Chapter 6 - The Maid They Tried to Destroy|
The police arrived at the diner within minutes.
Officers photographed the shattered window, interviewed witnesses, and collected evidence from the street.
Nobody had been seriously injured.
But the message was unmistakable.
Someone wanted Lucia Navarro frightened enough to disappear.
Luca insisted that she be moved somewhere safe while Naomi arranged independent protection and prepared an emergency court filing.
Lucia refused to let Moretti's men decide everything.
"I've survived worse than being threatened by rich men," she told him.
Luca didn't argue.
For once, he listened.
By early afternoon, Lucia had been relocated to a secure location arranged through Naomi and a local legal organization.
The police had been informed about the threats.
I thought that meant the worst part of the day was over.
I was wrong.
When I returned to the mansion, the housekeeper, Mrs. Delaney, was waiting outside my bedroom.
Her face was unusually pale.
"Claire, there's been a problem."
I stopped.
"What kind of problem?"
She glanced toward the hallway.
"Mrs. Moretti says a diamond bracelet is missing."
I felt my stomach sink.
"All right."
"She says it was found in your room."
For several seconds, I didn't understand the words.
"My room?"
Mrs. Delaney nodded miserably.
I pushed past her.
My bedroom door stood open.
Vanessa sat in the armchair beside my window, holding a velvet jewelry box.
Two security guards stood behind her.
On my bed lay a glittering diamond bracelet.
I had seen Vanessa wearing it at a charity dinner the previous month.
She claimed it was worth more than my annual salary.
"There she is," Vanessa said.
Her smile made my skin crawl.
"Did you have a nice morning, Claire?"
I stared at the bracelet.
"What's going on?"
Vanessa sighed.
"Don't insult me by pretending you don't know."
"I've never touched that."
"Really?"
She lifted the bracelet.
"Then why was it hidden underneath your mattress?"
I looked toward Mrs. Delaney.
The older woman avoided my eyes.
Vanessa rose.
"I've tolerated your little performances long enough."
My heart hammered.
"Mrs. Moretti, I didn't steal anything."
She stepped closer.
"You've spent months trying to make my husband believe you're some helpless little angel."
"That's not true."
"And now you're stealing from me."
I shook my head.
"Someone put that bracelet here."
Vanessa laughed.
"Of course."
Then she held up her phone.
"Perhaps you'd like to explain these messages."
On the screen were screenshots of conversations supposedly sent from my number.
They appeared to show me discussing money with someone named Julian.
One message read that I could get access to Luca's private office.
Another claimed I wanted payment before handing over certain documents.
I stared at the screen in disbelief.
"I never sent those."
Vanessa tilted her head.
"Then someone must have stolen your phone too."
I reached into my pocket.
My own phone was still there.
The messages were obviously fabricated, but I knew fabricated evidence could destroy a reputation before anyone bothered checking the truth.
Vanessa folded her arms.
"I've already called the police."
A cold feeling spread through my chest.
"You what?"
"I'm reporting a theft."
Mrs. Delaney stepped forward.
"Mrs. Moretti, perhaps we should wait for Mr. Moretti."
Vanessa turned on her.
"Nobody asked for your opinion."
I could barely breathe.
For three years, I had worked every holiday and every weekend when the family needed me.
I had cleaned rooms larger than my mother's apartment.
I had accepted criticism without answering back.
I had swallowed insults because the salary paid my bills.
And now the woman who had left Rex chained outside was trying to turn me into a criminal.
The hallway suddenly filled with footsteps.
Luca appeared in the doorway.
He looked from Vanessa to the bracelet on my bed.
"What is this?"
Vanessa immediately changed her expression.
"Oh, Luca."
Her voice trembled.
"I'm so glad you're here."
She hurried toward him.
"I caught Claire stealing from us."
I opened my mouth.
But Vanessa continued.
"She was working with the man who entered your office."
Luca looked at me.
For one terrible moment, I thought he might believe her.
Then he asked a simple question.
"Who found the bracelet?"
Vanessa blinked.
"What?"
"Who found it?"
"Peter."
Luca turned toward one of the guards.
"Peter, is that true?"
The young man stiffened.
"Yes, boss."
"Why were you searching Claire's bedroom?"
Peter glanced at Vanessa.
"Mrs. Moretti requested it."
"On whose authority?"
Nobody answered.
Luca stepped inside.
"Marco."
Marco appeared behind him.
"Yes, boss."
"Show me the hallway footage."
Vanessa's expression changed.
"That isn't necessary."
Luca ignored her.
Marco opened his tablet.
The footage showed Peter entering my room shortly before noon.
He carried a small rectangular object in his hand.
He remained inside for less than two minutes.
Then he returned to the hallway.
Vanessa stared at the screen.
"That proves nothing."
Marco played another recording.
This one showed Vanessa handing Peter a velvet jewelry box near the staircase.
The timestamp was clearly visible.
11:47 a.m.
I covered my mouth.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Luca turned slowly toward his wife.
"Explain that."
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
"I asked him to look for my bracelet."
"Before you reported it missing?"
She said nothing.
Luca looked at Peter.
"Did she pay you?"
The guard's face turned gray.
"Boss, I can explain."
"Then explain."
Peter swallowed.
"She said Claire was stealing confidential information."
I stepped forward.
"That's a lie."
Luca raised one hand gently.
"I know."
Those two words almost made me cry.
Vanessa suddenly shouted.
"You're taking her side over your own wife!"
Luca's expression remained cold.
"I'm taking the side of the evidence."
Marco checked the guard's phone.
Peter had exchanged messages with a contact linked to Julian Mercer.
Luca ordered him removed from duty and told Marco to preserve the records for the police.
Peter began protesting.
Then he looked directly at Vanessa.
"You said nobody would check the cameras."
The room went silent.
Vanessa stepped backward.
Luca's voice dropped.
"What else did she ask you to do?"
Peter hesitated.
Then he answered.
"She wanted access to the spare keys for the garden doors."
My hands turned cold.
Luca didn't move.
Peter looked down.
"And she told me to disable the alarm on your father's office."
Vanessa shook her head violently.
"He's lying."
But nobody believed her.
Luca turned toward me.
"Claire, I'm sorry."
I stared at him.
He continued.
"This should never have happened in your own room."
Something in my chest finally loosened.
I had expected him to thank me for helping Rex.
I hadn't expected him to apologize for something his wife had done.
Before I could respond, Naomi called.
Luca answered.
I watched his expression change as she spoke.
Then he looked directly at Vanessa.
"Naomi found the notarized resignation from Lucia Navarro."
Vanessa went still.
Luca continued.
"According to the document, Lucia signed it last November."
He paused.
"But hospital records show she was recovering from surgery that day and says she never signed anything."
Vanessa's lips parted.
Luca took one slow step toward her.
"Who forged Lucia's signature?"
For the first time, Vanessa had no answer.
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And I realized the bracelet had never really been about jewelry.
It had been about removing the one person who refused to stop asking questions.
