Victoria backed up toward the main entryway with her teeth tightly clenched.
She smoothed down her rumpled orange satin dress with trembling fingers.
Victoria: You will regret this day!
She grabbed her designer purse off the marble entry console table.
Richard: My divorce lawyer will call you.
Richard kept his left arm wrapped securely around his small daughter.
Maya stopped crying loudly but kept her arms clamped around her father.
Sarah took a slow step backward into the wide grand foyer.
Sarah: Should I call the police?
Richard: Yes, please call them now.
Victoria pulled a sleek black phone from her small purse quickly.
Victoria: Call whoever you want to call!
She glared across the high ceiling hallway at the quiet house maid.
Victoria: She was stealing from your safe!
Richard looked down at his daughter before glancing at his wife.
Richard: Sarah has worked here five years.
Richard: She has never lied to me once.
Victoria laughed with a cruel sharp tone that echoed off marble.
Victoria: Check your study desk safe then!
She pointed her long painted fingernail toward the wide hallway doors.
Victoria: Your late wife's diamonds are gone!
Sarah shook her head back and forth with utter disbelief showing.
Sarah: That is not true at all!
Sarah: I never go near your safe!
Richard felt a deep heavy knot tightening inside his lower stomach.
He knew Victoria had been spending money heavily for three months.
He had noticed large missing amounts from their shared bank account.
Richard: Show me what you mean.
He carried Maya down the hallway toward his private office door.
Sarah followed two paces behind to offer her full support.
Victoria walked after them with a triumphant sneer on her lips.
Victoria: You will see who is loyal!
They entered the large wood paneled study at the hallway end.
The heavy iron safe behind the desk sat wide open today.
The velvet jewel boxes inside were entirely empty and scattered about.
Richard stared at the empty black velvet with dark heavy eyes.
Richard: Where are Eleanor's rings?
Victoria pointed her hand directly toward Sarah's apron pocket now.
Victoria: Check her apron right now!