Chapter 7 - The Setup
The screaming started at 7:00 AM.
Beatrice Sterling, who had been tentatively allowed back into the estate on the strict condition of absolute civility, was standing in the grand foyer, completely hysterical.
"It's gone! My grandmother's diamond parure! The necklace is gone!"
Alexander rushed down the stairs, tying his robe. "Mother, calm down. What are you talking about?"
"The safe in the guest suite was breached. The diamonds are missing. Ten million dollars, Alexander! Gone!"
The estate was immediately locked down. No one was allowed in or out. Alexander’s private security team began a methodical sweep of the house. Elena stood by the stairs, holding Lily, a cold dread washing over her. She knew how these things went. When something went missing, the help was always blamed first.
Ten minutes later, the head of security walked into the foyer, his face grim. He was holding a velvet box.
"We found it, sir," the security chief said, looking uncomfortably at Elena.
"Where?" Alexander demanded.
"Wrapped in a sweater, shoved into the back of the closet in the East Wing master suite. Under Ms. Elena's belongings."
Beatrice let out a theatrical gasp. "I knew it! Once a thief, always a thief! She’s trying to rob us blind!"
Elena felt the room spinning. "No! I swear to you, Alexander, I have never seen that box in my life! Someone put it there!"
The silence that followed was agonizing. Alexander looked at the velvet box, then at his mother, and finally at Elena. The evidence was damning. It was the oldest trick in the book, the most cliché setup in high-society history.
"Call the police," Beatrice demanded. "Have her arrested!"
Alexander looked into Elena's eyes. He saw panic, fear, but absolute, undeniable innocence. He thought about the five years she had worked in his house. She had access to his watches, his loose cash, his expensive art. She had never taken a single dime.
"Nobody is calling the police," Alexander said, his voice slicing through the room like a blade.
May you like
"Are you blind?!" Beatrice shrieked.
"No, Mother. I'm finally seeing clearly." Alexander turned to his security chief. "Review the internal security footage from the East Wing hallway for the last 48 hours. I want to know exactly who went into that room."
