CHAPTER 2 — THE NECKLACE
Claire reached the conference-room doors before the officers entered.
“No one touches my client’s belongings without reviewing the chain of custody,” she said.
The lead detective, Michael Rowan, remained calm.
“We received a statement that Mrs. Cross stole a family heirloom valued at more than two million dollars.”
“From whom?”
“Damian Cross.”
Isabella almost laughed.
Damian had struck her, humiliated her, and thrown her out.
Now he wanted her arrested before morning.
Marcus handed Detective Rowan the security report documenting exactly when the purse had entered the building, who had handled it, and when the necklace was discovered.
Rowan studied the report.
“Were there cameras inside the mansion?”
“Every hallway,” Isabella answered. “Damian installed them after claiming the household staff was stealing.”
“And you have access?”
“Not anymore.”
Claire placed a tablet on the table.
“Someone deleted the mansion’s surveillance archive eleven minutes after Ms. Montrose left.”
Detective Rowan looked up.
“That is unusually convenient.”
“It was not convenient,” Isabella said. “It was planned.”
The detective examined the necklace through the evidence bag.
There were no fingerprints on the emerald centerpiece.
But Marcus had discovered a strand of scarlet fabric caught inside the clasp.
Vanessa’s gown.
It was not proof by itself.
But it was enough to change the direction of the investigation.
Rowan lowered his voice.
“Mrs. Montrose, until we determine who handled this necklace, do not leave the city.”
“I have no intention of running.”
The officers departed without arresting her.
For the first time that night, Isabella allowed herself to breathe.
Then Claire opened a confidential email that had arrived minutes earlier.
The message had been sent directly to the board of Montrose Global.
Its subject line read:
EMERGENCY DISCLOSURE REGARDING ISABELLA MONTROSE
The attachment accused Isabella of secretly diverting company funds into accounts controlled by her husband.
At the bottom was a digital signature belonging to Adrian Locke, Montrose Global’s chief financial officer.
Alexander stared at the screen.
“Adrian has worked beside me for twenty-two years.”
Claire scrolled further.
“There is more.”
A second attachment appeared.
It was a copy of Isabella and Damian’s marital agreement.
Isabella had never seen this version.
According to the document, if she were charged with theft, fraud, or financial misconduct, temporary control of her voting shares would transfer to her husband.
Damian Cross.
Her signature appeared on every page.
Even the notary seal looked authentic.
Isabella studied the final page.
Then she noticed something beside the signature.
A tiny ink mark shaped like a crescent.
Her expression hardened.
“What is it?” Claire asked.
“That is not my signature.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because the person who forged it copied a signature I stopped using twelve years ago.”
Alexander looked at the agreement again.
“Then we prove it is false.”
Isabella’s eyes remained on the notary’s name.
Samuel Price.
A man who, according to public records, had died three years earlier.
Marcus entered the name into his security database.
Thirty seconds later, he looked up.
“Samuel Price is alive.”
“Where is he?” Isabella asked.
Marcus turned the screen toward her.
The photograph showed a frightened man entering a motel outside Baltimore.
“He checked in forty minutes ago.”
Claire frowned.
“How did he know we would start looking for him tonight?”
Marcus enlarged the photograph.
May you like
Samuel Price was not alone.
Walking beside him was Vanessa Hale.
