The Great Ricardo

by Carol A. Cole

Rick stuffed the crumpled twenty-dollar bills in his pocket and shuffled out of the pawnshop. He wrapped the tattered coat around his lanky frame, and headed for the bus station. Once out of sight, he turned the corner and sauntered up to the sleek red Corvette. Dumping the coat in the back seat, he climbed in and sped away.

“Not a bad day’s work,” he smiled, steering the car towards Reno. “Haven’t lost my touch.”

* * *

Rick sank into the overstuffed leather couch and flicked on the TV. Brightly colored posters advertising “The Great Ricardo, Magician Extraordinaire” plastered the walls of his den. Clean-shaven and gray-haired, he no longer resembled the dashing bearded man in the posters. He had played all the top hotels in Vegas in his prime. A good salary had bought lots of expensive possessions. Rick grew to love the feel of silk sheets and mohair sweaters.

As younger and more talented magicians appeared on the scene, he was forced to work in Reno, then Sparks, and finally retire. Living well, Rick didn’t consider his future. His one talent was the slight of hand tricks he had learned as a youngster.

He easily approached the young sales girls in the many jewelry stores surrounding Tahoe. Rick would express interest in the diamond earrings. “For my granddaughter or niece,” he’d tell them. “She’s a pretty little thing like you.” While they blushed at his charm, he’d slip several of the jewels into his coat. He never hit the same stores twice and always went to different pawnshops. There were plenty of them around too. Tourists often needed to hock something to get back home.

What did that news guy just say? He turned the volume up.

“Several jewelry stores in the Reno-Tahoe area have discovered missing diamond jewelry in the past two months. The unexplained losses were discovered when the owners did monthly inventories.”

“Damn, I need to hit some new towns.”

* * *

Several weeks later, Rick, in his best camelhair coat, strolled into Mountain Jewelry in Virginia City. “I’d like to see some of those sparkling earrings for my granddaughter.” He told the girl by the counter.

“Yes, sir. I’ll get my mother to open the case.” She turned toward a striking blonde at the back of the store. “Mama, there’s a man who wants to see the diamonds.”

The woman came, stared momentarily at Rick, unlocked the case, and handed him several pairs of earrings.

He turned several over in is hands. “I think Michelle would like these, but I’m not quite sure.” He handed her back two pairs and turned to leave.

Suddenly she yanked his hand out of his coat. “Not so fast.” The other earrings fell to the floor. “Don’t you remember me, Rick?” She smiled. “I’m Candy; I worked with you in Vegas. I’d recognize that move anywhere.”

“Wh...what do you mean?” he stammered. “I’ve never been in Vegas.”

“Cut the bull, Rick. I’ll bet you’re the reason those jewelry stores are missing their diamonds. I’d heard you settled in Reno after you retired.” She turned to the girl. “Sissy, lock the door. Rick and I need to talk about old times.”

She led him to the little apartment above the store. Stroking the sleeve of his coat she smiled at him. “I see you still like the finer things money can get you. I’d hate to see you in a tiny, bare cell. I know lots of shops across the state line. We can have a beautiful future together, Rick.”

He shrank back in the little wooden chair. “Sure, Candy. A beautiful future.”