Chapter 3: The Second Woman They Framed
The security director enlarged the image.
A silver brooch appeared on the lapel of the coat.
“That belongs to Miriam Cole,” Daniel said.
An older woman near the back of the ballroom touched her empty chair.
“My coat was hanging there.”
Chloe pointed at her.
“Then search her.
She probably took the ring and slipped it to Anna.”
Miriam walked forward without lowering her eyes.
“You chose me because I found the missing money.”
The guests fell silent.
Chloe’s new husband, Adrian, slowly stepped away from her.
“What missing money?” he asked.
“There is no missing money,” Eleanor said.
“Miriam was dismissed for incompetence.”
“I resigned after you ordered me to alter the company accounts.” Miriam opened her handbag.
“I kept copies.”
Eleanor reached for the bag, but my father’s attorney moved between them.
“Do not touch her property,” he said.
My father removed his jacket and placed it around my shoulders.
“Anna, are you hurt?”
“My dress is torn.
That is all.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Mr.
Bennett, I didn’t know she was your daughter.”
My father’s eyes settled on Daniel’s hand, still wrapped around my purse.
“You knew she was your wife,” he said.
“That should have been enough.”
Daniel let the purse fall to his side.
Chloe seized the moment.
“This is a trick.
That footage could have been altered.”
The security director shook his head.
“The recording is time-stamped and stored on three servers.”
“Then call the police,” Chloe said.
“Let them decide.”
“You demanded that ten minutes ago,” I said.
“Why are you frightened now?”
“I am not frightened of you.”
“No.
You were frightened of Miriam.”
Miriam unbuttoned her coat pocket.
The Matriarch Ring dropped into her palm, followed by a folded envelope.
Adrian stared at his bride.
“You put that in her pocket?”
“She is lying!”
“I watched you do it,” the security director said.
Chloe rushed toward Miriam.
Adrian caught Chloe’s wrist before she reached her.
“Let me go!” she shouted.
“Not until you tell me why my wedding became a trap.”
Miriam handed the envelope to my father’s attorney.
He unfolded the first page and looked at Eleanor.
“This is a transfer order for eighty-four thousand dollars.”
Eleanor’s lips parted.
“I have never seen that.”
“It carries your electronic authorization,” he replied.
“And the destination account belongs to Chloe.”
Chloe pulled free of Adrian.
“Mother was paying for the wedding.”
“From the employee retirement fund?” Miriam asked.
Several guests stood up at once.
Many of them worked for Eleanor’s family company.
Eleanor lifted her chin.
“That company belongs to us.”
“No,” Miriam said.
“The money belongs to the people who earned it.”
Daniel moved beside his mother.
“There must be an explanation.”
“There is,” I said.
“They needed everyone to believe Miriam was a thief before she could show those papers.”
Chloe gave me a thin smile.
“You think this makes you innocent?”
“The recording already did that.”
“I wasn’t talking about the ring.”
She reached into the bodice of her wedding gown and pulled out a second phone.
Daniel’s face changed the moment he saw it.
May you like
Chloe held it above her head.
“Should I show Anna what her husband sent me last night?”
