Daniel appeared thirty seconds later.
The footage showed Marcus shaking his hand.
Nothing unusual.
Then Marcus entered the private showroom.
The necklace was brought out.
Chloe opened the case.
A second employee arrived.
Then another.
Julian leaned forward.
“Stop.”
Chloe paused the video.
Julian pointed.
“Who is that?”
Daniel answered.
“Tom Reeves.”
“Why was he there?”
“He handles inventory.”
Julian frowned.
“Inventory staff aren't authorized during private client consultations.”
Daniel hesitated.
“He was checking the vault list.”
Julian looked at him.
“Continue.”
The footage resumed.
A few minutes later, Marcus examined the necklace.
He never touched the loose diamond.
Chloe handled it.
Tom handled it.
Daniel handled it.
Marcus only looked.
Then something strange happened.
A man in a gray coat entered the corridor.
Marcus noticed him on the screen.
“Who is that?”
Daniel immediately answered.
“Courier.”
“Name?”
Daniel hesitated.
Julian looked at him.
“Name?”
“Samuel Pike.”
Julian frowned.
“We don't have a Samuel Pike.”
Daniel's face drained of color.
Officer Grant stood up.
“Stop the video.”
Chloe froze the image.
The gray-coated man was visible.
Julian walked closer.
“Zoom in.”
The image became blurry.
But one detail remained visible.
A small black case in the man's hand.
Marcus stared at it.
“I saw that case.”
Daniel looked at him.
“When?”
“Before the police arrived.”
Julian turned.
“Why didn't you mention it?”
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“Because nobody asked.”
Silence.
Julian looked at Chloe.
“Continue.”
The video moved forward.
The gray-coated man disappeared down the corridor.
Three minutes later, Daniel entered the showroom.
He spoke with Tom.
Then Tom left.
Then Daniel approached Marcus.
The video showed Daniel saying something.
Marcus remembered.
He had asked why his driver's license needed to be copied again.
Daniel had become defensive.
Then Marcus saw the moment.
Daniel reached toward the display.
The screen froze.
Chloe gasped.
Julian leaned closer.
“What is he doing?”
Nobody answered.
Daniel stepped backward.
“It's nothing.”
Julian turned slowly.
“What did you just say?”
“I was checking the display.”
“You were standing behind the client.”
“I was verifying the inventory.”
“Continue.”
Chloe pressed play.
Daniel reached into a drawer.
Then he looked around.
He removed a small velvet pouch.
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
Daniel placed it beneath a stack of paperwork.
Julian whispered:
“What is that?”
Chloe zoomed in.
The pouch was clearly visible.
Officer Grant looked at Daniel.
“What's inside?”
Daniel said nothing.
Julian pointed at the screen.
“Open that drawer.”
Daniel didn't move.
“Open it.”
Finally, Daniel walked into the showroom.
He returned with the pouch.
He placed it on the desk.
Julian opened it.
Inside was a four-carat diamond.
The same diamond Daniel had reported stolen.
The room went completely silent.
Officer Grant stared at it.
Then at Daniel.
Then at Marcus.
Marcus said nothing.
He didn't need to.
The evidence was speaking for him.
But there was still one question.
Why?
Why would a store manager hide a diamond and falsely accuse a customer?
Julian asked the question aloud.
“Daniel, what were you trying to accomplish?”
Daniel looked toward Marcus.
His expression had changed.
The confidence was gone.
“I made a mistake.”
“No.”
Julian shook his head.
“A mistake is putting the wrong file in the wrong cabinet.”
He pointed at the diamond.
“This was deliberate.”
Daniel's eyes filled with fear.
Marcus finally spoke.
“You knew who I was.”
Daniel looked at him.
“No.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Yes, you did.”
“I didn't.”
“You checked my identification three times.”
Daniel said nothing.
“You knew my name before I entered the private room.”
Still nothing.
“You knew my appointment had been confirmed.”
Daniel's silence was an answer.
Marcus continued.
“And you knew I was coming alone.”
Julian looked at Daniel.
“Why?”
Daniel finally collapsed into a chair.
He covered his face.
“I needed someone to blame.”