The officer’s hand disappeared into the pocket of Madison’s cream jacket.
Nobody spoke.
Thirty relatives stood around my parents’ living room, watching him search the jacket while Madison stared at me as if she could force me to look away.
I didn’t.
A second later, the officer pulled out a small black velvet box.
Derek inhaled sharply.
Madison’s face emptied of color.
“What’s that?” the officer asked.
No one answered.
He opened it.
The diamond bracelet glittered beneath the living-room lights.
For several seconds, the only sound was the soft jazz track still playing through my father’s speakers.
Then Madison found her voice.
“I don’t know how that got there.”
The officer looked from the bracelet to her.
“This is the missing item?”
Derek nodded slowly.
“Yes.
That’s the bracelet I gave her.”
Mom stepped forward so quickly that wine sloshed from the glass in her hand.
“There must be some mistake.
Emma did something.
She must have put it there.”
That was the remarkable part.
Not one minute earlier, Mom had been ready to believe I’d stolen a diamond bracelet without seeing a shred of evidence.
Now the bracelet was sitting in her favorite daughter’s own jacket, and suddenly evidence wasn’t enough.
Dad pointed at me.
“You planted it.”
I almost laughed.
“Interesting,” I said.
“Five minutes ago, finding it in someone’s possession was apparently all the proof you needed.”
“Don’t get smart with me,” he snapped.
One of the officers raised a hand.
“Sir, we’re going to sort out what happened.
Everyone needs to stay calm.”
Madison stepped toward him.
“She put it there.
I know she did.
She came here angry because she wasn’t invited.
She wanted to ruin the party.”
“Did you see her put it in your jacket?” he asked.
Madison hesitated.
“No, but—”
“Did anyone?”
Silence.
Then a tiny voice came from near the hallway.
“Mommy?”
Every head turned.
Kloe stood beside the staircase clutching the hem of her dress.
Madison immediately stiffened.
“Sweetheart, go upstairs.”
Kloe didn’t move.
The officer softened his voice.
“It’s okay.
You can stay with your dad if you want.”
Derek crouched beside his daughter.
