johnny. "Oh, and dad, can I give that fake jewelry t' the theater? Don't see us using it anytime soon." His father's look made it clear he was trying to remember the item Johnny was talking about. "Ya' knew, the mess of fake jewels ya were gonna use for that heist a few years back, but ya decided there was too much security 'n all."
"Oh that stuff!" Big Daddy's eyes went wide. "Bloody 'ell, I forgot all about that. No, absolutely not." He fixed a very confused Johnny with a stern stare.
"Wot? Why not?" Johnny didn't like the look in his father's eyes.
"'Cause they ain't fake."
A heavy silence followed the former gang leader's words. Johnny finally found his voice. "Wha-h-how? You said-"
"I said we called off the plan on account of the security bein' too tight. And we did. But we were pissed miserable 'cause of it. So that night, the boys 'n I went out and drank ourselves stupid." Big Daddy was hunched over, leaning forward and speaking in a hushed tone as though that would make there conversation more private through the phones. "At some point during the night, Stan got it in 'is 'ead that 'e could pull off the whole job 'imself. We all were drunk enough to bet on it. And, by damn, he did." The larger gorilla leaned back, looking reminiscent and impressed. "'E somehow got in there, swapped the fakes for the real gems, 'n got out again without bein' caught. It was amazing! Too bad 'e was too drunk t' remember 'ow 'e did it."
Johnny sat dumbfounded. "They're real!? You had real gems stashed away in the garage!? Why!? Why didn't ya sell 'em?!"
"They were too hot to sell! So I kept 'em locked up for safe keepin'."
"An old, rusted box is not safe keepin'!" Johnny hissed into the phone a saw Big Daddy's eyes go wide with realization.
"Johnny... please tell me ya didn't already give the jewelry t' the theater."
"No, I didn't." Johnny sighed and relief flooded through Big Daddy for all of two seconds before his son continued. "But I may 'ave given one small piece away..." Big Daddy's eyes went wide, demanding an explanation. Which Johnny readily supplied. "It was just this floppy, chain bracelet thingy. Or maybe it suppose t' be a necklace, I don't know. I gave it to Meena. Any chance that one was a fake?"
Johnny looked hopeful, but one look at his father told his the bracelet wasn't fake. Big Daddy sighed. "Ya gave ya girlfriend a one of a kind piece, ya did."
"Daaaad." Johnny grumbled into the phone. "Come on, she's not girlfriend!"
"Well, that's some friend t' being a givin' a fifty grand piece to." Big Daddy huffed.
Johnny's eyes nearly bugged out of his face. "Fifty grand?! That little thing was worth fifty grand?! How have you been sitting on jewels that valuable all this time?!" Johnny's voice strained to keep quiet and not shout at the gorilla opposite him.
"Loike I said, it was too hot to sell. Folks were still looking for them." As Big Daddy said this, the color drained from Johnny's face.
"... Dad, ya don't think anyone would recognize it on Meena and get her in trouble, do ya?"
Big Daddy sighed. "They might. Or she might let it slip that you're the one who gave it to her and then your ass is on the line." Big Daddy looked like he had more to say, but a security guard tapped him on the shoulder to tell him his time was up. The gorilla shrugged the guard off a turned to Johnny, quickly saying. "You've got the find a way to get it back." Big Daddy was then escorted away and back to his cell, leaving his son to process everything that just happened.