Chapter 9

           Aftertwoweeksofnearlyconstantwork,EdfrankCustomJewelryhadproduceditsfirstfinishedbatch.Therethepieceslay,ontwoboardscoveredwithblackvelvet,allofwhichwentintoasquarewickerbasketofJapaneseorigin.AndEdMcCarthyandFrankFrinkhadmadebusinesscards.Theyhadusedanartgunerasercarvedouttoformtheirname;theyprintedinredfromthis,andthencompletedthecardswithachildren’stoyrotaryprintingset.Theeffect—theyhadusedahigh-qualityChristmas-cardcoloredheavypaper—wasstriking.

           Ineveryaspectoftheirworktheyhadbeenprofessional.Surveyingtheirjewelry,cards,anddisplay,theycouldseenoindicationoftheamateur.Whyshouldtherebe?FrankFrinkthought.We’rebothpros;notinjewelrymaking,butinshopworkingeneral.

           Thedisplayboardsheldagoodvariety.Cuffbraceletsmadeofbrass,copper,bronze,andevenhot-forgedblackiron.Pendants,mostlyofbrass,withalittlesilverornamentation.Earringsofsilver.Pinsofsilverorbrass.Thesilverhadcostthemagooddeal;evensilversolderhadsetthemback.Theyhadboughtafewsemipreciousstones,too,formountinginthepins:baroquepearls,spinneis,jade,sliversoffireopal.And,ifthingswentwell,theywouldtrygoldandpossiblyfive–orsix-pointdiamonds.

           Itwasgoldthatwouldmakethemarealprofit.Theyhadalreadybegunsearchingintosourcesofscrapgold,melted-downantiquepiecesofnoartisticvalue—muchcheapertobuythannewgold.Butevenso,anenormousexpensewasinvolved.