Chapter 5

   Lois remained behind in the apartment in Sun Down Estates. To say the least, she was furious! How dare her daughter and son-in-law treat her this way! She had to think of a way to get even with them and regain control. But what could she do? She had no skills other than scheming to get her way all the time. Just what scheme could she use to wrest the family power back to herself? She had no desire to actually go out to work. That would just be too embarrassing in front of her friends. She needed control of all the money and property so she could hold it over Debbie and Rick. To make them bow to her every whim. But where to start?

   Just as she was thinking on these matters, she spotted a pair of Jade Candle Sticks on a shelf. They had been the wedding gift to Debbie from Old Wilson 5 years ago. Old Wilson had given a wedding gift to Lois as well, but the jade pieces were especially given to Debbie because they had belonged to Rick's Mother and Father from their own wedding. Debbie had always cherished this gift, as she felt it was the only one she got at her wedding that had been given with sincerity. She knew how much Old Wilson doted on Rick.

   Lois' eyes lit up suddenly. She would sell the jade and start her campaign to undermine Debbie and Rick's relationship. With enough money behind her, she thought that she could lure some rich man to take an interest in her daughter. She thought that if she could come between them, it would drive Rick out of the family and lead to a divorce between them.  Then she could hand pick a new husband for Debbie. One who would never reprimand her and talk back. As she wrapped up the jade to go sell, she looked around the apartment for anything else of value she could get rid of. But the candle sticks seemed to be the only things of any real value that she could sell.

   What Lois did not realize was that the Jade Candle Sticks were actually very rare antiques from the Ting Dynasty. Any reputable dealer would recognise them instantly. These kind of treasures were listed in antique catalogues and with the names of their present owners.

   Lois was courting disaster and criminal charges if she went ahead with her insane plan. Not to mention the wrath of Debbie and Rick when they found out what she was trying to do. 

   Lois did not know nor did she care about any of this. She had made a plan and was going to stick to it. She would get rid of Rick no matter what she had to do! She thought to herself "You will never get the best of me Rick Green! I'll have you out of here soon enough!"

   At that moment, Rick and Debbie arrived back at the apartment. Lois had just stuffed the jade into her bag and said to Debbie "I'm going out. Don't wait up." Then she left the apartment in a hurry. 

   This behavior was a little unlike Lois, so Debbie was a bit concerned about her mother going out so late at night. She and Rick sat down in the living room and were talking about all that had happened tonight, when Rick suddenly asked Debbie "Where are the Jade Candle Sticks that Old Wilson gave you as a wedding present?" He had just noticed that they were no longer on the shelf.

   Debbie looked up at the shelf and it was like a lightbulb went off. She said:

   "MOM!"

   Rick and Debbie looked astounded at each other. Could Lois really have taken the jade pieces to sell? This was just an intolerable situation. They decided to go and find Lois before she did something very foolish that they would not be able to get her out of. As they rushed out of the door they looked all around for any sign of Lois. Rick finally saw her just up the road walking towards the local stalls.

    Debbie and Rick hurried to catch up to her before she could enter the shopping mall. Just as they were about to reach Lois, Lois turned into a shop that bought and sold antiques.

   Debbie tapped Lois on the shoulder and said "Mom, what do you think you are doing here?"

   Lois spat out "Leave me alone! I know what I am doing. This is for your own good."

   Debbie was agast as she saw her mother pull out the Jade Candle Sticks and place them on the counter for the clerk to appraise. The clerk looked stunned as he gazed on this priceless pair of Jade Candle Sticks. Was this woman trying to trap him? Did she really know what she had presented to him to buy?

   "Mom, I forbid you from selling my wedding gift!" Debbie was really starting to get mad now. How dare her mother try to sell her things like this.

   Lois was not listening anymore. Her goal was to sell the jade and start to acquire enough money to get rid of Rick from her house. She convinced herself that Debbie would thank her in the end.

   As the counter clerk examined the Jade Candle Sticks, he got out the catalogue of jade antiques that was kept behind the counter. When he saw the Jade Candle Sticks in the catalogue he called out to the shop owner, Mr. Wu. Mr. Wu was in his office going over the books when the counter clerk called him to the front of the shop.

   "Mr. Wu, this lady wants to sell this set of Jade Candle Sticks. I thought it best to have you take a look at them first." The clerk was a bit hesitant when dealing with this customer.

   Mr. Wu studied the pieces carefully before cross referencing with the book of Antique Jade Artifacts. Seeing them listed and the rightful owner's named. he looked at Lois accusingly. He said to her "And what is your name Madame?"

   Lois was getting a little nervous at this time. Why couldn't they just pay her for the pieces and be done with it all? She looked at Mr. Wu and scoffed "What difference does that make who I am? Do you want to buy them or not? I'm in a hurry and don't have all night!"

   Mr. Wu said very formally to Lois " These peices of Jade Candle Sticks are listed in the Offical Book of Antique Jade Artifacts with the current owner's name. They are valued at over $5 million. If you are not the current owner, I must assume that you have stolen them and will have to summon the police to investigate this matter."

   Lois was dumbfounded! Of all that Mr. Wu had just said, all she heard was $5 million! And they had just been sitting on a shelf for the past 5 years? Now she had to get them sold! Debbie would be pleased later if Lois could get such a high price for them and work towards securing a better husband for her daughter. Or so Lois thought. Debbie was having none of it.

   "Mom, I will say again, you will not sell my wedding gift! Remember that I am the listed owner of the Jade Candle Sticks and I do not consent to having them sold. If you try to sell them, the police will come. Is that what you want?" Debbie was almost bawling from the hurt her mother was trying to inflict on her. Rick was standing by, his phone in his hand as he texted Old Wilson. He would know what to do. This Lois had gone batty! 

   Lois ignored Debbie and shouted at Mr. Wu "Are you going to buy them or not?"

   Mr. Wu looked down disdainfully at Lois and said " Madame, after I put out a notice on the web, no reputable dealer will buy them from you. If they did, it would be against the law. No reputable dealer would risk that! Our reputation is everything in this business, and here you are asking me to risk mine for the sake of your own greediness!"

   Mr. Wu still held the Jade pieces in his hands and Lois reached out to grab them back from him. Mr. Wu took a step back to avoid her reach.

   At that moment, Old Wilson entered the shop followed by several police officers. Old Wilson did not utter a word, but defered to the officers to take control. The Lead Detective approarched the counter and spoke directly to Mr. Wu. "Sir, just what is going on here tonight?"