Chapter 7 - The Master Returns
Elodie was dragged through the grand foyer, the tears streaming down her face blurring her vision. She was a dead woman walking. The officers flanked her, their grips iron-tight on her arms. Ms. Thorne followed closely behind, already dictating a statement to one of the deputies.
"It breaks my heart," Ms. Thorne lied smoothly. "We tried to give her a chance, despite her background. But trash will always be trash, I suppose."
They reached the massive front doors. An officer reached out to open them.
Before his hand could touch the brass handle, the doors violently swung inward.
Julian Astor stood on the threshold. He wasn't in New York. He wore a heavy black overcoat, rain plastering his dark hair to his forehead. His breathing was heavy, and the look on his face was one of absolute, murderous fury.
"What the hell is going on here?" Julian’s voice cracked like thunder through the foyer.
The officers froze. Ms. Thorne gasped, taking a sudden step backward. "Mr... Mr. Astor! You were supposed to be in Manhattan!"
"My helicopter was grounded by the weather," Julian snarled, his eyes locking onto the handcuffs biting into Elodie’s wrists. He walked forward, closing the distance in three long strides, and inserted himself directly between the officers and Elodie. "Take those off of her. Now."
"Sir," the lead officer said respectfully but firmly. "We found stolen property in her possession. The Astor Emerald Brooch. Your head housekeeper caught her."
Julian didn't look at the officer. He slowly turned his head to look at Ms. Thorne. The older woman swallowed hard, her pristine facade beginning to crack under the weight of his stare.
"You found it in her coat," Julian stated flatly.
"Yes, sir," Ms. Thorne squeaked. "Sewn into the lining. A classic thief's trick."
"Fascinating," Julian said. He reached into his overcoat and pulled out his smartphone. "Officers, before you arrest my archivist, I think you should view something. When I inherited this estate, I discovered the security system was antiquated. I had it upgraded last week. Specifically, I installed microscopic, motion-activated cameras in the staff quarters."
Ms. Thorne’s face drained of all color. She looked like she was going to be physically sick. "Sir... that is a violation of privacy..."
"It is my house, Ms. Thorne. And given what I just found on the server, it was a necessary precaution," Julian said. He tapped the screen and handed the phone to the lead officer.
May you like
The video was crystal clear, shot in high-definition night vision. It showed Ms. Thorne sneaking into Elodie’s room, pulling the brooch from her pocket, and frantically sewing it into the hem of the coat.
Elodie let out a breathless sob, her knees giving out. Julian caught her by the arm, supporting her weight just as he had done in the gallery weeks ago.
