Chapter 3 - The Caller Mentioned The Gala
Daniel’s expression changed immediately.
“What gala?”
Emma looked at him.
“The Sterling Foundation gala. Tomorrow night.”
Daniel had known about the event.
He had not known Emma planned to attend.
She was going as a guest of designer Rebecca Hale, whose scholarship
program Emma had supported for years.
The emerald gown was meant for that event.
Officer Grant obtained the boutique’s security footage.
The main showroom cameras were working.
The alterations corridor camera was not.
It had gone offline at 8:52 that morning.
A technician had supposedly scheduled maintenance.
The security company had no record of a service request.
Grant reviewed the front entrance footage.
At 9:07 a.m., a woman in a beige coat entered carrying a garment bag.
Victoria recognized her.
“Chloe.”
Chloe worked as assistant manager.
She entered the alterations room.
Twenty-six minutes later, she left without the garment bag.
At 10:14, Victoria’s login changed Emma’s appointment from blue to
emerald.
At 12:40, Chloe clocked out early.
Emma arrived at 12:51.
Grant called Chloe.
No answer.
Daniel looked toward Victoria.
“Why did Chloe have an emerald gown in a garment bag before the
appointment changed?”
Victoria shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Emma studied her.
Victoria was nervous.
But not in the same way as before.
Now she looked hurt.
Then Grant found another detail.
The emerald gown was not boutique inventory.
Its tag number belonged to a private consignment account.
Owner:
Margaret Hale.
Emma recognized the surname.
Rebecca Hale.
The woman who invited her to the gala.
Daniel did too.
“Is Margaret related to Rebecca?”
Victoria answered quietly.
“Her mother.”
Emma frowned.
“I thought Rebecca’s mother died.”
“She did.”
“Then why is her dress here?”
Victoria looked toward the gown.
“Because Margaret wore it twenty-seven years ago.”
The needle had been hidden inside a vintage gown.
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And someone had deliberately arranged for Emma to wear it to Margaret
Hale’s daughter’s gala.
