Chapter 4 - THE DAY CLAIRE WAS “ALONE”
Margaret’s accusation depended on one fact.
Claire had been upstairs alone for forty minutes during a family lunch.
Or so Margaret said.
Claire had gone to the guest bathroom because pregnancy nausea and dizziness hit unexpectedly.
She rested in the upstairs sitting room afterward.
Margaret claimed her bedroom door was open.
The jewelry box was inside.
Claire never entered.
Who else was upstairs?
Margaret said:
nobody.
But the house’s smart thermostat logs showed motion in the upstairs hallway twice during that period.
That did not identify a person.
Then the home security system showed the side door opened.
At 2:17 p.m.
Closed at 2:19.
Someone entered or left.
Who had access?
Housekeeper.
Gardener.
Daniel.
Margaret.
A handyman code.
Police checked.
The gardener was outside.
Housekeeper not scheduled.
Handyman denied visiting.
Daniel was downstairs in photographs with guests.
Margaret?
No one knew where she was for several minutes.
Then Claire remembered hearing footsteps near the upstairs sitting room.
Heels.
Margaret wore heels.
Could be coincidence.
Then Grace found a text from Margaret to Victor Hale.
2:16 p.m.:
Now.
One word.
Daniel stared.
“Victor was at the house?”
Police checked traffic-camera data near the gated street.
A vehicle registered to Victor’s jewelry business entered the neighborhood around 2:09.
Left 2:31.
Victor initially denied visiting.
Then changed his statement.
He said Margaret asked him to make a private house call.
Why?
“To inspect the ring.”
“During the lunch?”
“Yes.”
“Why hide it?”
“She didn’t want family asking questions.”
Then police asked:
May you like
“Was the diamond in the ring?”
Victor stopped answering without counsel.
