Chapter 2 - THE SECOND ACCUSATION
Two uniformed officers entered the ballroom with Detective Samuel Mason behind them.
Detective Mason was tall, gray-haired, and known throughout the county for never raising his voice.
That made his presence more intimidating.
Victoria hurried toward him.
“Detective, thank God you are here.”
“Elena has been stealing from our family.”
Mason looked at the necklace on the floor.
“I was told there was evidence of theft.”
“There is.”
Elena pointed toward the television.
“The evidence shows Victoria planting the necklace in my suitcase.”
Mason watched the final seconds of the recording.
His expression did not change.
Victoria folded her arms.
“That footage was manipulated.”
Mason turned toward her.
“Did you enter Mrs. Hartley’s bedroom?”
“I went inside because I suspected her.”
“With the missing necklace in your hand?”
Victoria opened her mouth but did not answer.
Adrian stepped forward.
“Detective, my sister needs to leave.”
Mason looked at Adrian.
“I am afraid no one is leaving yet.”
He reached into his coat and removed a sealed evidence bag.
Inside it was a small gold key.
Elena recognized it immediately.
“That is the key to my grandmother’s private vault.”
Mason nodded.
“It was recovered this morning from the apartment of a jewelry dealer named Marcus Bell.”
Elena felt the floor shift beneath her.
Marcus Bell had worked with the Hartley family for more than twenty years.
He appraised their jewelry and handled private auctions.
Mason continued.
“Mr. Bell claims Mrs. Elena Hartley gave him the key.”
“That is a lie.”
“He also claims you asked him to sell several pieces from the Hartley collection.”
Victoria smiled.
“You see?”
“The necklace is only the beginning.”
Elena looked at Adrian.
“Did you know about this?”
Adrian shook his head too quickly.
“No.”
Mason placed another evidence bag on a nearby table.
It contained a handwritten note.
The note instructed Marcus to open the vault and remove three specific items.
The signature at the bottom looked exactly like Elena’s.
Mason faced her.
“Is that your signature?”
Elena examined the writing.
“It looks like mine, but I did not write it.”
Victoria whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“How convenient.”
Mason raised one hand.
“I will need access to the vault.”
Elena agreed.
The guests remained in the ballroom while Elena, Adrian, Victoria, and the detective crossed the west hallway.
The vault was hidden behind a painting in Elena’s grandmother’s study.
Elena entered the security code.
The steel door opened.
Several velvet boxes were empty.
A century-old ruby bracelet was gone.
Two emerald rings had disappeared.
So had a sealed envelope Elena’s grandmother had ordered never to be opened before her death anniversary.
Mason looked inside the vault.
“When was the last time you checked these items?”
“Four days ago.”
Victoria leaned against the doorway.
“Tell him what was inside the envelope, Elena.”
Elena turned slowly.
“I never knew.”
Victoria’s eyes gleamed.
May you like
“I did.”
“The envelope contained the document proving this estate never belonged to you.”
