Chapter 3 - THE NECKLACE THAT BURNED
Harrison ordered the boutique closed.
Customers were escorted out politely while security locked the display cases. A gem custodian removed the necklace under two cameras and placed it in an evidence tray.
Its inventory card identified it as Aurora No. 17, received from Aurelia’s executive collection four days earlier. The transfer carried Daniel’s digital authorization.
Daniel had not logged into the corporate vault in three years.
Harrison compared the necklace with the insurance photographs taken after Elise’s crash. The damaged central stone, bent third ray, and three-dot engraving matched.
“I watched this piece go into the destruction envelope,” he said.
“Did you watch it get destroyed?” Daniel asked.
Harrison went silent.
The company had filed an $18 million insurance claim covering Elise’s prototype collection. Harrison signed the final statement certifying that every damaged piece was destroyed under laboratory supervision.
He admitted delegating the actual destruction to Aurelia’s general counsel, Maren Cole.
Victoria, waiting with an HR representative, said the necklace arrived through Executive Procurement Director Cassandra Harrison.
Harrison’s daughter.
Victoria produced messages ordering her to display the piece without entering its serial number into the public system. Cassandra described it as a private-client preview and warned staff to discourage “unqualified walk-ins.”
“That’s why I asked them to leave,” Victoria said.
Daniel looked at her. “You were told to protect a piece. No one ordered you to humiliate a child.”
“You walked in dressed like that.”
“And you decided clothing was permission.”
Her instructions might explain why she guarded the case. They did not excuse how she treated Lily.
Security logs showed Cassandra’s credential placed the necklace in the store. Daniel’s credential approved its removal from the vault.
Both entries originated from Harrison’s private office.
Harrison stared at the report.
May you like
The office camera had been disabled for twenty-two minutes.
During those minutes, Harrison claimed he was alone.
