Becca found it one day at the back of the shelf she was stocking. It was almost hidden behind a row of cheese danishes.      At first, she just though some random customer had stashed a toy from the children's isle, but when she went to pick it up, she didn't recognize the make or model at all. It looked something like a tiny, metallic black ocarina, actually more like a skipping stone with little holes in it, and she knew they didn't carry anything like either of those. The closest thing they had was some brand of brightly colored plastic whistles. In fact, she could hear one of those very whistles being tooted halfway across the store. Which wasn't really all that hard, since the store was only maybe ten meters square. There was a shrieking giggle, followed by a loud crash and clatter.      "Clean up on isle two. Clean up, isle two." The store's loudspeaker intoned, and Becca thought she might have caught a note of exasperation in the announcer's voice. That would be Joan, who had called a clean up in isle two twice already, due to the new display.      For a moment, the announcement went unanswered, and Becca stared at her radio. Oh, right. She was the only non-newb in at the moment. If she wanted a new-hire to clean anything, she'd have to get a whip or something. She sighed, putting the thing in her work vest's pocket, intent on taking it either to someone who would know what department it belonged in, or the Lost and Found, where whoever had misplaced it could find it again.      By the time she'd finished restoring order to the toy display, she was being called to finish her shelving. And then it was work at the register, followed by the customer service counter, and then back to shelving.      They really needed to get those new girls trained and on the job, this was getting ridiculous. She spied one of the 'babies' (a teasing term bestowed on the newest employees, only to be lifted when they were fully trained and responsible register-workers) on her way to the register again. As Becca passed, she hid the coke she had been sipping, which was almost definitely pilfered from the refrigeration unit. Sigh. Oh well, she'd just make sure it was paid for by the end of the night, even if it meant docking that girl's pay.      Becca wasn't the senior employee, but she was close. That title belonged to an old man by the name of Rick. She wasn't sure if that was shortened from Richard or what, but it's what everyone called him, it was even the 'official' name embroidered on his work shirt. He would know what the thing still in her pocket was, and if he didn't he would keep it for anyone who might come back to claim it.      "Clean up on isle two. Clean up, isle two."      Sigh. Again? ***      It was only after closing, when the store was silent and the new-hire girls had gone home, that Becca remembered the thing in her pocket. Oh well, she'd ask Rick about it tomorrow.      She had worked the full day, opening at nine and then taking the evening shift for their third key when he called in sick. She honestly didn't mind, it wasn't like she had anything else to do anyway, and it gave her overtime, which she could probably use. The landlord had hiked up the rent again. If he raised it any more, she'd have to find a new place to live.      Becca turned the key in the lock and pulled on the handle to make sure it was secure before leaving for the night, and when she went to put her key away, her hand fell on the round, smooth object in her pocket. Curious, she pulled it out again and examined it. It was lighter than she thought a solid stone should be, so it must have been hollow. Maybe it really was just a toy, made to look like a stone when was really resin or something. She'd seen a lot of those around lately. A kid had brought into the store and lost it.      Behind the cheese danishes. Right. Oh well, it wasn't really her problem, was it? She'd return it, and that'd be the end of it. The thing slipped back into her pocket.      As she walked home, because she didn't own a car and lived close anyway she didn't mind the short walk, she rubbed her arms. It was really quite cold tonight. She should've brought a sweater. Ah, but she'd be home soon enough, and then her evening would consist of a tv dinner, and bed with a good book. She'd already forgotten about the thing in her pocket again by the time she rounded the last corner on her way home.      However, apparently she wasn't destined to reach her destination without incident. A stiff breeze kicked up, whipping her brown, shoulder length hair into her face and blowing all sorts of debris around. She hugged herself tighter, and stopped when she almost ran into a man standing in the middle of the sidewalk.      A suddenly as the wind had started, it died, leaving her shivering and looking at the dark figure before her. He was dressed all in black, a long trench coat or something, she thought. His hair was also black, and his skin looked pale, what she could see of it (his back was to her).      Her first thought of 'vampire' was followed quickly by her second thought of 'serial killer'. And then she shook her head slightly and tried to convince herself that he was just a random guy on his way home, like she was. But she couldn't go around him on the sidewalk because he didn't allow enough room on either side. She was just about to step into the street when she heard him speak.      His voice was soft and deep, and at first she didn't quite understand what he'd said. Feet? Seek? Couldn't be, those didn't make any sense.      When she didn't respond, he spoke again, and the word she definitely heard this time made even less sense. "Thief," he said, a little louder.      Still, Becca did not respond. Did someone steal something from him? Was he calling her a thief?      In the stunned silence following his second utterance, he rounded on her, eyes blazing with fury. "Thief!" he snarled, and grabbed her by the shoulders.      Becca gave a startled cry and squirmed in his grasp. The man's had a vice grip on her, and no amount of wriggling would get her any kind of free. She was going to die, she just knew it. He was going to drag her into some back alley and no one would know any better for two days, because she had tomorrow off work.      He didn't drag her into a back alley though, and he didn't hurt her. He just glared at her for a moment, his eyes dark and furious. And then he let her go and stood up straight. "Keep it, then. It is done, and cannot be undone. But thou may rue the day thou didst keep that which was not thine." His posture was stiff as he bowed and turned to leave.      Becca was rooted to the spot, wondering just what on earth had happened. Her hand unconsciously slipped into the pocket of her vest, and her fingers closed around the little stone they found there.