Chapter 4 - The First Lie
Morning arrived slowly.
Elena had barely slept.
Every sound outside the room made her think Margaret was coming.
At seven, the lock turned.
Elena quickly slid the old phone beneath the mattress.
Margaret entered carrying a tray.
There was bread, water, and coffee.
Behind her stood Julian.
Elena noticed immediately that he looked exhausted.
His shirt was wrinkled.
His eyes were red.
Margaret looked perfectly composed.
“I hope a night alone gave you time to reconsider your choices,” she said.
Elena stared at the coffee.
“What choices?”
“Don't make this harder.”
“You mean confessing to something I didn't do?”
Margaret sighed dramatically.
Julian rubbed his forehead.
“Elena, investigators are coming tomorrow.”
“Why private investigators?”
Margaret answered immediately.
“Because we want to handle this quietly.”
Elena looked at Julian.
“A priceless insured necklace disappears and your mother doesn't call the police.”
Margaret's jaw tightened.
Elena noticed.
“Why?”
Julian looked uncertain.
“My mother wanted to give you the opportunity to return it first.”
“How generous.”
“Elena,” Julian warned.
She forced herself to remain calm.
“Where was Margaret yesterday at three fifteen?”
Margaret's expression changed for less than a second.
It was enough.
“At my charity luncheon.”
“Are you sure?”
Margaret stepped closer.
“What exactly are you suggesting?”
Elena smiled faintly.
“Nothing.”
Julian studied her.
For the first time, curiosity appeared behind his anger.
Elena needed that.
She did not want him convinced yet.
She wanted doubt.
Doubt could become questions.
Questions could break Margaret's control.
“I'll sign whatever you want tomorrow,” Elena said.
Julian looked shocked.
Margaret smiled.
“You finally understand.”
“I understand many things.”
Margaret placed the tray on the table.
“You'll remain here until then.”
She turned toward the door.
Elena spoke again.
“Julian.”
He stopped.
“When investigators arrive, ask them one question.”
He looked back.
“Which question?”
“Ask who deleted eleven minutes from the hallway security footage.”
The room became completely still.
Margaret's face hardened.
“What nonsense is this?”
Elena never looked away from Julian.
“Three ten to three twenty-one.”
Julian frowned.
Margaret grabbed his arm.
“She is manipulating you.”
“Then checking should be easy,” Elena said.
Margaret pulled Julian toward the door.
“Enough.”
The door closed.
Elena heard Margaret speaking rapidly outside, but she could not understand the words.
Then Julian said something louder.
“I want to see the logs.”
Elena smiled.
The first crack had appeared.
Margaret had controlled the story because Julian had never questioned her.
Now he would.
But Elena knew Margaret would move quickly.
If the necklace was hidden somewhere inside the mansion, she might relocate it.
Elena could not wait until tomorrow.
She needed to get into Margaret's office that night.
She examined the old door lock again.
An antique brass mechanism.
Simple.
Mechanical.
And beside the bed stood an old lamp with a thin metal support wire.
May you like
Elena pulled it free.
Tonight, while everyone believed she had surrendered, she would make her move.
