Chapter 5
Victor laughed.
Not loudly.
One short sound.
Disbelief performed for an audience that no longer existed.
“She came to me because she didn't know what she was looking at.”
Laurel stared at him.
“That isn't true.”
“You found a watch you thought was wrong.”
“I found two.”
Victor’s eyes sharpened.
Anthony watched both of them.
Laurel continued.
“I asked Victor because he controlled gallery security.”
Anthony’s face did not move.
That part was reasonable.
Victor had overseen high-value transports for years.
“What did he tell you?”
Laurel swallowed.
“He said the replicas were security copies.”
Marcia looked toward Victor.
“There are security copies.”
Laurel nodded.
“For certain heirlooms.”
Victor spread one hand.
“Exactly.”
Laurel’s eyes narrowed.
“But he told me not to mention it to Anthony until he verified the inventory.”
Victor’s mouth tightened.
Anthony caught it.
“How long was verification supposed to take?”
“Forty-eight hours.”
Anthony looked at Laurel.
“How long did you wait?”
She looked ashamed.
“Five days.”
“And then?”
“I went back to him.”
Victor interrupted.
“You accused senior staff without evidence.”
Laurel’s voice hardened.
“You showed me transfer records.”
Victor’s face changed.
Only slightly.
“You said the originals were being moved off-site because insurance coverage changed.”
Marcia slowly stood.
“What records?”
Victor looked at her.
That question had not been rehearsed.
Anthony noticed.
Laurel reached into her handbag.
Victor’s breathing changed.
She removed an old phone.
“I photographed them.”
Anthony looked at her.
“You kept this from me for seven months.”
“Yes.”
Pain entered her voice now.
Not fear.
“I thought I was protecting you from accusing your own family before I was certain.”
Anthony looked away.
The explanation hurt because it resembled every lie he had heard from relatives all night.
Protection.
Always protection.
Laurel saw his reaction.
Her hand loosened around the phone.
“I know.”
Anthony looked back.
“No.”
His voice stayed low.
“You know what you intended.”
A pause.
“You don't know what it cost.”
Her eyes filled.
Neither looked away.
Then the forensic team opened Laurel’s photographs.
The transfer records showed eleven watches moved into secondary storage.
Authorization:
Victor Vescari.
Security confirmation:
Marcia Vescari.
Marcia stared.
“I signed weekly transport bundles.”
Victor looked toward her.
“You knew pieces moved.”
“I did not know originals were being replaced.”
Victor’s mouth tightened.
The balance shifted again.
Then another photograph appeared.
A handwritten note attached to one transfer packet.
Laurel had photographed it accidentally.
Three words:
M HOLDING ACCOUNT.
Anthony looked at Marcia.
Her face went blank.
Victor leaned back.
“It means Marcia.”
Marcia’s breathing stopped.
Then the forensic accountant spoke.
“Maybe.”
He enlarged the code.
“But the money connected to these transfers doesn't go to Marcia.”
Anthony turned.
“Where does it go?”
May you like
The accountant looked toward Victor.
“A company controlled by him.”
