By three in the afternoon, the rain was pouring down outside hard.
Thunder rolled across the roof of the dark stone estate in waves.
Lily was walking slowly up the grand stairs to fetch her book.
She held the silver metal handrail with her tiny right hand tightly.
Margarethe stepped out from the upper hallway shadow without making sound.
Margarethe: Give me that red stone off your neck right now, girl!
Lily: No! My daddy told me never to give this to anyone!
Margarethe: Truth cannot hide forever inside this big house today!
Margarethe reached out with her fingers and grabbed the thin gold chain.
She pulled hard until the tiny metal clasp snapped with a pop.
The red ruby beads snapped off and began to fall down fast.
Lily lost her footing on the slick edge of the polished step.
Lily: Help me, Daddy! I am falling!
She slipped backward near the upper carved railing of the grand staircase.
A cloud of tiny bright red gems scattered into the open air.
Lily screamed loudly as she lost her balance on the high edge.
Down in the foyer, David heard his daughter's sharp cry of horror.
David: Lily!
He rushed out from the side office like a fast moving lightning streak.
He saw his small daughter tumbling off the top landing through space.
The scattered red rubies fell through the bright air around her dress.
David sprinted past the large American flag hanging on the high wall.
His black boots slid across the shiny white marble floor with speed.
He dove across the slick tile surface with his arms open wide.
He caught Lily firmly in his arms right above the hard floor.
They slid across the marble tiles amidst dozens of red rolling beads.
David pulled his daughter close against his chest and held her tight.
He was breathing heavily as his heart hammered against his ribs hard.
David: I got you, baby girl. I got you safe right now.
Lily was sobbing heavily with her small face buried in his coat.
Lily: She tried to push me down the big stairs, Daddy!
Lily: She snatched my mother's red necklace right off my neck!
David cradled the back of her head as his body shook with rage.
He looked up slowly toward the high upper staircase landing above them.
Margarethe stood looking down at them with a cold pale frozen face.
Margarethe: She slipped on her own long dress, it was an accident.
David: You are going to pay for what you did to my daughter!
Margarethe: You cannot prove anything that happened on these stairs today!
David: I will make sure you lose everything you ever cared about!
David gently stood up while holding Lily securely in his warm arms.
He looked at the floor and saw the broken gold pendant piece lying there.
The heavy ruby center had split open from the hard falling impact.
Inside the hollow stone lay a folded piece of clear micro paper.
David wiped the tears from Lily's wet cheek with his soft thumb.
David: Stay right here with me, sweetheart, the truth is finally out.