Chapter 6 - The Trap
The silence on the balcony was sudden and cold.
Sarah froze, her gaze snapping from Victoria to the tablet screen in the older woman’s hand. “What? That’s impossible. I’ve been here at the museum all evening.”
“The digital access logs don't lie, Miss Carter,” Victoria said sneeringly, stepping forward and turning the tablet toward Michael. “At nine-forty-five, Sarah Carter’s master key fob was scanned at the third-floor vault door. Two minutes later, three rare archival gowns—valued at over four hundred thousand dollars—were removed from their cases. Security just found the vault open and empty.”
Michael looked at the tablet screen. His expression was completely unreadable—his face turning into a cold, granite mask that sent a shiver of terror down Sarah’s spine.
“Show me the security footage,” Michael commanded, his voice dropping into a flat, glacial register.
Victoria tapped the screen, pulling up a low-resolution security feed from the third-floor hallway. A figure wearing a long black coat, black gloves, and a silk scarf pulled tightly around her face could be seen scanning a master key fob, opening the heavy vault door, and walking out with three garment bags. The figure’s height and build were remarkably similar to Sarah’s.
“She framed her entire sob story to get access to the executive keys, Michael!” Victoria declared triumphantly, her voice rising. “She took advantage of your generosity, hired someone to execute the theft while she established an alibi here with you at the gala!”
Sarah felt the blood drain completely from her face. The velvet dress suddenly felt ice-cold against her skin.
She turned to look at Michael, her chest heaving as panic clawed at her throat. “Michael... I swear to you on my mother’s memory, I didn't do this. My key fob is in my purse right now.”
Sarah reached into her small evening clutch, pulled out her executive key fob, and held it out with a shaking hand.
Victoria laughed coldly. “It’s a duplicate, obviously. She had a copy made before coming tonight.”
Michael took the key fob from Sarah’s hand. He didn't look at Victoria. He stared down at the small black plastic piece, then looked directly into Sarah’s terrified gray eyes.
He saw no guilt in her face. He saw only horror, heartbreak, and the terrifying realization that her new, safe life was collapsing around her ears.
“Call Marcus,” Michael said softly, referring to his chief of global security.
“Marcus is already downstairs with the police, Mr. Brooks,” Victoria said eagerly. “We should have Miss Carter detained immediately before she can alert her accomplice—”
“Shut up, Victoria,” Michael said.
He didn't raise his voice, but the three words carried such a lethal, absolute authority that Victoria stopped talking instantly, her mouth hanging open in shock.
Michael looked at Sarah, his dark eyes fierce and steady. “Did you give your key fob to anyone today?”
“No!” Sarah whispered frantically. “I locked it in my office desk at five o'clock before going home to change. The desk was locked!”
“Who has master keys to the office desks?” Michael asked.
Sarah’s breath caught. She turned her head slowly to look at Victoria.
Victoria’s posture stiffened slightly, a flash of defensive anger crossing her eyes. “Are you implying that I had something to do with this? I have served this company for fifteen years!”
“Marcus,” Michael said into his encrypted earpiece, ignoring Victoria entirely. “Lock down the Fifth Avenue flagship immediately. No one enters or leaves the building. Review the external street feeds from the rear service alley for the last thirty minutes. And search Victoria Sterling’s private office safe.”
Victoria’s face turned from pale to an unsightly, mottled gray. “Mr. Brooks! You cannot search my private office! This is slander!”
Michael stepped closer to Victoria, his tall frame looming over her with terrifying intensity.
“If my security team finds nothing in your office, Victoria, I will personally apologize to you,” Michael said, his tone icy enough to freeze water. “But if I find out you attempted to frame Miss Carter to protect your own ego, I will ruin you so thoroughly that you won't even be able to get a job sweeping streets in this city.”
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He turned back to Sarah, taking her cold, shaking hand in his broad palm and wrapping his fingers around hers with protective strength.
“We are going to the store,” Michael said gently. “Together.”
