Baring it All (part 35) Claude pulled into the parking lot of Burrows Cash and Pawn shop. Since the Preacher man had been arrested he felt it was safe to go ahead and get rid of the rings. He and the owner were good buddies and he knew he'd give him a good price, without giving him a hard time. He hopped out of the cab, and went inside asking the cab driver to wait. Claude didn't think it would take long at all. He walked up to the pawn window where Billy Burrows was working. "Sup, man" he said. "Hey, Claude. I haven't seen you since the other night at the club. What's going on man?" he answered "Nothing much. How are things with you." "Man, my old lady has been tripping all week because that stripper was murdered. She never has liked me going to Chocolate Paradise but I'm the man in my house. Besides she knows I was at the club that night but I didn't tell her how much FUN we really had." Both men laughed. "Yeah, man. It ain't Halloween but looks like that Trick got treated." They both laughed loudly again. "Have you found a steady gig yet man?" Billy asked. "Naw, dude. That's why I'm here. I've got some jewelry I need to get rid of." "It belonged to my ex-wife." he lied. Claude reached into his jean pocket to retrieve the rings. He pulled his hand out empty. Confused he searched his other pockets. He paused for a minute to think. He knew he did not drop them in the bar he would have heard them drop against the linoleum floor. He had put the rings in his jean pocket the other night. He knew Monica was a thief so he usually kept everything he owned of value on his person. Then he'd remembered the night she'd given him head after she came home late from the funeral. He had left his jeans laying on the bedroom floor when he went into the bathroom. He was only gone a few minutes and when he came back she had gotten up and gone into the living room. He was so tired he had just gone to sleep. That damn bitch had rifled through his pockets again and must have stolen the rings he thought. "FUCK!" Claude yelled as he ran outside and jumped back in his cab. He gave the driver his home address determined that Monie was not gonna get away with stealing from him this time.