Emma Was Blamed for a Missing Heirloom — Then Sarah Saw Its Tracker Inside Aunt Nicole’s Handbag
Chapter 2 — The Velvet Pouch
Nicole reached for the bag.
Sarah got there first.
She opened the zipper.
Inside were Nicole’s wallet.
Keys.
Makeup.
And beneath a scarf…
a dark green velvet pouch.
The tracker chirped again.
Sarah pulled it out.
Emma stared.
Nicole said quickly:
“I can explain.”
Sarah opened the pouch.
Helen’s emerald pendant was inside.
“You were accusing my daughter while this was in your bag?”
Nicole looked toward Emma.
“I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her.”
Sarah laughed in disbelief.
“You were standing here asking where it was.”
“Because I panicked.”
“About what?”
Nicole said nothing.
Emma suddenly whispered:
“She put it there.”
Sarah turned.
“You saw her?”
Emma nodded.
She had come upstairs looking for crayons.
Nicole was already inside the room.
The jewelry box was open.
Nicole had something green in her hand.
When Emma entered, Nicole jumped.
Then told her:
“Don’t touch anything.”
Nicole left briefly.
Emma stayed because she was confused.
Minutes later, Nicole returned and began demanding to know what Emma had done with the pendant.
Sarah’s expression hardened.
“You staged this.”
Nicole shook her head.
“Not exactly.”
“Then exactly what did you do?”
Nicole looked toward the jewelry box.
“I wasn’t looking for the pendant.”
Sarah stared at her.
“Then what were you looking for?”
Nicole whispered:
“The compartment underneath it.”
