"No. It was...an heirloom, let's say." Bequeathed to him upon her death. She'd known how much it meant to him, too much to have it sold off and bulldozed. This busybody sounded like some distant relative trying to get his mitts on every little scrap of valuables Esther had left behind.

Louis toyed with the little jewel-tree that decorated his desk, a creation of twisted wire and amethyst. "So how do I get this loser off my back?"