Chapter Four: The Woman with the Swan Brooch
Emily barely slept after meeting Richard.
The image of the blurred woman wearing the diamond swan brooch replayed endlessly in her mind. She had seen that brooch before. She was certain of it.
The next morning, Detective Daniel Brooks arrived at Olivia Mercer's estate in Beverly Hills with a search warrant.
Olivia greeted him with a polished smile.
"This is unexpected."
"I'm investigating the theft of Victoria Hayes' family bracelet."
Her smile barely moved.
"I heard about the poor assistant."
"You know Emily Carter?"
"We've met."
Brooks studied her face.
"You attended the Hayes Foundation Gala?"
"Of course."
"Were you upstairs around eight-eighteen that evening?"
Olivia laughed softly.
"I spent most of the evening speaking with donors."
Brooks produced the surveillance still.
"The woman in this photograph is wearing a diamond swan brooch."
Olivia's expression froze for only a fraction of a second.
Then she smiled again.
"I own several brooches."
"May I see this one?"
"It's being repaired."
"A receipt?"
"My jeweler hasn't finished."
Brooks nodded politely.
"I'll verify that."
After he left, Olivia closed the front door and immediately picked up her phone.
"They're getting closer."
A calm male voice answered.
"Stay composed."
"The detective has the footage."
"It's blurry."
"He knows about the brooch."
Silence.
Finally the man said,
"Then we'll give him someone else to chase."
Meanwhile, Victoria sat alone in her mother's sunroom.
Margaret quietly entered carrying an old leather photo album.
"I thought you should have this."
Victoria opened it.
Photographs from birthdays.
Christmas mornings.
Wedding anniversaries.
Then one picture caught her attention.
Her mother stood beside three young women.
Victoria.
Olivia.
And another cousin—Grace Mercer.
All three wore matching bracelets.
Victoria frowned.
"Where are these?"
Margaret smiled sadly.
"Your mother had replicas made years ago."
Victoria looked up.
"Replicas?"
"Only one was authentic."
"The others?"
"Worth almost nothing."
Victoria's heart skipped.
If replicas existed...
Had the thief stolen the wrong bracelet?
Across town, Emily visited the charity office to collect personal belongings.
Most employees avoided eye contact.
A few whispered.
One person didn't.
Jacob Miller, the foundation's IT director.
"I'm glad you're back."
Emily smiled weakly.
"I'm not really back."
Jacob lowered his voice.
"I found something."
Emily looked around.
"What?"
"The security server."
She frowned.
"I thought police had it."
"They copied everything."
He pulled out a flash drive.
"I made my own backup before they arrived."
Emily stared.
"You weren't supposed to do that."
"I know."
"What did you find?"
Jacob hesitated.
"Someone logged into the camera system twenty-three minutes before the gala began."
Emily frowned.
"Who?"
"The login used Victoria's administrator password."
"But Victoria doesn't even know how to use that software."
"Exactly."
That evening Brooks reviewed Jacob's files.
One login.
One deleted recording.
One administrator password.
Then another detail appeared.
The login originated from inside the mansion.
Specifically...
Victoria's private office.
Brooks leaned back.
Either Victoria had deleted her own footage...
Or someone with unrestricted access had used her office before the party began.
Olivia arrived at an underground parking garage just after midnight.
A black luxury sedan waited with its headlights off.
She climbed inside.
The driver never turned toward her.
"Did you move it?"
The man nodded.
"No one will find it."
Olivia looked relieved.
"What about Emily?"
"She's remembering too much."
"You promised she'd take the blame."
"I said she would."
The man smiled faintly.
"I never promised it would last forever."
Olivia slowly turned.
For the first time...
She realized she wasn't speaking to a partner.
May you like
She was speaking to someone willing to sacrifice anyone.
Including her.
