Chapter 1 - The Rolling Chair
“She tried to push her!”
Victoria’s accusation rang across the marble landing.
Leah was still on one knee behind Mrs. Harrington’s wheelchair, both hands gripping the handles. The chair had rolled backward without warning, but Leah stopped it against the safety ridge before it reached the staircase.
Mrs. Harrington remained upright, frightened but unharmed.
“Get her out of this house!” Victoria ordered.
The black-tie guests turned toward Leah.
Not toward the open brake.
Not toward the woman pointing in diamonds.
Toward the server in the white apron.
Leah kept one hand on the chair and examined the exposed latch with the other.
“I didn’t push her.”
Victoria stepped closer.
“You were standing behind her.”
“I was the only person who ran.”
Measured footsteps sounded from the staircase.
Ethan Harrington descended to the landing.
“What happened?”
Victoria answered immediately.
“The server tried to send your mother down the stairs.”
Leah carefully removed a small object wedged inside the brake mechanism.
A diamond charm.
She opened her palm toward Ethan.
“This was jammed inside the brake.”
Victoria froze.
Ethan studied the charm, then looked at her wrist.
One setting on her diamond bracelet was empty.
Victoria quickly moved her hand behind her back.
Ethan held the loose diamond beside the missing setting.
“Why was your diamond inside my mother’s brake?”
Mrs. Harrington reached back and took Leah’s hand.
Victoria’s face turned pale.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Because Leah stole my bracelet before the gala.”
