Jewelry Box Prick (1 of 5)

The following is an excerpt from the exquisite must read CYOA:

"Amanda Jones - The Briar Ridge Mystery" by Torqual3D. You can read the full story here:

https://www.patreon.com/MoreTorqual3D

When Malcolm lets you examine the jewelry box up close, your jaw drops at how magnificent it is.

“Polished  brass, with hand engraved decoration, and a Wedgwood jasper plaque  here... in the center of the lid,” begins Malcolm. “The box comes with  an ornate working key. Here - why not open it?”

You  try not to notice the $5,000 price tag as you put the key in the lock  and twist it. The lid clicks open, and the lined interior is revealed,  exquisitely finished in a navy blue velvet.

“I think she likes it, Roger,” says Malcolm with satisfaction. “Do you like it?” he asks you directly.

You can manage only a slightly stunned nod.

“But Malcolm!” Roger exclaims as he whisks the box away, “surely we cannot let the lovely young lady leave with a mere empty jewelry box, and no jewels inside it?”

Malcolm looks slightly bewildered and exchanges a strained look with his partner.

You stand overwhelmed by the turn of events. “I - I mean, really, it’s fine...” you say, trying to assuage the antique dealers.

“We insist...” replies Roger, over his shoulder as he walks away, “I have just the thing for you.” He retreats to a back room with the box...

...Your  uncomfortable and silent wait with Malcolm is, thankfully, ended a  couple of minutes later, when Roger returns with the box. You wonder  what took him so long. The box is locked, and he hands it and the key to  you separately.

“There’s a little gift inside  for you,” he explains. “It’s very special and rather beautiful; I  recommend opening it in private, perhaps when you’re safe at home...  wherever that may be?”

Again you nod, speechless and rather numb that - by fact of accepting the box - you have entered into this pact of silence.

“Gratefully yours...in exchange for your discretion...” says Roger, almost hypnotically.

“Your discretion,” repeats Malcolm.

Slightly dumbfounded, you look between the two men several times, before realizing this your opportunity to leave.

Malcolm  and Roger smile unconvincingly as you hesitantly retreat to the door,  open it and soon find yourself outside with your jewelry box. The rain  has stopped, and things are brightening up now...

...You  retrieve your bicycle and ride away rather awkwardly, clutching your  five thousand dollar jewelry box to you. You feel almost like a thief,  repeatedly checking over your shoulder to see whether Roger and Malcolm  are following.

Did that just happen? You went  to the Antiques Store looking for evidence, and found a whole crock of  Mrs Shrapnel’s stolen property there. You have photos to prove it. From  that point, your visit was a success. But can you really take your  investigation further after what just happened?

You  come to rest at a bridge on the edge of town. It’s quiet, there’s no  one around, and the only sound is the river burbling away below. You  park your bike against the parapet and place the ornate jewelry box in  front of you, on the edge. Your mind races.

You  feel sorry for the antique dealers and you appreciate the possibly  fatal damage, to their ancient business, that exposing them would cause.  However you did find them, especially Roger, rather creepy. You’ve now  accepted a ‘gift’ in exchange for keeping quiet, but you don’t feel like  you’ve earned it. You feel like you’ve sold out.

The  jewelry box is the most impressive and valuable thing you have ever  held in your hands. It’s a magnificent treasure. But is it really yours?

...You  feel ashamed. By accepting this bribe, you’ve not only compromised on  your own integrity but you’ve left Mrs Shrapnel to the mercy of whoever  is asset stripping her. You tell yourself that you did what you needed  to in order to leave safely, but are you being honest? You could have  just made a run for it...

Then it dawns on you. You are compromised. You’re implicated. You’re clutching an item from the  D&D Antiques Store. How do you explain that away? If you go to the  cops, De’ath and D’Urso could even claim that you stole it. They could  say you aided them in obtaining the antiques from Briar Ridge, then  tried to blackmail them. They have CCTV footage to prove you were in the  store - while you should have been in school. What a mess! School! What  if the Principal were to find out...

You’ve  been standing on the spot for almost ten minutes when you realize that  you have to make a decision and it’s going to be difficult. You either  have to get rid of this box now or just accept that you’ve been  outsmarted and the investigation is a bust... then get back to school  quickly.

Big moment Amanda... choose wisely.

...With  grudging acceptance you concede that you’re now unable to continue with  the investigation. Time is running out to get back to school before the  afternoon session. You hop on your bike and, still holding the jewelry  box, pedal off towards school.

The trip takes  you ten minutes, and all the way you ruminate about the mistakes you  made, and how you let yourself get trapped into accepting a bribe.  You’ll just have to put it down to experience.

You  re-enter the school campus by the same gap in the fence, taking the  shady route to the bike sheds. All around are the shouts and whoops of  your fellow girls enjoying their lunch break. You envy their carefree  manner. You’ve had quite a difficult morning.

Making  your way diagonally across the quadrangle, you keep your eyes down as  you navigate the crowd, hoping no one will notice the jewelry box or  comment on your lack of uniform. On the second point, you’re a prefect  and this does allow some flexibility but only at weekends.

You make it inside to the corner stairwell, ignoring a couple of cries of ‘Amanda!’ then hurry up the stairs to your dorm...

History class is next, and you  gather your books and stuff your satchel with the necessary things, not  least your latest completed assignment(!) Looking around the room you  cannot believe the risk you took this morning sneaking off in blatant  defiance of the Principal.

But all is well now. There will be more detecting opportunities, maybe some over the summer when you’re traveling in Europe.

As  you sit on the edge of your bed, the bell rings in  the corridor outside. It’s time to go! Mustn’t be late!

But then, you notice the jewelry box on the bed beside you, the key next to it...

Your  inquisitive nature will be the death of you, Amanda Jones. You just  can’t resist the temptation of opening the box, even if it makes you  late for History. Again. A few more stern words from Professor Gordon  won’t hurt all that much...

Sitting primly on  the edge of the bed, you twist the ornate key in the lock and gently pop  open the lid. All you see at first is the empty drawer on top, with its  small velvety compartments. You wonder what’s awaiting you: a brooch? A  necklace? It feels heavy. You take a deep breath...