As Mr. Hermann turned the ring in his hands, his eyes widened ever so slightly. Kiara’s heart leapt. It must be valuable, she thought, excitement bubbling up. She imagined the relief she would feel walking out of the shop with enough money to leave SilverMoore behind and start fresh somewhere far away.
But her excitement was short-lived. Mr. Hermann’s expression shifted from surprise to something far more serious. He set the ring down on the counter carefully, then glanced at Kiara. “Excuse me for a moment,” he said, his tone calm but his demeanor tense. “I need to check something.” He disappeared through a door behind the counter, leaving Kiara alone.