r. Before she coul
fee and a velvet jewelry box. She was wearing a pastel su
. "I brought you a goodb
flipped the lid open. Inside sat a diamond neckl
cre, the clarity VS2 at best. It was a
, her voice dripping with sy
the box on the desk, right next to he
a in a hug that felt more like a tackle. Ophelia stiffened, smelling
, Ophelia's left hand, which had been hanging limply at her side, moved with the speed of a striking snake. Her fingers brushed against the cool metal of the necklace in the open box on the desk, palming it. As Mia squeezed tighter in a mockery of affection, Ophelia's hand slid under Mia's arm, deposit
. "Get off me. You smel
er heel on the rug. She went
screamed.
trical. It
she'd been waiting in the hall. "What did you d
ching her ankle. "I just gave her
of her suitcase and hoisted her tote bag on
elled, pointing at the desk.
y. Her face was twisted in ugly tri
Opheli
"Richard, get up here! Sh
thless, his tie half-d
lace!" Susan pointed a manicured fi
a warrant," Ophe
voice deepening with authority he didn't possess. "O
ulting. She dropped the suitcase. She dropped the tote ba
u don't find what you're looking
e bag onto the floor. Medical books, cheap t-shirts, and toiletries spille
out a diamo
asped. "I told
fter everything we gave you? T
fingers. It was identical to the one in the box on
Susan hissed. "I
ress would have a field day. 'Barnes Foster Daughter Arres
ha
rve a dime. Consider it restit
blink. She reached into the medical book on the
now it. He had no idea that the entire Barnes enterprise was just a subsidiary, a small,
ard said, pocke
er neck, smirking. "Bye, Ophelia.
up her books, dusting them off
e me," she said. Her voice wasn't loud, but i
all, and toward the stairs. The Barnes family followed he
stopped. She didn't go to the front
ou going?" S
ed in front of the large, industrial trash
ed into h
amily
ed out a dia
She was wearing the necklace. But
a whispere
. Her finger hovered over the red button. She smiled, and
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