Richard turned his back on his wife and looked up at the wall near the hall mirror. Mounted discreetly near the top corner was a small security camera lens. The mansion was equipped with a state-of-the-art surveillance system that recorded every angle of the main floor twenty-four hours a day. Richard walked over to the digital control panel mounted on the wall right beside a framed American flag artwork.
Richard: Wait. Rewind the camera footage from the foyer right now.
Victoria: Richard, this is absurd! You are wasting time while a thief stands in our house!
Richard: If she is a thief, the camera will prove it. Why are you so nervous, Victoria?
Victoria: I am not nervous! I am insulted that you don't take my word over a maid's word!
The large wall-mounted monitor clicked on, displaying a clear high-definition feed of the foyer from earlier that morning. The time stamp on the bottom of the screen read eight fifteen in the morning. On the monitor, Sarah could be seen setting her brown leather duffel bag down on the marble table before picking up her cleaning bucket and walking up the stairs.
Richard: Fast forward three minutes.
The video sped up. The foyer was empty for a short moment. But then, a figure stepped into the frame from the master bedroom hallway. The screen showed Victoria, wearing her green silk dress, holding the sparkling diamond necklace in her right hand. She looked around nervously, checking both directions to ensure no security guards or staff members were watching her.
Sarah: Oh my goodness...
On the screen, Victoria walked quickly to the marble table, unzipped Sarah's duffel bag, dropped the heavy diamond necklace inside, and carefully zipped it back up. She then adjusted her dress, wiped her hands, and walked toward the living room with a wicked smile on her face.
Richard: Stop the tape right there.
The foyer fell completely silent. The high-pitched hum of the monitor was the only sound left in the large room. Richard stood motionless, staring at the frozen image of his wife dropping the stolen jewelry into an innocent worker's bag. Sarah gasped, holding her hand over her mouth in complete shock, while the security guards stared at the floor in awkward silence.
Victoria: Richard... I... I can explain everything!
Richard: Explain what? Explain how you tried to put an innocent young woman in prison?
Victoria: It isn't what it looks like! I was just trying to test her loyalty!
Richard: You framed her!