Author's Note: Thanks to astridv, ronnie and PlatoDan who have been kind enough to reply. I truly appreciate it and like knowing if anyone is enjoying the story. :)

Sophie rubbed her nose with a tissue and listened to Eliot.

"Gerhardt's back."

Her breath caught at the scrape and chime of the bell hanging over the door as it was pushed open. Between sniffles, she glanced over her shoulder and saw the other owner enter the shop.

Gerhardt breezed past her with little interest. She suspected if he had seen one crying woman in the shop, he'd seen a dozen. The crinkle of the yellow sandwich bag caught her attention, and the smell of fresh lettuce and bread reminded she hadn't had lunch yet.

"Did you bring me anything?" Cobb asked.

"No. Was I supposed to?" Gerhardt smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile. Behind the counter, he went right for the only door leading to the back.

"Parker, get out of there," Sophie said quickly.

"I'm almost into the safe."

"Parker," Sophie repeated, but before she could say more, Gerhardt was pulling the door open.

The bell chimed as the front door flew open, freezing Gerhardt in place.

"Seriously?" Nate asked as he stormed into the shop looking quite disheveled. He had discarded his coat in the van, his blue shirt was unbuttoned, and sleeves were roughly pushed up to his elbows. There was a wild look in his eyes.

"Excuse me?" Sophie said with a growl. Planting a hand on her hip, she turned and glared at him.

Nate had a sudden desire to retreat. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Me?" Sophie's voice was indignant, and fire danced in her brown eyes.

The office door clicked closed, and the sandwich bag was discarded at the counter as Gerhardt turned to watch the fireworks.

"Just give me a little longer," Parker whispered as she made the last turn of the dial. A smile and a little chill passed through her when she heard that oh so lovely click and the door opened. Like magic. Her eyes immediately went to a cloth bag sitting on top of a cigar box. Emptying the contents of the bag into her hand, she found a knotted mess. "Several diamond rings. Not big diamonds. Old settings. A gold cross."

"That's on the list," Hardison confirmed.

Parker dumped the jewelry back into the bag and cinched the string tight and then grabbed a worn business card that the bag had been sitting on. She read the big letters printed in green ink. "Home Keepers."

"You gave it to me."

Never taking his eyes off Sophie, Nate held a hand out toward Cobb who was still holding the ring. "Well, the wedding is off. You canceled it. Remember?" He looked at the big man. "My property please."

"Don't give it to him," Sophie said as she stepped between Nate and the counter. "It might be a fake, but if he wants it back—"

"Fake?" Nate looked at Sophie and then to Cobb. Incredulous. "It's not a fake."

Cobb shifted his gaze to Gerhardt as if to make sure he had back up. "Dude, it's cut glass. Either you didn't know, or you were pulling one over on the lady."

"Lady?" Sophie purred and threw Cobb a smile. She turned her predatory look to Nate. "So which was it, Barry, love?"

Looking a little sheepish, Nate swallowed hard.

"How much will you give me for it?" Sophie asked, glancing over her shoulder at the two men.

"Fifty," Cobb offered.

"Fifty?" Nate scoffed and gave Cobb a dismissive wave. "The gold is worth more than that."

"I'll take it!" Sophie shot Nate a sharp look.

Cobb spoke up before Nate could object. "Hey, Felix, get me a form out of the office."

"Get out of there, Parker."

Eliot's warning came too late for the thief. At the sound of the door, Parker closed the safe without further exploring the contents and ducked under the desk. Drawing her knees up close, she waited as Gerhardt made his way around.

Resisting the urge to move, Parker shifted her gaze and stared at the big black boots that were precariously close. The desk shook as one of the drawers was yanked open. Nate and Sophie's voices rose in the background.

The sound of shuffling papers was shortly followed by the loud bang of the drawer being slammed back into the desk. Parker shuddered along with the desk, but remained still until her ears quit ringing. Once she was sure that Gerhardt had left, she slowly edged into the open and peeked over the top of the desk.

The office door was wide open.

"Now, now, darling," Nate said in a placating tone. He held his hands up as he backed away from Sophie, moving so he could better see Gerhardt and the open door to the office. "It was just the one time."

Eliot. "I'll get Parker. You two get out."

A loud crack reverberated through the store.

Nate clutched his stinging cheek. Tears welled in his left eye. "Ow!"

"That's one time too many!" Sophie stormed back to the counter and grabbed her purse and the ring out of Cobb's hand.