Chapter 2 - WHAT THE NECKLACE WAS WORTH
Police separated everyone.
Claire went with Emma to the hospital for evaluation.
No serious injuries.
Red mark on Claire’s cheek.
Superficial neck abrasion from the chain.
Emma physically unharmed.
Shaken.
Terrified.
Daniel was arrested on domestic-violence and child-endangerment-related allegations.
The knife mattered.
Even though it never touched Emma.
The context mattered more:
he used a child to compel surrender of property while visibly armed.
The necklace remained with Claire.
Detective Hannah Cole asked:
“How much is it worth?”
Claire hesitated.
“I don’t know exactly.”
She had an old appraisal.
Her mother, Evelyn Bennett, had insured it for $185,000 years ago.
Jewelry values changed.
Maybe more now.
Maybe less.
Then Detective Cole asked:
“Why did Daniel need it tonight?”
Claire answered:
“He said debt.”
“How much debt?”
“I don’t know.”
That answer embarrassed her.
She and Daniel had been married eight years.
Shared a house.
Shared a child.
Shared taxes.
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And she did not know how much he owed.
That turned out to be the first financial fact Daniel had counted on.
