Chapter 12 - THE HUSBAND'S SECOND LIE
Andrew stared at Mariana.
“No.”
Julian remained on speaker.
“You took it from your mother after dinner.”
Andrew shook his head.
“He’s lying.”
Julian continued.
“You removed the clasp. You gave the necklace to someone.”
“Who?” Mariana asked.
Julian laughed softly.
“Ask him.”
The call ended.
Andrew looked furious.
Mariana remained calm.
“Did you take the necklace?”
“No.”
“Look at me.”
He did.
“No.”
She wanted to believe him.
Then Brenda said, “His cuff link.”
Everyone looked at her.
“What?”
“At dinner, Andrew had both cuff links. After Margaret came downstairs, one was missing.”
Andrew looked at his sleeve.
Brenda continued.
“I noticed because I gave him that set five years ago.”
Mariana looked at Andrew.
“Where did you go at 10:45?”
“Upstairs.”
“Why?”
“My office.”
“Camera?”
“Hallway camera was down.”
Of course.
Detective Brooks searched Andrew’s office.
They found nothing.
Then Brooks checked his tuxedo jacket.
Inside the lining was a tiny tear.
Caught in it:
A green silk fiber.
Matching the necklace pouch.
Andrew sat down.
“I don’t remember touching it.”
Mariana stared.
“That is not good enough.”
“I know.”
He looked terrified now.
“I had a drink Margaret gave me after dinner.”
Margaret’s face changed.
“What?”
“Bourbon.”
“You asked for it.”
“Yes.”
Andrew rubbed his forehead.
“I remember going upstairs. I remember the office. Then…”
“Then?”
“Nothing for maybe twenty minutes.”
Brenda said, “Drugged?”
Mariana looked at Margaret.
Margaret snapped, “I did not drug my son.”
Detective Brooks requested Andrew’s blood.
The result came back.
A sedative.
Low dose.
Enough to impair memory.
Andrew whispered, “Someone used me.”
Mariana felt no satisfaction.
He had assaulted her while angry hours later.
The sedative did not excuse that.
But it could explain the necklace.
Security searched exterior cameras.
At 11:01 p.m., Andrew appeared at a side entrance.
He handed something to a woman in a dark coat.
Her face was hidden.
She left.
Andrew returned inside.
Mariana watched twice.
“You were controlled.”
Brenda said, “Or pretending.”
Andrew looked at her.
“Fair.”
That surprised everyone.
He was learning.
Detective Brooks enhanced the frame.
The woman wore a distinctive ring.
Margaret stared.
“That was mine.”
Andrew looked at his mother.
“What?”
“I gave it away thirty years ago.”
“To who?”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“My sister.”
Mariana frowned.
“You have a sister?”
May you like
Margaret whispered:
“Had.”
