Never on a Tuesday
an excerpt

Meritt Slade sidled up to the case and held his breath so the glass wouldn’t fog. A little placard said it was on loan from Lord Tarlton’s private collection. When he saw the smooth green stone inside, his face fell. That was it? That innocuous little disc had the power to make his dreams come true? Doubtful. There weren’t even any runes on it. Not that he would know what runes looked like. Meritt Slade, class act and foremost upright citizen, with the number one radio show in the city, didn’t deal with unseemly things like magic. Not if you asked him.

The handful of other people in the museum ignored him except one. Meritt noticed the curator staring and figured the easiest way to make her stop was to say hello. He crossed the room slowly and when she realized what he was doing, she flushed and looked away. He leaned against the podium behind which she pretended to be busy and waited.

Finally, she looked up. Meritt noticed an oval face and dark blue eyes, pretty. She asked, “How may I help you?”

“You can tell me your name,” he said, toying with a cufflink. He watched her reaction, but it was not the expected fluster. Rather, she wore a bemused smile. He added, “Here, I’ll go first. Meritt Slade.”

“I know who you are, Mr. Slade, but you didn’t answer my question.”

“The thing is, miss,” he drug the word out in an effort to win her name, “you can’t, so I thought I would settle for your name.”

“How very kind. In that case, maybe you can help me. I’d like to know what’s so fascinating about the Jade Circle that you’ve waited until no one was near it to look. You appear almost reverent, Mr. Slade.” The blue eyes held in a laugh.

Meritt smiled and realized she didn’t suspect anything. So he steered her toward the case. “What do you see?”

“A pretty green disk with a hole in the middle.”

“Precisely. I see the triumph of a thousand civilizations. I have, I admit, a rather sensitive affinity to archeological treasure.” He kept his hand on her arm, and she let him. “Now, in exchange for that information, will you tell me your name?”

“I suppose now I must.” She tapped the glass. “Or perhaps I could tell you something about the Circle.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I can’t have both, I take it?”

“You are greedy, Mr. Slade,” she said. She put her hands on the case as though to lift it up. “Which will it be?”

He liked her. He would’ve liked her name, but the decision was easy. “The Circle?”

“Of course.” Her smile wavered only slightly. She leaned close to him; her breath tickled his neck. “This isn’t the real Jade Circle.” Meritt started to speak, but she cut him off by straightening and shaking his hand. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Slade. I’m glad you’re enjoying the exhibit.”

She left the room, and Meritt stared after her, a thousand curses shouting in his mind.