Chapter 1 - THE BROOCH IN HER POCKET
“Emily… what are you hiding in your pocket?”
Victor Bennett’s voice carried farther than it needed to.
The ballroom went silent.
Emily stood beneath the chandeliers, surrounded by hundreds of strangers, with one hand pressed against the pocket of her small jacket.
“I’m not hiding anything.”
Her voice barely carried.
Victor tilted his head.
“Then you won’t mind showing us.”
Rachel was already moving.
“Get away from my daughter.”
Heads turned.
Rachel crossed the ballroom quickly, ignoring Claire Morgan as she tried to step in front of her.
“Mrs. Bennett, security is handling—”
“Move.”
Something in Rachel’s voice made Claire obey.
Rachel reached Emily just as Owen Price, the hotel’s head of security, approached.
Emily grabbed her mother’s hand.
“Mom.”
“I’m here.”
“I didn’t take anything.”
Rachel looked directly into her daughter’s eyes.
“I know.”
Victor sighed.
“Rachel, nobody is accusing her yet.”
“Then stop speaking like you are.”
A murmur moved through the crowd.
Victor’s expression remained calm.
“We’re missing Mother’s ruby brooch.”
Rachel stared at him.
The brooch was famous within the Bennett family.
Victor’s mother had worn it at nearly every major family event for twenty years.
It was worth almost two hundred thousand dollars.
More importantly, it carried enormous sentimental value.
Victor looked toward Emily’s pocket.
“I simply noticed she seemed uncomfortable.”
Emily suddenly spoke.
“He put something in there.”
Silence.
Victor blinked.
“What?”
Emily pointed at him.
“You did.”
Several guests exchanged looks.
Victor gave a small laugh.
“Emily, sweetheart, I think you’re confused.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re upset.”
“You put it in my pocket.”
Rachel’s blood went cold.
She turned to Victor.
“Did you touch my daughter?”
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“Careful.”
“No.”
Rachel stepped closer.
“You be careful.”
Owen Price raised one hand.
“Everyone, please stay calm.”
Then he crouched several feet away from Emily rather than approaching her.
“Emily, may I ask you something?”
She nodded.
“Would you feel comfortable checking your own pocket?”
Emily looked at Rachel.
Rachel squeezed her hand.
“It’s okay.”
Slowly, Emily reached inside.
Her fingers closed around something.
She pulled it out.
Gasps erupted.
The ruby-and-diamond brooch glittered beneath the chandeliers.
Victor closed his eyes briefly, as if disappointed.
“Oh, Emily.”
Rachel turned on him.
“Don’t.”
Victor ignored her.
“Why would you take that?”
“I didn’t!”
Emily’s voice cracked.
“You gave it to me!”
Victor looked around the ballroom.
“I haven’t been alone with Emily all evening.”
“Yes, you have,” Emily said.
“No.”
“You told me it was a game.”
Rachel saw it then.
Victor wasn’t surprised.
Not even slightly.
He had expected every second of this.
And suddenly Thomas Reed’s warning returned to her.
No matter what happens tonight, don’t leave the hotel early.
Rachel looked toward the service corridor.
Thomas was gone.
Victor stepped closer to Owen.
“This is obviously a family matter.”
“No,” Rachel said.
Victor turned.
“What?”
“You made it public.”
Rachel took the brooch from Emily and handed it to Owen.
“You stopped the orchestra.”
“You brought security.”
“You accused an eight-year-old girl in front of two hundred people.”
“So now we handle it publicly.”
For the first time, Victor’s composure slipped.
Only slightly.
But Rachel saw it.
“Rachel.”
She looked toward the ceiling.
At the cameras.
“I want the security footage.”
Owen hesitated.
Victor immediately answered for him.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Rachel slowly turned toward her brother-in-law.
May you like
And smiled without warmth.
“That’s the first thing you’ve said tonight that makes me absolutely certain it is.”
