Marcus smiled without humor.
“I've been careful all afternoon.”
He looked toward Chloe.
“You're going to need to make a decision.”
She swallowed.
“About what?”
“Whether you're going to tell the truth now or wait until the cameras tell it for you.”
Chloe looked at the floor.
The officers noticed.
Daniel noticed too.
And that was when the front doors opened.
An elderly man entered.
He wore a dark navy suit, carried a silver walking cane, and had the unmistakable posture of someone accustomed to entering rooms where everyone else stood up.
Daniel turned.
His expression collapsed.
“Mr. Laurent.”
Julian Laurent stopped.
He looked around the showroom.
At the customers.
At the police.
At the broken display.
Then he saw Marcus.
Something in his face changed.
Not recognition.
Shock.
He walked closer.
“Who is that?”
Daniel stepped toward him.
“Sir, there was an incident.”
Julian ignored him.
He stared at Marcus.
Then at the cuffs.
“Take those off him.”
Officer Grant frowned.
“Sir, this man is being detained in connection with—”
“I know exactly who he is.”
Daniel went pale.
Marcus said nothing.
Julian Laurent turned toward his manager.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Why is Marcus Ellison handcuffed in my showroom?”
Nobody moved.
Julian's voice became quieter.
“Why?”
Daniel looked as though the floor had disappeared beneath him.
“Mr. Laurent, we believed—”
“You believed?”
Julian stepped closer.
“I personally approved that appointment.”
Marcus watched him.
Julian continued.
“I received confirmation from his office this morning.”
Daniel stared at him.
“I wasn't aware—”
“That is your problem.”
Julian turned to the officers.
“Officer, may I see the appointment record?”
Officer Grant looked uncertain.
Julian pointed toward the private reception desk.
“It's there.”
Chloe hurried over.
She opened the tablet.
The appointment appeared.
Marcus Ellison.
Four o'clock.
Private collection.
Special handling authorization.
Security clearance.
At the bottom was a note.
Julian leaned closer.
His face changed again.
Marcus saw it.
“What does it say?” Officer Grant asked.
Julian didn't answer immediately.
He looked at Marcus.
Then at Daniel.
Then back at the screen.
Finally he said:
“The appointment was authorized by the Laurent family office.”
Daniel stared.
“So?”
Julian slowly turned the tablet around.
At the bottom of the appointment was a second name.
Evelyn Ellison.
Daniel blinked.
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
Julian looked at him.
“Mr. Ellison, did your wife know you were coming?”
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.”
Julian smiled faintly.
“She called me herself.”
Marcus frowned.
“She did?”
“Yes.”
Julian looked toward the locked private room.
“She told me this was supposed to be a surprise.”
Marcus stared.
“A surprise?”
Julian nodded.
Then he looked toward Daniel.
“And apparently she was not the only person who arranged something today.”
The atmosphere changed.
Julian walked toward the security office.
“Bring me every camera recording from the last two hours.”
Daniel's voice shook.
“Sir—”
“Every camera.”
“Of course.”
“And lock the doors.”
Daniel froze.
Julian looked at him.
“No one leaves until I understand why a paying client was assaulted inside my store.”
The police officers exchanged glances.
Marcus remained silent.
For the first time since the incident began, he felt something other than anger.
Curiosity.
Because Julian Laurent had said something that didn't make sense.
Someone else had arranged something.
And Marcus was beginning to suspect that the missing diamond had never been the real problem.
The security room was small and windowless.
Six monitors covered one wall.
Julian stood in front of them.
Marcus remained near the doorway.
Officer Grant stood beside him.
Officer Torres had begun taking notes.
Daniel hovered near the desk.
Chloe sat in front of the computer.
“Start from when Mr. Ellison entered,” Julian said.
The footage appeared.
Marcus watched himself walk through the front doors.
Chloe greeted him.