Chapter 5: The Velvet Deception
Chapter 5: The Velvet Deception
Emily stood in the greenhouse, stunned. "A fake? That's impossible. It's a family heirloom. It’s been appraised a dozen times."
Vanessa let out a dry, humorless laugh. "The appraisers were paid off. When I held it in the foyer, I knew immediately. The weight was wrong. The setting was slightly crooked. It's a brilliant cubic zirconia replica, but it's not a three-million-dollar diamond."
"If it's a fake, why did you try to steal it?" Emily demanded.
"I didn't realize it was a fake until I had it in my hands!" Vanessa cried. "I was going to fence it. But when I felt the weight, I panicked. I knew the fence would kill me if I brought him glass. So, when I saw your bag, I planted it. I figured if the family thought it was stolen by a maid, I could help Daniel claim the insurance money and take a cut for myself."
Emily backed away, her mind racing. If the necklace was a fake, where was the real one? Daniel’s family was notoriously strict with their vault inventory. Only a few people had access. Daniel, his late mother, and the senior staff.
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"I'll give you five hundred dollars to get a bus out of state," Emily said firmly, pulling her emergency cash from her pocket. "Take it, and never come back here. If I see you again, I'm pressing charges."
Vanessa snatched the money, her hands shaking, and vanished into the night without a word of thanks. Emily locked the greenhouse, her heart pounding. She had a new mystery to solve, and it pointed directly at someone inside the house.
