CHAP 4 — The Real Safe
Franklin did not ask the officers to uncuff him.
That would come later.
First, he looked at Edward.
“Mr. Anderson, ask your security chief why the pantry safe camera went offline at 8:42 p.m.”
Gregory’s face hardened.
“This is absurd.”
Franklin kept his eyes on Edward.
“Then ask why Mrs. Anderson moved the necklace from the master vault to the pantry safe against protocol.”
Vivian laughed.
“You are desperate.”
“No,” Franklin said. “I’m documented.”
Maggie descended the staircase slowly.
Her face was wet with tears, but her voice was steady.
“Dad,” she said. “Listen to him.”
Vivian spun toward her.
“Go upstairs.”
Maggie flinched.
Franklin saw Edward see it.
That small reflex did more damage to Vivian than any accusation.
Edward turned to Gregory.
“Answer the question.”
Gregory said nothing.
Franklin lifted his cuffed hands again.
“The recording pin captured your wife and Gregory discussing a camera outage, an insurance claim, and the words ‘useful problem.’ It also captured Vivian saying she needed a suspect the guests would believe.”
The foyer froze.
Vivian’s lips parted.
“That’s illegal.”
Franklin looked at her.
“So is planting evidence.”
One of the officers holding Franklin loosened his grip.
Edward descended the staircase, one hand on the railing, face pale with a dawning horror that looked almost like grief.
“Where is the necklace?” he asked.
Franklin turned toward the glass jewelry display.
“Not in this room.”
Vivian recovered enough to sneer.
“Then where, chef?”
Franklin smiled faintly.
The first smile of the evening.
“In the real safe.”
The words struck Gregory hardest.
His head turned half an inch toward the west hall.
Franklin saw it.
So did Edward.
Franklin nodded toward the hallway.
“Private study. Behind the Audubon print. Gregory installed a secondary compartment two weeks ago. He told the contractor it was for firearm storage. It wasn’t.”
Edward looked at his security chief like he was seeing a stranger.
“Gregory?”
Gregory backed up.
The officers moved.
He did not run far.
Men who spend years controlling doors often forget what it feels like when doors close around them.
Ten minutes later, police opened the hidden compartment in Edward’s study.
Inside was the Marceau Archive necklace.
Beside it were insurance documents, offshore wire instructions, a second velvet pouch, and photographs of Franklin’s chef coat taken from the staff changing room.
Vivian did not scream when they brought the necklace into the foyer.
May you like
She simply sat down on the bottom stair.
As if her body had finally understood what her pride refused to.
