She had no answer.

I looked at the inventory records again.

There was a pattern.

Every damaged item had one connection.

A person who approved the final reports.

A person with access to everything.

Daniel noticed my expression.

“You know something.””

I looked at him.

“No.””

But I did.

Because the name on the screen was familiar.

Too familiar.

The assistant director of sales wasn’t just an employee.

She was someone who had worked beside my father for twelve years.

Someone he trusted.

Someone I trusted.

I touched the screen.

“Are you sure these records are accurate?””

Daniel nodded.

“Yes.””

I stared at the name.

Then my phone rang.

The caller ID appeared.

My father.

I answered immediately.

“Dad?””

His voice was tense.

“Evelyn, where are you?””

“At the downtown boutique.””

There was a long pause.

Then he said something that made my heart stop.

“Leave that store immediately.””

I frowned.

“Why?””

Another pause.

Then his voice became quieter.

“Because the person who damaged that dress knows you found out.””

I looked around the boutique.

Every employee suddenly seemed different.

Everyone had a secret.

Everyone had a reason.

“Dad,” I whispered, “who is it?””

His answer came slowly.

Chapter 3: The Name on the List

“It’s someone standing inside that store with you right now.””

My father’s words stayed in my ear.

I slowly lowered the phone.

Nobody moved.

The boutique had gone so quiet that I could hear the faint hum of the recessed lights above us.

Daniel stood behind the counter, one hand resting against the tablet.

Chloe was several feet away, pale and rigid.

Three sales associates were gathered near the jewelry display.

And at the far end of the room, a woman in a charcoal suit stood perfectly still.

Helen Mercer.

Assistant Director of Sales.

She had worked for my father for twelve years.

She had attended family dinners.

She had sent me birthday cards.

When I was nineteen and my mother died, Helen had been one of the first people outside my family to sit beside me at the funeral.

I stared at her.

She stared back.

Then she smiled.

It was a small, careful smile.

“Evelyn,” she said, “is something wrong?””

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“Dad says I should leave.””

Helen’s eyebrows lifted.

“Why would he say that?””

“I asked him who was involved.””

Her smile disappeared.

“And?””

I looked directly at her.

“He gave me a name.””

Daniel glanced between us.

“Miss Evelyn…”

Helen interrupted him.

“Daniel, you’re upsetting her with all this speculation.””

“Speculation?”” I repeated.

She turned toward me.

“Yes. We found a problem with inventory. That does not mean anyone here stole anything.””

“Then you won’t mind if we check the access records.””

Her face remained calm.

“Of course not.””

I nodded.

“Good.””

Daniel opened the records.

Helen walked closer.

“I think we should handle this professionally.””

“We will.””

“Then perhaps you should stop accusing employees based on incomplete information.””

“I haven’t accused anyone.””

Her gaze sharpened.

“You were looking at me.””

“Because you were looking at me.””

For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then Chloe suddenly stepped forward.

“Miss Mercer…”

Helen turned.

“What?””

Chloe swallowed.

“The dress.””

Helen’s eyes flicked toward the emerald gown.

“What about it?””

“The seam was already damaged when I picked it up.””

Helen’s expression changed.

Barely.

But I saw it.

“So?”” she asked.

Chloe looked nervous.

“I was told to pull it from the display anyway.””

Daniel stiffened.

“Who told you that?””

Chloe looked at Helen.

Helen’s voice became cold.

“Be careful, Chloe.””

Chloe immediately looked down.

That was enough for me.

I turned to Daniel.

“Pull the raw security footage from the fitting-room corridor.””

Daniel nodded.

Helen took one step forward.

“Evelyn, I think your father would prefer this handled privately.””

I met her eyes.

“My father told me to leave.””

“Yes.””

“But he didn’t tell me to stop looking.””

She exhaled slowly.

“You don't understand how serious this is.””

“I understand exactly how serious it is.””

I pointed toward the screen.

“Three million dollars in questionable inventory adjustments.””

Helen folded her arms.

“And you think I did that?””

“I think someone did.””

“Then perhaps you should look at the actual evidence before ruining someone’s career.””

I smiled faintly.

“That's why we're looking.””

Daniel entered a password.

Another screen appeared.

A list of employee access cards filled the monitor.

Dates.

Times.

Restricted areas.

Item numbers.

I leaned closer.

There was the emerald dress.

Accessed at 9:12 a.m.

Again at 9:15.

Again at 9:21.

Then my own name appeared.

9:32 a.m.

I frowned.

“That’s impossible.””

Daniel looked confused.

“You entered the store around 9:30.””

“Yes, but I never touched the inventory system.””

“That isn’t what this says.””

I stared at the screen.

Someone had used my employee identification number before I even arrived.

Helen spoke softly behind me.

“Perhaps someone made an administrative error.””