CHAPTER 4 — THE EMERALD
CHAPTER 4 — THE EMERALD
The ballroom erupted.
Guests rushed toward the glass display case.
Voices overlapped.
"What happened?"
"Was it stolen?"
"Call security!"
The Whitaker Emerald Pendant had been the centerpiece of the memorial display.
Margaret had worn it only on the most important occasions—charity galas, Christmas dinners, and the day Graham sold his company.
It wasn't merely valuable.
Insurance estimated it at nearly six million dollars.
To Graham...
It was priceless.
His mother had once placed it in his hands and smiled.
"One day, you'll give this to someone who protects people more than possessions."
He had planned to present it to Blair after their honeymoon.
Now...
The velvet stand inside the case was empty.
The estate's head of security, Frank Morales, pushed through the crowd.
"Nobody leaves the tent."
Several guests protested immediately.
"I have a flight."
"My children are waiting."
Frank remained calm.
"I'm sorry."
Until we know what happened, every entrance is closed."
The vineyard gates were locked within two minutes.
Security staff quietly took positions around the property.
The celebration had officially become an investigation.
Blair forced herself to breathe slowly.
She walked toward Graham.
"This is awful."
He didn't answer.
She touched his shoulder.
"We'll find whoever did it."
Still nothing.
His eyes remained fixed on Lily.
The child stood quietly beside Nora now, who had rushed downstairs after hearing the commotion.
Nora looked horrified.
"Lily, sweetheart..."
"I didn't touch it."
"I know."
The little girl looked at Graham.
"The pretty lady did."
Every word landed like a stone.
Blair laughed.
A little too loudly.
"This is ridiculous."
"She's three years old."
"Exactly."
"Children imagine things."
Lily immediately shook her head.
"No."
"What did you see?" Graham asked gently.
Lily pointed toward the hallway leading to the bridal suite.
"The lady looked around."
"Then?"
"She opened the little table."
"The desk?" Graham asked.
Lily nodded enthusiastically.
"She put the shiny green thing inside."
Blair's smile vanished for half a second.
Only half.
Then it returned.
"She probably saw me putting away lipstick."
Lily frowned.
"It wasn't lipstick."
Frank stepped closer.
"Mr. Whitaker..."
Graham looked at him.
"We should probably search the property."
Blair folded her arms.
"Of course."
She smiled confidently.
"Search everywhere."
Then she looked directly at Nora.
"Start with the staff quarters."
The words echoed through the ballroom.
Several guests exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Nora stared at Blair in disbelief.
"You think I stole it?"
"I didn't say that."
"You implied it."
"You were standing closest to the display."
Nora slowly shook her head.
"So were you."
A dangerous silence followed.
For the first time all evening...
Someone had challenged Blair publicly.
And Graham noticed something he had ignored for months.
Every accusation Blair made always traveled downward.
Toward people with less power.
Never upward.
Never toward equals.
He suddenly wondered...
How many other moments had he failed to see?
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And why was the only witness he instinctively believed...
A frightened little girl holding a stuffed elephant?
