Chapter 3 - THE CAMERA THEY MISSED
Brenda recovered quickly.
“Because Margaret asked me to check it.”
Andrew watched her carefully.
“She asked you?”
“Yes.”
Brenda folded her arms.
“She wanted proof Mariana stole the necklace.”
Margaret entered before Andrew could respond.
“That is exactly what happened.”
She placed the velvet jewelry box on the desk.
“Mariana humiliated us.”
Andrew looked between the two women.
Something about their timing bothered him.
But anger was easier than suspicion.
He opened his laptop and contacted the security company.
The main camera file had been erased at 1:48 a.m.
Andrew demanded a recovery.
The technician hesitated.
“There’s another issue, sir.”
“What issue?”
“The primary footage was deleted.”
“But the estate system backs up motion events to an independent server.”
Andrew sat forward.
“Then restore it.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
The technician paused.
“Your access has been revoked.”
Andrew’s face hardened.
“By whom?”
“Property owner authorization.”
Andrew almost laughed.
“I am the property owner.”
The technician said nothing.
Across Manhattan, Evelyn Cross placed a tablet in front of Mariana.
The backup video played.
At 8:41 p.m., Brenda entered Margaret’s dressing room.
She looked over her shoulder.
Opened the jewelry case.
Removed the emerald necklace.
At 8:47, she walked downstairs.
At 8:51, she slipped the necklace into Mariana’s brown leather purse.
At 9:03, Margaret publicly announced that the necklace was missing.
At 9:07, Brenda suggested searching Mariana’s belongings.
The video ended.
Rafael looked disgusted.
“They framed you.”
Mariana stared at the frozen image of Brenda’s hand inside her purse.
“Yes.”
Evelyn leaned forward.
“We can send this directly to the police.”
Mariana was silent.
She was thinking about something else.
“Go back.”
Evelyn rewound the footage.
“Stop there.”
The screen froze at 8:44.
Brenda was leaving Margaret’s dressing room.
A man stood partially visible in the mirror behind her.
Dark suit.
Silver cuff links.
Mariana recognized them immediately.
Andrew.
Her stomach tightened.
Rafael saw her expression.
“He knew?”
“I don’t know.”
Mariana zoomed in.
Andrew was standing inside the room while Brenda held the necklace.
Maybe he had seen everything.
Maybe he had seen nothing.
But then another camera angle loaded.
Andrew stepped toward Brenda.
Brenda handed him the necklace.
Andrew examined it.
Then returned it to her.
Mariana felt something colder than heartbreak settle inside her.
The slap had not been an impulsive mistake.
The accusation had not surprised him.
Andrew had known the necklace was in Brenda’s hands before he demanded Mariana kneel.
And the video contained one more detail.
Before leaving the room, Andrew looked directly toward Brenda and said something.
The camera had no audio.
May you like
But Mariana could read his lips.
“Make sure she signs tomorrow.”
