The police stopped directly in front of our building.<\/p>\n
I watched two officers get out.<\/p>\n
A third person followed them.<\/p>\n
A woman in a dark jacket carrying a folder.<\/p>\n
I stepped away from the window.<\/p>\n
My first thought was to call Mom again.<\/p>\n
Before I could, the phone rang.<\/p>\n
It was her.<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe, listen carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice was quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone reported a stolen bracelet.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach dropped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat bracelet?\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police say it was found in my work bag.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn't speak.<\/p>\n
My eyes moved toward the chair.<\/p>\n
Mom's bag was still there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat's not possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cValerie put something in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom didn't answer immediately.<\/p>\n
Then she said, \u201cWhat did you see?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe came into the apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she touch the bag?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think so.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe, don't touch it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice became firmer.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo exactly what I tell you. Stay upstairs. Don't come outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the police are here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre they arresting you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one has arrested me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet.<\/p>\n
She didn't say the word.<\/p>\n
I heard the elevator bell.<\/p>\n
Footsteps moved through the hallway.<\/p>\n
Then someone knocked.<\/p>\n
I could hear Mom's voice through the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI'm here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever happens, don't panic.\u201d<\/p>\n
The knock came again.<\/p>\n
Then an officer called, \u201cMrs. Bennett?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom had already arrived downstairs.<\/p>\n
I could hear voices through the phone.<\/p>\n
I couldn't make out every word.<\/p>\n
Then the call ended.<\/p>\n
I stood in the living room with my phone in my hand.<\/p>\n
For several minutes, I did exactly what Mom had told me.<\/p>\n
I stayed upstairs.<\/p>\n
I didn't touch the bag.<\/p>\n
I didn't open the door.<\/p>\n
Then I heard Valerie.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was acting strange all morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
My blood ran cold.<\/p>\n
I moved closer to the hallway.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had access to the bag,\u201d Valerie continued.<\/p>\n
Another voice asked something.<\/p>\n
Valerie answered quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know why she would steal it.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at the wall.<\/p>\n
She was building the story.<\/p>\n
Piece by piece.<\/p>\n
And my mother was standing downstairs while Valerie told strangers that she was a thief.<\/p>\n
I couldn't stay upstairs anymore.<\/p>\n
I opened the apartment door just enough to see the stairwell.<\/p>\n
The officers were downstairs.<\/p>\n
Mom stood near the entrance.<\/p>\n
Her hands were empty.<\/p>\n
Valerie was beside the detectives, crying.<\/p>\n
Real tears.<\/p>\n
Or convincing ones.<\/p>\n
She looked up.<\/p>\n
Our eyes met.<\/p>\n
For a second, her expression changed.<\/p>\n
The tears disappeared.<\/p>\n
Her eyes sharpened.<\/p>\n
She knew I had seen her.<\/p>\n
Then she looked away.<\/p>\n
Detective Harris noticed me.<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom immediately turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo back upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n
I could hear the fear in her voice.<\/p>\n
I went back.<\/p>\n
But I didn't close the door completely.<\/p>\n
From the narrow opening, I listened.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Bennett,\u201d Detective Harris said, \u201cwe need to understand where the bracelet came from.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was found inside your work bag.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand what you're saying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWere you at the jewelry exhibition yesterday?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you know the bracelet was stolen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie began crying again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told Rachel something was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom turned toward her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried to warn you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou didn't warn me about anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't want to believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom's face tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelieve what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie looked at the detectives.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Rachel has been under financial pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cValerie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't want to embarrass you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou're lying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Detective Harris lifted a hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet's keep this calm.\u201d<\/p>\n
My mother's shoulders rose and fell.<\/p>\n
Then the detective asked, \u201cDo you have any idea how the bracelet could have entered your bag?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho has access to your apartment?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom hesitated.<\/p>\n
Then she said, \u201cMy sister.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie's face hardened for the smallest fraction of a second.<\/p>\n
I saw it.<\/p>\n
Then she began crying again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a key because she's my sister.\u201d<\/p>\n
Detective Harris nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is useful information.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie looked at me.<\/p>\n
I stepped away from the door.<\/p>\n
I didn't know what she was capable of anymore.<\/p>\n
A few minutes later, the police searched Mom's bag.<\/p>\n
I heard drawers opening.<\/p>\n
Cabinet doors.<\/p>\n
Questions.<\/p>\n
Then silence.<\/p>\n
Someone said, \u201cIt's here.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach twisted.<\/p>\n
They had found it.<\/p>\n
The bracelet.<\/p>\n
I ran toward the bedroom window.<\/p>\n
I didn't know what I intended to do.<\/p>\n
I only knew I couldn't let them believe Mom had stolen it.<\/p>\n
Then I remembered the news report.<\/p>\n
The bracelet.<\/p>\n
The photograph.<\/p>\n
The distinctive stones.<\/p>\n
I grabbed my phone and searched for the article.<\/p>\n
There it was.<\/p>\n
A picture of the stolen jewelry.<\/p>\n
I compared it with what I had seen in Valerie's hands.<\/p>\n
It was the same.<\/p>\n
But something else caught my attention.<\/p>\n
The news photograph showed the bracelet resting inside a small black velvet case.<\/p>\n
Valerie had carried hers wrapped in silver tissue paper.<\/p>\n
Why?<\/p>\n
Maybe because she had taken it from somewhere else.<\/p>\n
Maybe because she had planned to plant it.<\/p>\n
I needed proof.<\/p>\n
I looked across the hallway toward Mr. Henderson's apartment.<\/p>\n
He lived directly opposite us.<\/p>\n
He was always complaining about deliveries being left outside.<\/p>\n
And a month earlier, he had installed a security camera above his door.<\/p>\n
I suddenly remembered it.<\/p>\n
I ran across the hallway and knocked.<\/p>\n
He opened the door almost immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have a camera?\u201d<\/p>\n
He blinked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I see it?\u201d<\/p>\n
His expression changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy aunt came into our apartment this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked toward our door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout your mother?\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had a key.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson stepped aside.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome in.\u201d<\/p>\n
His camera system covered the hallway.<\/p>\n
He pulled up the recording.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat's the time?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEleven eighteen.\u201d<\/p>\n
He typed it in.<\/p>\n
The screen showed an empty hallway.<\/p>\n
Then Valerie appeared.<\/p>\n
Gray hoodie.<\/p>\n
Sunglasses.<\/p>\n
Gloves.<\/p>\n
She looked around before unlocking our door.<\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes your aunt normally dress like that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
We watched.<\/p>\n
Valerie entered our apartment.<\/p>\n
The timestamp moved forward.<\/p>\n
Eleven nineteen.<\/p>\n
Eleven twenty.<\/p>\n
Eleven twenty-one.<\/p>\n
I couldn't breathe.<\/p>\n
Eleven twenty-five.<\/p>\n
Eleven twenty-six.<\/p>\n
Then Valerie came back out.<\/p>\n
She stopped.<\/p>\n
Looked directly toward the camera.<\/p>\n
My heart slammed against my ribs.<\/p>\n
She knew.<\/p>\n
Maybe not then.<\/p>\n
But now she knew the camera existed.<\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson saved the recording.<\/p>\n
\u201cI'll give this to the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then I heard footsteps in the hallway.<\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson muted the monitor.<\/p>\n
Detective Harris appeared outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe?\u201d<\/p>\n
I stepped into the doorway.<\/p>\n
He looked at Mr. Henderson.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs she with you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Mr. Henderson said.<\/p>\n
Detective Harris noticed the computer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you find?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson showed him.<\/p>\n
The detective watched the entire recording.<\/p>\n
When Valerie entered the apartment, his expression became serious.<\/p>\n
When she left seven minutes later, he paused the video.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you copy this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo it now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then Detective Harris looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you see your aunt inside the apartment?\u201d<\/p>\n
I swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she say anything?\u201d<\/p>\n
I hesitated.<\/p>\n
Then I remembered her words.<\/p>\n
By tonight, Rachel Bennett won't look like such a saint anymore.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said my mother wouldn't look like a saint anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Detective Harris wrote it down.<\/p>\n
Then he looked toward the apartment.<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe, where is the bracelet?\u201d<\/p>\n
I pointed upstairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn't with the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyebrows lifted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
I swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy neighbor has it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Detective Harris looked at Mr. Henderson.<\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have it sealed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The detective's expression changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you take custody of it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't. Chloe brought it to me before anyone touched it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Detective Harris looked back at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did the right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the first time that morning, I felt like someone believed me.<\/p>\n
Then Valerie appeared at the end of the hallway.<\/p>\n
She saw the detective.<\/p>\n
Then she saw the monitor.<\/p>\n
Her face lost its color.<\/p>\n
Mr. Henderson closed the laptop.<\/p>\n
Valerie stared at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn't answer.<\/p>\n
She stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe, you don't understand what you're doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Detective Harris moved between us.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat's enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Valerie stopped.<\/p>\n
Then she looked at Mom.<\/p>\n
And something in her expression told me this wasn't over.<\/p>\n
Not even close.<\/p>\n
Because if the bracelet was only the beginning, I still didn't know what my aunt really wanted.<\/p>\n
The police stopped directly in front of our building. I watched two officers get out. A third person followed them. A woman in a dark jacket carrying a folder. I … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4759,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-readmore"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4761"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4776,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4761\/revisions\/4776"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}