Chapter 4 - TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO VANISH
The foyer had emptied of most guests by midnight.
Daniel had asked everyone to leave after giving their names and contact information to security.
Rumors were already spreading.
But for once, he did not care about rumors.
Vanessa sat in the formal drawing room.
Margaret sat across from her.
Emily remained near the doorway with Daniel.
A small white envelope rested on the coffee table.
Emily had retrieved it from her locker.
Inside were one hundred crisp hundred-dollar bills.
Ten thousand dollars.
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“You offered her this?”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“I offered her severance.”
Emily immediately answered.
“You told me to leave the state.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“You misunderstood.”
“You gave me a bus schedule.”
Daniel’s eyes shifted to Vanessa.
Emily continued.
“You told me there was a bus leaving for Atlanta at four thirty.”
“You said I could be gone before the party started.”
Margaret spoke quickly.
“This is becoming ridiculous.”
Daniel looked at his mother.
“Why are you defending her?”
Margaret’s mouth tightened.
“Because this family is being humiliated in front of an employee.”
Emily flinched.
Daniel did not.
“No.”
He pointed toward the frozen CCTV image still visible on the foyer television.
“This family was humiliated by someone planting stolen jewelry.”
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“I didn’t steal the necklace.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You put it in Emily’s bag.”
“It belonged to your mother.”
Margaret’s eyes flickered.
Daniel noticed.
He walked closer to the table.
“Mother, when did you discover the necklace was missing?”
Margaret hesitated.
“Tonight.”
“What time?”
“I don’t know.”
“Before or after Vanessa touched Emily’s bag?”
Margaret said nothing.
Daniel’s face hardened.
Emily understood before he said it.
The accusation had required two people.
One person to plant the necklace.
Another to announce that it was missing.
Daniel turned toward Margaret.
“You knew.”
Margaret rose.
“Be careful.”
“No.”
Daniel’s voice stayed calm.
“You be careful.”
He picked up the necklace from the evidence box security had prepared.
“Did Vanessa take this without your knowledge?”
Margaret’s silence answered him.
Vanessa stepped toward her.
“Margaret.”
Daniel looked between them.
“You planned it together.”
Margaret’s composure finally cracked.
“We planned to remove a problem.”
Emily felt as though she had been pushed backward without anyone touching her.
“A problem?”
Margaret looked directly at her.
“You listen at doors.”
“You touch documents that are not yours.”
“You forget your position.”
Daniel moved between them.
“Her position?”
Margaret looked at her son.
“She is staff.”
Daniel’s answer came instantly.
“She is also the person you tried to frame for theft.”
Margaret looked away.
That was when security returned with Evan Cole.
The young technician looked terrified.
Daniel placed the ten-thousand-dollar envelope beside him.
“Tell me why you deleted the hallway recordings.”
Evan stared at Vanessa.
Vanessa slowly shook her head.
It was the smallest movement.
But Daniel saw it.
So did Evan.
And suddenly Evan understood that Vanessa was still trying to control him.
Daniel leaned forward.
“If you lie now, the cameras will prove that too.”
Evan’s shoulders dropped.
“She paid me.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Daniel asked the only question that mattered.
“What else did she pay you to erase?”
May you like
Evan looked toward the security office.
“More than you know.”
