The sound of the zipper opening felt extremely loud in the silent foyer. Sarah pulled the leather sides apart, her heart sinking into her stomach. She expected to see only her spare work uniform, an old water bottle, and her small lunchbox. But as the light caught the inside of the dark bag, a bright sparkle reflected off the marble walls.
Resting right on top of her folded blue uniform was an elaborate, glittering diamond necklace. The large stones caught the natural sunlight, casting tiny rainbows across the polished counter and the framed American flag decor hanging behind them. The necklace was worth more than Sarah could ever hope to earn in ten years of hard labor.
Victoria: Look! There it is! I told you she was a thief!
Sarah: No! No, this isn't possible! I didn't put that in here!
Victoria: You dirty little liar! You thought you could hide it and walk out the front door!
Sarah burst into hysterical tears, covering her face with her trembling hands. The weight of the accusation felt like a massive wall collapsing on top of her. If Richard called the police, she would go to prison for grand larceny. Her life would be completely ruined, her reputation destroyed, and her sick mother would lose her home to the bank foreclosure without any financial support.
Sarah: Mr. Sterling, please! You have to believe me! I have been loyal to your family for three years!
Victoria: Loyalty means nothing when greed takes over! Richard, call our family lawyer and the police right now!
Richard: Victoria, quiet down for one minute.
Richard stepped closer to the table, looking down at the sparkling necklace inside the bag. He did not look happy or victorious. Instead, his brow furrowed as he stared at the way the necklace was lying. It wasn't wrapped in cloth or hidden away in an inner pocket. It was placed right on top, almost as if someone wanted it to be found immediately upon opening the bag.
Richard: Sarah, did you leave this bag unattended at any point this morning?
Sarah: Yes! I left it on the table near the hallway while I was cleaning the master bathroom upstairs!
Victoria: She is making up excuses! She realized she was caught and now she is trying to blame someone else!
Richard: Victoria, stop talking. Sarah, who was in the hallway while you were upstairs?
Sarah: I don't know, sir! I was upstairs for almost twenty minutes!
Victoria took a quick step forward, reaching out her manicured hand to snatch the leather bag off the table. Her face was flushed red, and her eyes darted nervously toward the hallway corridor.
Victoria: We don't need to ask any more stupid questions! The evidence is right here in her bag! Fire her and let the police take her away!
Richard: Put the bag back down on the table, Victoria.
Victoria: Why are you questioning me, Richard? I am your wife!
Richard: Because something about this situation does not make any sense at all.