Chapter 3 - THE CAMERA ABOVE THE MIRROR
Daniel did not shout.
That surprised Emily.
He looked at the necklace.
Then the employee.
Then both daughters.
“I didn’t put that there.”
The employee said:
“Please stay here.”
Security was called.
Daniel’s face reddened.
Lily immediately recovered.
“Maybe Emily put it there!”
Too fast.
The employee looked at her.
“What?”
Lily pointed.
“She was standing next to him.”
Daniel turned to Emily.
Again.
Emily almost laughed.
Of course.
Even now.
But this time the store had cameras.
Security manager Thomas Reed arrived.
Calm.
Middle-aged.
Unimpressed by wealthy customers.
He asked everyone to remain separated.
Then reviewed footage.
The first camera angle was useless.
Daniel blocked the view.
The second showed Emily near the display.
The third showed Lily.
Her hand moved toward Emily’s bag.
But a rack partially blocked it.
Not conclusive.
Then Thomas found a camera reflected through the mirrored column.
The angle caught more.
Lily looking around.
Lily lifting the necklace.
Lily placing something into Emily’s open bag.
Daniel stared.
Lily whispered:
“That’s not what happened.”
Thomas replayed it.
Slow.
Still not perfect resolution.
But enough.
Then another clip.
Emily removing the necklace.
Then moving close to Daniel.
Daniel turned.
“Emily.”
She looked at him.
“Yes. I put it in your pocket.”
His face hardened.
“Why?”
“Because Lily put it in my bag.”
“You should have told me.”
Emily laughed once.
“Would you have believed me?”
Silence.
That was the question.
Not the necklace.
Three years of it.
Daniel looked at Lily.
She was crying now.
Maybe real.
Maybe not.
Then Thomas said:
“We need to discuss whether the store wants to pursue this.”
Daniel’s attention snapped back to consequences.
But Emily was still looking at him.
Waiting for an answer.
May you like
Would you have believed me?
He did not give one.
