Carter stepped closer to the police officer while Elena continued to cry out in distress. The officer began leading the handcuffed maid down the light marble steps toward the police car. Victoria stood at the top of the stairs, smiling smugly as she watched the innocent maid suffer.
Elena: SIR, I DIDN'T STEAL ANYTHING!
Officer: Ma'am, step toward the car now. You can explain yourself at the station.
Victoria: THE JEWELRY WAS FOUND INSIDE HER BAG! Take her away!
Carter remembered something crucial that he had installed just last month. After a recent renovation, he had set up high-definition hidden security cameras throughout the hallway and bedrooms. Victoria did not know about these new cameras because Carter had kept the mobile app private on his personal smartphone.
Carter quickly pulled his phone from his suit jacket pocket. His fingers moved fast across the glass screen as he tapped open the live security playback feed. He selected the timestamp from thirty minutes ago, focusing entirely on the master bedroom door.
Carter: Officer, stop right where you are! Do not take her anywhere yet!
Victoria: Carter, why are you stopping them? The proof is right in front of us!
Carter: Just give me ten seconds, Victoria. I am checking the footage.
Victoria's smug expression instantly vanished, replaced by a sudden flash of panic. Her hands began to tremble slightly against her golden dress. Carter looked down at his smartphone screen as the video recording began playing clearly in high definition.
On the video screen, Victoria was seen walking quietly down the empty hallway. She glanced around nervously to make sure nobody was watching her. She opened the master bedroom drawer, grabbed the diamond pouch, and walked straight toward the staff break room where Elena's bag was sitting open.
Carter watched in utter disbelief as Victoria slipped the velvet pouch directly into Elena's bag. She zipped the bag back up, adjusted her hair in the mirror, and walked away with a cold, calculated smile. The video timestamp proved everything happened just minutes before Victoria raised the alarm.
Carter: You evil, cruel woman...
Victoria: What are you looking at, Carter? Why are you staring at your phone like that?
Carter: Come look at this screen right now, Victoria.
Carter turned around slowly on the marble steps, holding his phone up high. He stared directly into Victoria's eyes with pure anger, his jaw tight with fury. The officers stopped in their tracks and looked up at the couple on the stairs.