Chapter 2 - THE QUESTIONS BEGIN
Richard stood in the center of the living room with the bracelet in his hand.
No one moved.
The house had suddenly become silent.
Even the grandfather clock in the hallway seemed louder than usual.
Evelyn crossed her arms.
“Richard, you're making a ridiculous situation bigger than it is.”
He looked at her.
“Then you shouldn't have a problem answering a few questions.”
“What questions?”
“Where did you first see the bracelet?”
“I told you. In Clara's bag.”
“Did you touch the bag before tonight?”
“No.”
Richard nodded.
Then he looked at Clara.
“When did you last open your handbag?”
“This afternoon.”
“Where were you?”
“In the library.”
“Who was there?”
“Nobody.”
Evelyn interrupted.
“She could have taken it earlier.”
Richard looked at her.
“I'll decide what happened.”
The sentence was quiet.
But Evelyn understood the warning.
She looked away.
Richard turned toward the security supervisor.
“Bring up the hallway cameras.”
The supervisor hesitated.
“Mr. Vance, the east-wing cameras have been offline since yesterday.”
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Offline?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Why wasn't I told?”
“There was a maintenance issue.”
“Who authorized the maintenance?”
The supervisor swallowed.
“Mrs. Evelyn.”
Every face turned toward Evelyn.
She immediately responded.
“Because the system was malfunctioning.”
Richard stared at her.
“For how long?”
“Two days.”
“Convenient.”
Evelyn's face reddened.
“You're accusing me?”
“I'm investigating.”
“I am your wife.”
“And Clara is my daughter.”
The room became still.
Clara looked at her father.
For years, she had quietly wondered whether he would ever stand up for her.
Tonight, he finally had.
Richard handed the bracelet to the security supervisor.
“Don't put it back.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And bring me every available recording from the west wing.”
The supervisor nodded and left.
Evelyn approached Richard.
“You're embarrassing me in front of the staff.”
“No.”
He looked at her calmly.
“Someone embarrassed themselves.”
She stared at him.
“I don't understand why you're suddenly treating me like a criminal.”
Richard's expression changed slightly.
“Because you are behaving like someone who has something to hide.”
Evelyn took a step back.
Clara watched her.
For the first time, the accusations had shifted direction.
Evelyn suddenly looked toward the front door.
Two security guards stood there.
Then she looked at the windows.
Locked.
The house was sealed.
Richard had made one thing very clear.
No one was leaving.
A few minutes later, the security supervisor returned.
“We found something.”
Richard walked toward the monitor.
The footage showed the hallway outside the guest room.
At 6:42 p.m., Evelyn entered.
She was carrying nothing.
At 6:47, she left.
But she wasn't alone.
She carried a small black jewelry box.
Richard stared.
Evelyn's face went pale.
“What is that?”
She said nothing.
Richard turned the footage forward.
At 6:49, Clara entered the hallway.
She was carrying her handbag.
She never went near Evelyn.
At 6:51, Evelyn re-entered.
This time, she was holding Clara's bag.
Clara covered her mouth.
“I never gave you my bag.”
Richard looked at Evelyn.
“You said you never touched it.”
Evelyn didn't answer.
The security supervisor paused the footage.
Richard's voice became colder.
“Play the next minute.”
The footage continued.
Evelyn opened Clara's handbag.
She looked around.
Then she removed something from her pocket.
A small velvet pouch.
She placed it inside the bag.
Clara stared at the screen.
“That was the bracelet.”
Evelyn suddenly shouted:
“The footage is incomplete!”
Richard looked at her.
“Perhaps.”
“Someone could have edited it.”
“I thought you said the cameras were broken.”
Silence.
The contradiction landed heavily.
Richard turned toward Clara.
“Don't say anything yet.”
Then he looked at the security team.
“Preserve every frame.”
“Yes, sir.”
Evelyn stepped backward.
“Richard, listen to me.”
He didn't move.
“I can explain.”
“I hope you can.”
He picked up his phone.
“Call the attorney.”
Evelyn's face changed.
“Why?”
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“Because we're past the point where family arguments are enough.”
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