Chapter 4 - Elena Said Laura Had Given Her The Ring
Elena’s first explanation came through an attorney.
Not to me.
She claimed Laura had gifted her the ring shortly before her death.
I almost laughed.
Laura barely knew Elena at the time.
Cole and Elena had been dating for less than a year.
The idea that my dying wife secretly gave one of the most sentimental pieces in her collection to her future sister-in-law was ridiculous.
Still, ridiculous is not evidence.
So we checked.
Laura had kept meticulous estate records.
Every jewelry item was photographed.
The ring appeared in the inventory six days after Laura’s death.
Location:
Mercer Family Vault — Box 4B.
Appraised value:
$41,500.
Sentimental designation:
For Mia Carter at adulthood. Not for sale unless required for Mia’s care.
That sentence settled the intent.
Then came the worse discovery.
The ring was not the only item missing.
A jeweler’s bracelet.
Two antique earrings.
A gold watch.
A sapphire pendant.
Eleven pieces total.
Most were less emotionally important than the ring.
But together they represented nearly $190,000.
I stared at the inventory.
This was no impulsive mistake.
Someone had been removing property gradually.
And because no one had audited the physical contents in almost three years, nobody noticed.
Nobody except Mia.
May you like
A seven-year-old.
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