Chapter 7: The Empty Display
Grace spun around.
The cream jewelry bust stood beneath the chandelier.
The necklace was gone.
For one stunned second, nobody moved.
Then the ballroom exploded.
Guests shouted. Chairs scraped across marble. Someone screamed that the doors were locked.
A police officer ran toward the display.
“Everybody stay where you are!””
Grace stared at the empty bust.
It had happened in seconds.
She looked at Michael.
He was already scanning the room.
Richard turned toward Evelyn.
“Where is it?””
Evelyn's eyes widened.
“I don't have it.””
Richard stepped closer.
“You were standing beside it.””
“So were half the people in this room!””
Laura raised her voice.
“Nobody leaves.””
One officer moved toward the ballroom doors.
Another began checking guests.
Grace's heart pounded.
She looked at the display.
Then at the floor.
Nothing.
No broken glass.
No dropped clasp.
No trace of the necklace.
Daniel suddenly spoke.
“Check the auction table.””
The officer searched beneath the tablecloth.
Nothing.
“Check the curtains.””
Nothing.
Grace walked toward the bust.
She crouched.
There was a tiny scratch in the marble beneath it.
She touched it.
Fresh.
A thin line of dark residue came away on her fingertip.
“Someone moved this.””
Richard came closer.
“What?””
“The display.””
Grace pointed.
“It was rotated.””
Richard stared.
“How do you know?””
“The spotlight was centered on the necklace before.””
She looked up.
“Now it's aimed three inches to the left.””
Laura's eyes narrowed.
“Which means?””
“Someone turned the bust.””
Grace stood.
“Probably before taking the necklace.””
Daniel suddenly looked toward the ceiling.
“The cameras.””
Richard's expression changed.
“Security room.””
He started walking.
The police followed.
Grace, Michael, Laura, and Evelyn went after them.
They entered a private corridor behind the ballroom.
The music became muffled.
Richard pushed open a steel door.
Inside, monitors covered one wall.
A security guard sat frozen in his chair.
“Pull up the ballroom feed,” Richard ordered.
The guard typed quickly.
The footage appeared.
Guests mingled around the display.
Evelyn stood beside the necklace.
Grace entered the frame.
Then Evelyn slapped her hand away.
The argument played out silently.
Richard leaned closer.
“Go back.””
The guard rewound.
Grace watched herself approach the necklace.
Then something caught her eye.
“Stop.””
The screen froze.
A waiter stood behind the display.
Black vest.
White shirt.
Silver serving tray.
Grace pointed.
“That man.””
Richard frowned.
“That isn't one of my regular staff.””
The guard zoomed in.
The man's face remained partially hidden.
Michael leaned closer.
“I know him.””
Everyone turned.
“Who?”” Grace asked.
Michael's eyes narrowed.
“He worked for Victoria.””
Evelyn went completely still.
Richard looked at her.
“You know him?””
She didn't answer.
Grace noticed.
“You know him.””
Evelyn's voice was barely audible.
“He's dead.””
Michael shook his head.
“No.””
“He died twelve years ago.””
“He disappeared.””
“That man is not him.””
The guard suddenly rewound another few seconds.
A figure passed behind the curtains.
Grace pointed.
“Wait.””
The image froze again.
A woman's hand emerged from behind the curtain.
There was a distinctive emerald ring on one finger.
Grace looked at Evelyn's hand.
The same ring.
Evelyn instinctively covered it.
The officer noticed.
“Ma'am, may I see your hand?””
“No.””
“Please.””
“I said no.””
The officer reached for her wrist.
Evelyn jerked backward.
The ring flew from her finger.
It hit the floor.
Grace bent down and picked it up.
Something was engraved inside.
*V.W.*
Grace stared.
“Victoria Whitmore.””
Evelyn's face collapsed.
Michael stepped forward.
“You kept her ring.””
Evelyn whispered, “She gave it to me.””
“Why?””
“She knew she was dying.””
Michael's voice hardened.
“She trusted you.””
“I was her sister!””
“And you betrayed her.””
Evelyn suddenly looked at Grace.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“Victoria didn't die naturally.””
The room went silent.
Grace felt the air leave her lungs.
“What?””
Evelyn swallowed.
“She was poisoned.””
Michael froze.
Richard whispered, “Evelyn…”
“You knew?”” Grace demanded.
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
Evelyn laughed bitterly.
“Of course you didn't.””
She looked at Grace.
“Victoria discovered that someone had been moving money out of the family accounts.””
Grace stared.
“Who?””
Evelyn didn't answer.
The security guard suddenly shouted.
“Wait!””
Everyone turned.
He had found another camera angle.
A second monitor showed the ballroom side entrance.
A woman in a black dress slipped through a service door.
Her face was visible for only a second.
Grace recognized her.
She had seen her earlier tonight.
The elderly woman who had gone pale when Grace mentioned Margaret.
Grace pointed.
“Who is she?””
Richard's expression changed.
“That's Helen Whitmore.””
Michael stared.
“She's Victoria's mother.””
Grace's eyes widened.
“She's alive?””
Richard nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
The screen showed Helen entering a private corridor.
Then the feed went black.
The guard frowned.
“The camera was disabled.””
Laura looked at Grace.
“When?””
The guard checked the timestamp.
“Thirty seconds ago.””
Grace's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
She opened the message.
*If you want the necklace back, come to the old conservatory alone.*
A second message appeared.
*And bring the original birth certificate.*
Grace stared at the screen.
Michael saw her expression.
“What happened?””
Grace slowly locked her phone.
“Someone wants to meet me.””
“Who?””
May you like
Grace looked toward the dark hallway.
“I think I know.””
