Chapter 2 - The Bracelet in Her Pocket
“Start again.”
Nathaniel’s voice was quiet.
That was enough to silence the people closest to him.
His mother frowned.
“There’s nothing to start again. Camilla’s bracelet disappeared from the powder room. Willow was seen nearby. Security searched the staff coats and found it in hers.”
Nathaniel looked at Camilla.
“You left a diamond bracelet in a powder room during a house full of guests?”
Camilla stiffened.
“I removed it to wash my hands.”
“And forgot it?”
“For a few minutes.”
Willow spoke.
“I was near the corridor because Wren was crying.”
Lady Beatrice gave her a cold look.
“You took my granddaughter away from a family event without permission.”
“I took a frightened two-year-old away from two hundred strangers and a string quartet.”
“You are employed to follow instructions.”
Willow’s chin lifted.
“I’m employed to care for those girls.”
Camilla smiled thinly.
“You forget your place.”
Willow looked directly at her.
“No. People like you just keep trying to assign me one.”
A few guests looked away to hide their reactions.
Nathaniel almost smiled.
His mother noticed.
“Nathaniel.”
He turned to the security officer.
“Who searched Willow’s coat?”
“Mrs. Kerr instructed us, sir.”
Nathaniel looked across the room.
Desmond Kerr approached.
He had been Nathaniel’s lawyer for almost eleven years.
Friend longer than that.
Calm.
Reliable.
Invisible whenever trouble began.
“It was standard procedure,” Desmond said.
“Was Willow present?”
“No.”
“Was another neutral staff member present?”
Desmond hesitated.
“No.”
Nathaniel’s eyes sharpened.
“Then it wasn’t a search.”
Beatrice sighed.
“Oh, please.”
“It was an opportunity.”
Camilla stepped forward.
“Are you accusing your own security team because you don’t want to believe the obvious?”
Nathaniel ignored her.
He picked up the bracelet.
“When was it reported missing?”
“Eight eighteen,” Desmond said.
“Time of search?”
“Approximately eight thirty.”
Nathaniel looked at Willow.
“When did you take Wren upstairs?”
“Eight eleven.”
“Where were you afterward?”
“With her.”
“Until?”
“Your return.”
Camilla folded her arms.
“You could have gone downstairs.”
Willow shook her head.
“Wren fell asleep against me.”
Nathaniel turned toward the nearest security officer.
“Bring me the camera archive.”
Desmond stepped forward.
“Nathaniel, this is becoming unnecessary.”
Nathaniel stopped.
“Why?”
“The bracelet was found in her pocket.”
“So?”
Desmond stared at him.
Nathaniel continued.
“If she stole it, the cameras will prove it.”
His mother said, “And if the cameras don’t cover every hallway?”
“They cover enough.”
That answer seemed to bother Desmond.
Nathaniel noticed.
Twenty minutes later, the gala continued without its host.
Nathaniel sat inside his private study with Willow, Desmond, Beatrice, Camilla, and his head of security, Marcus Hale.
A laptop rested on the desk.
Marcus pulled up the corridor footage.
“Eight eleven.”
Wren appeared on the screen.
She was crying.
Willow carried her away from the gala.
Nora followed holding Willow’s skirt until another nanny picked her up.
Nathaniel watched Willow disappear upstairs.
Marcus fast-forwarded.
Eight twelve.
Eight fifteen.
Eight twenty.
Willow did not return.
Nathaniel looked at Camilla.
“You said she was near the powder room.”
“She was.”
“At what time?”
“Before that.”
Marcus rewound.
Seven fifty-five.
Willow passed through the corridor carrying a tray of glasses.
Seven fifty-nine.
She returned.
Eight three.
Camilla entered the powder room.
Eight six.
Camilla left.
She was still wearing the bracelet.
Nathaniel paused the video.
Camilla’s face changed.
“That timestamp must be wrong.”
Marcus said, “It isn’t.”
Beatrice turned to her.
“You were wearing it?”
Camilla said quickly, “Then I must have lost it later.”
Nathaniel resumed the recording.
Eight nine.
Camilla entered the cloakroom.
Alone.
Eight ten.
She left.
Nathaniel paused again.
Nobody spoke.
Willow turned slowly toward Camilla.
Camilla’s face had gone pale.
Nathaniel said, “Where was Willow?”
Camilla swallowed.
“I don’t know.”
“Upstairs with my daughter.”
Desmond interrupted.
“This proves nothing except that Camilla entered the cloakroom.”
Nathaniel’s gaze shifted.
“You’re right.”
Desmond relaxed slightly.
Nathaniel continued.
“So let’s look inside.”
Marcus hesitated.
“No camera inside the cloakroom, sir.”
Nathaniel leaned back.
Desmond said, “There you are.”
But Marcus did not move.
Nathaniel noticed.
“What?”
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
“There is another camera.”
Desmond’s head snapped toward him.
Beatrice frowned.
“What camera?”
Marcus looked at Nathaniel.
“The temporary unit you authorized after the foundation files were accessed last month.”
Nathaniel remembered.
A small security camera overlooking the service passage outside the office and adjoining cloak area.
“Open it.”
Desmond said sharply, “That system was disconnected.”
Marcus stared at him.
“No, it wasn’t.”
Silence.
Nathaniel slowly looked at Desmond.
“How did you know where that camera was?”
Desmond’s expression barely changed.
“I helped review the security report.”
“No.”
Nathaniel stood.
“You told me the cameras were unnecessary.”
“Nathaniel—”
“Open the archive.”
Marcus did.
The screen changed.
Eight nine.
Camilla entered the cloakroom.
Eight ten.
A side door opened.
A woman appeared.
Mrs. Kerr.
Desmond’s wife.
She held Willow’s black coat.
She slipped something into the pocket.
Willow closed her eyes.
Beatrice sat down.
Camilla whispered:
“This isn’t what it looks like.”
Nathaniel turned toward her.
May you like
“Then this should be fascinating.”
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