Excerpt from The Big Steal by Emyl Jenkins, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

Michelle pointed to her watch. "You'd better hurry. Houseman doesn't allow for lateness."

"Me?"

What to do? I swooped up the papers with every intention of putting them in the open box. Michelle had started toward the steps. With her back turned, did I dare slip some of them in the zip-up binder I had with me so I could take notes? Just one or two, maybe.

Opportunity makes the thief, Mother scolded. One thief in this place is enough.

I hesitated, but only momentarily. What's an appraiser to do? Evidence, I thought.

Excerpted from The Big Steal by Emyl Jenkins. Copyright © 2009 by Emyl Jenkins. Excerpted by permission of Algonquin Books, a division of Workman Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.