Chapter 7 - Searching for the Truth
Javier stared at the empty velvet box, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. "This... this is impossible."
"What is it, Javier?" Mónica asked, stepping closer, her voice filled with manufactured alarm. "Is it not there?"
"It’s gone," Javier whispered. He began frantically searching the other compartments of the safe, pulling out envelopes, legal documents, and other heirlooms. "It’s not here. No one knows the combination to this safe except me."
"Are you sure, Javier?" Mónica's voice rose, carrying out of the study and into the hallway. "Who has access to this room? Who cleans this study?"
Right on cue, Patricia walked past the study door, carrying a tray of clean glasses. Hearing the commotion, she paused. "Is everything alright, Mr. Javier?"
"Patricia," Mónica said sharply, turning on her. "Did you clean this study yesterday?"
"Yes, ma'am. I dust the shelves every Wednesday," Patricia replied, looking confused.
"And did you touch the painting on the wall?" Mónica demanded, pointing to the open safe.
"Mónica, stop," Javier said, his head spinning. "Patricia doesn't know the combination."
"Javier, don't be naive!" Mónica cried out. "These modern safes have digital logs, or maybe you left it open one day. A necklace worth millions doesn't just sprout legs and walk away! Patricia, where is your bag?"
"My... my bag?" Patricia’s face went pale. "It's in the locker room, ma'am."
"We are going to check it. Right now," Mónica declared, marching out of the study.
"Mónica, you cannot search her belongings without her consent!" Javier shouted, following her, his protective instincts warring with the sudden, agonizing confusion of the missing heirloom.
"If she has nothing to hide, she won't mind!" Mónica yelled back, pushing open the door to the locker room. She grabbed Patricia’s simple canvas tote bag off the hook.
"Please, don't," Patricia wept, running after them. "I didn't take anything! I swear to God, I didn't take anything!"
Mónica dumped the contents of the bag onto the bench. A cheap wallet, a small sewing kit, a half-eaten apple, and then—with a heavy, metallic clink—a glittering green-and-gold necklace tumbled out onto the wooden surface.
The deep green emeralds caught the light of the fluorescent bulb.
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Javier stared at it, felt his chest tighten so hard he could barely breathe. Patricia gasped, falling to her knees. "No... no! That’s not mine! I’ve never seen that in my life! I swear, Mr. Javier, I swear on my mother’s life, I didn't steal it!"
"The evidence is right here!" Mónica said triumphantly, pulling out her phone. "I am calling the police. She is going to jail."
