Emma Opened Her Hand and Revealed a Missing Ring — Then Michael Saw the Muddy Footprints Leading Through the House
Chapter 2 — The Locked Study
The study door was supposed to be locked.
Michael knew because Claire kept the only key in a drawer upstairs.
But now the door was open by several inches.
He pushed it wider.
The room looked disturbed.
Desk drawers were open.
Books had been pulled from shelves.
An old wooden cabinet stood with both doors hanging open.
Michael turned.
“Claire!”
She appeared at the end of the hallway.
Emma remained behind her holding Teddy.
“Did you do this?” Michael asked.
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
“Then who did?”
She stared at the muddy footprints.
Michael walked toward the desk.
Something had been forced open.
A small drawer beneath the writing surface.
The lock was broken.
Inside was empty.
Except for a strip of faded velvet.
Michael picked it up.
It looked like the lining of a jewelry box.
He turned toward Emma.
“Is this where you found the ring?”
Emma shook her head.
“No.”
“Where?”
She pointed toward the floor near the doorway.
“Right there.”
Michael understood.
The ring had probably fallen from whoever searched the room.
Claire stepped backward.
Michael noticed.
“You know something.”
“Michael…”
“Our daughter was sitting here crying while someone has apparently been inside our house.”
Claire looked toward Emma.
“I thought she had gone into the study.”
“She told you she found the ring.”
“I didn’t believe her.”
Michael’s expression hardened.
“Why not?”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Because I didn’t think anyone else knew the ring was here.”
Michael stared at her.
“Here?”
Claire had just admitted something important.
The supposedly missing ring had never really been missing.
