Chapter 4: The Necklace in the Suitcase
Nobody moved until two officers entered the room.
Victoria met them halfway and pointed toward Elena as if the decision had already been made.
“My necklace is missing, and that woman refused to cooperate.”
Elena looked at Julian.
“Tell them how the case reached my room.”
Julian swallowed.
“I put it there.”
One officer took out a notebook.
“You placed the missing property in your wife’s room?”
“I placed a case there.
Mother said it was empty.”
Victoria pressed a hand to her chest.
“Listen to him.
He will say anything to protect her.”
“You told me it was empty,” Julian repeated.
“I told you no such thing.”
The second officer turned toward Elena.
“May we examine the suitcase?”
“Yes, but I want Ms.
Price present.”
Delia nodded.
“And the examination must be recorded.”
Marcus raised his tablet.
“The security system is already saving the room feed.”
Victoria’s eyes flicked toward him.
“You work for me.”
“I work for the estate,” Marcus said.
“Not for whoever shouts the loudest.”
They went upstairs together.
Elena remained beside Delia while the officer opened the suitcase on a bench at the foot of the bed.
A velvet case rested beneath Elena’s folded shawl.
Victoria pointed.
“There!
I told you.”
The officer opened it.
A diamond necklace caught the light.
Julian stepped back until his shoulders touched the wall.
Elena looked at him.
“Was that inside the case when you carried it upstairs?”
“I didn’t open it.”
“You were willing to hide something in my suitcase without looking?”
“I thought Mother was trying to scare you into talking.”
“Into surrendering my home.”
Victoria reached for the necklace, but the officer closed the case.
“It stays with us until ownership is verified.”
“I can verify it,” Victoria said.
“It has been in my family for eighty years.”
Delia removed a photograph from her folder.
“Then perhaps you can explain this.”
Victoria did not take it.
Father held the photograph where everyone could see.
It showed the same necklace beside a jeweler’s measuring scale.
“What is that?” Julian asked.
“A sales record,” Delia said.
“The original necklace was sold six weeks ago.”
“That is a lie,” Victoria replied.
“The clasp carries a numbered maker’s mark.
The necklace in this photograph is the original.”
Victoria pointed at Elena.
“Then she must have taken it weeks ago and replaced it.”
Elena’s voice remained steady.
“I had never entered your study until tonight.”
“You have been in this house dozens of times.”
“Never alone.”
Julian moved closer to the photograph.
“Who sold it?”
Delia turned the page over.
“The jeweler required identification and a signature.”
Victoria reached for the photograph.
Delia drew it back.
“Give me that.”
“It is a certified copy.”
“You have no right to my financial records.”
Father stepped between them.
“You were happy to empty Elena’s pockets before a room full of guests.”
Victoria’s jaw tightened.
“This family’s property is none of your concern.”
“It became our concern when you placed a copy in my daughter’s suitcase.”
The officer looked at Delia.
“You believe the necklace we found is not genuine?”
“A preliminary valuation from an independent expert says it is worth less than two hundred dollars.”
Victoria laughed sharply.
“Your expert examined it without possessing it?”
“He examined the purchase invoice.”
Julian stared at his mother.
“You bought a copy?”
“You are letting them confuse you.”
“No.
I remember the clasp.
The original had a tiny emerald beside the lock.
This one doesn’t.”
Victoria moved toward the door.
“I will discuss this with my solicitor.”
The officer blocked her path with one arm.
“Please remain until we finish taking statements.”
Delia handed Julian the certified sales record.
His eyes moved to the signature at the bottom.
Elena watched his face lose what little color remained.
“What does it say?” she asked.
Julian’s hand began to shake.
May you like
Delia answered for him.
“The original necklace was sold under Julian’s name.”
