Chapter 8 - The Vault
Julian’s security team reached the bank before the police.
Sarah arrived with him despite every argument that she should remain somewhere safe.
The vault corridor was locked down.
A woman had entered using a forged identification card bearing Margaret’s name.
She disappeared six minutes before security received the warning.
The private box had been emptied.
Or so everyone thought.
Margaret examined the compartment.
Then she smiled faintly.
“They took the decoy folder.”
Julian stared at her.
“You made a decoy?”
“I worked for your father for twenty-eight years.”
Margaret tapped the underside of the metal box.
A hidden panel opened.
Inside was a thin envelope.
Sarah almost laughed from relief.
Margaret handed it to Julian.
The original trust certificate was there.
So was the hospital notification declaring Leo deceased.
And attached to the back was something nobody expected.
A handwritten note.
Henry,
Make sure the child never reaches the trust.
Once Julian marries Victoria, the Sterling votes will be protected.
C.S.
Julian stared at the initials.
“Conrad Sterling.”
Sarah felt the pieces locking together.
Conrad had not merely protected his daughter.
He had designed the plan.
Victoria had carried it out.
Julian called Marcus.
“Contact the district attorney.”
Sarah thought the nightmare might finally be ending.
Then Marcus called back thirty minutes later.
His voice was grim.
“The Sterlings are moving first.”
“What does that mean?”
“They filed a criminal complaint against Sarah.”
Sarah stared at Julian.
“For what?”
“Grand theft.”
She almost laughed.
Then Marcus explained.
Victoria’s diamond bracelet, valued at nine hundred thousand dollars, had supposedly disappeared during the gala.
Security footage showed Sarah entering Victoria’s private dressing room earlier that evening.
Sarah remembered going inside.
Her supervisor had ordered her to clean spilled champagne.
Marcus continued.
“Police received an anonymous video.”
Julian’s expression hardened.
“What video?”
A clip arrived on his phone.
Sarah watched herself walk into Victoria’s dressing room.
Three minutes later, she walked out.
Then the angle changed.
A woman wearing a maid’s uniform appeared to slip something glittering into Sarah’s work bag.
The face was hidden.
Sarah whispered.
“They planted it.”
Julian looked at her.
“Where is your work bag?”
Sarah froze.
She had left it in the hotel employee locker room.
Marcus called security immediately.
It was too late.
May you like
Police had already opened Sarah’s locker.
Inside her bag was Victoria Sterling’s missing diamond bracelet.
