Chapter 3 - The Bracelet)
Claire did not sleep.
At sunrise she packed one suitcase.
She told herself she was being sensible.
She could find another job.
Mercer House was not worth being threatened over.
She zipped the suitcase.
Then she heard Noah crying through the wall.
Claire sat on the edge of the bed.
The crying continued.
She knew she should leave.
She also knew that if Vanessa was willing to tamper with a stroller and security cameras, leaving Noah behind would not stop whatever was happening.
Claire unpacked.
At breakfast, Grant noticed the shadows beneath her eyes.
"You look terrible."
"Thank you."
He almost smiled.
Then Vanessa entered.
The smile vanished from Claire's face.
Vanessa behaved normally.
That frightened Claire more than open hostility would have.
Three days later Vanessa's diamond bracelet disappeared.
The accusation came at four in the afternoon.
Claire was upstairs changing the sheets in Vanessa's room when Vanessa suddenly entered with the house manager, Martin Hale.
"My bracelet is gone."
Claire straightened.
"I haven't seen it."
Vanessa looked toward the dresser.
"It was there this morning."
Martin shifted uncomfortably.
"Miss Hart asked that we check the rooms of the employees who were upstairs today."
Claire stared at him.
"You think I stole it?"
"I didn't say that."
Vanessa did.
"I do."
Claire felt cold.
Grant was called home.
He arrived twenty minutes later.
By then every employee knew what had happened.
Claire stood in the foyer while Martin searched her room.
Vanessa waited beside Grant.
Claire looked directly at Grant.
"I didn't take anything."
"I haven't said you did."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Then why are we wasting time?"
Martin came down the stairs.
He was holding a velvet jewelry pouch.
Claire's heart stopped.
Vanessa smiled.
Martin opened it.
The bracelet glittered beneath the foyer lights.
"It was in the bottom drawer of Claire's dresser."
Every face turned toward her.
Claire could barely breathe.
"No."
Vanessa stepped forward.
"You've been stealing from me."
"No."
Grant looked at Claire.
"Did you put it there?"
She stared at him.
"Of course not."
Vanessa laughed.
"Grant."
He ignored her.
"Claire, who has access to your room?"
"Housekeeping has a master key. Martin does. Security does."
Vanessa shook her head.
"This is ridiculous."
Grant turned to Martin.
"Pull the hallway logs."
Martin looked confused.
"What?"
"The electronic lock outside the staff wing records every master key entry."
Vanessa's face changed.
Only slightly.
But Claire saw it.
Twenty minutes later, Martin returned carrying a printed access report.
Grant took it.
He read silently.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"Your guest key entered the staff corridor at 1:17 this afternoon."
Vanessa did not blink.
"I went looking for Claire."
"Why?"
"I needed towels."
"The linen room is downstairs."
Vanessa sighed.
"Fine. I went upstairs. That proves nothing."
Grant looked at Claire.
"What time did you begin cleaning Vanessa's room?"
"Two thirty."
He turned back to Martin.
"Who entered Claire's room?"
Martin swallowed.
"Miss Hart's key."
Silence.
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
"I probably opened the wrong door."
Claire stared at her.
"You planted it."
Vanessa turned.
"Careful."
Grant stepped between them.
"Enough."
Claire expected him to fire Vanessa from the house.
He did not.
That hurt more than she expected.
Grant handed the bracelet back.
"We'll discuss this privately."
Claire laughed once in disbelief.
"Privately?"
Grant looked at her.
"Claire."
"She entered my locked room and hid stolen jewelry in my drawer."
"I know what happened."
"Then why is she still here?"
Vanessa smiled faintly.
That smile made Claire understand something.
Grant's refusal to react was exactly what Vanessa wanted.
Claire turned away.
"Forget it."
She walked toward the staff hallway.
Grant followed.
"Claire."
She stopped but did not turn.
"I need you to stay."
She looked back.
"Why?"
His expression was unreadable.
"Because I believe you."
"That isn't enough."
"I know."
"Then do something."
Grant glanced toward the foyer.
Vanessa was watching them.
He lowered his voice.
"I'm trying to."
Claire frowned.
Before she could ask what he meant, Grant walked away.
That evening Claire found a new lock installed on her bedroom door.
Only she had the key.
On the dresser sat the diamond bracelet.
Claire stared at it.
A note rested underneath.
Not from Vanessa.
From Grant.
You were right about the cameras.
Claire's pulse quickened.
Below that sentence was another.
Do not confront her again.
Claire turned the paper over.
May you like
One final line was written on the back.
I need her to think I still trust her.
