“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.””
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.””
“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.
“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.””
“Maybe.””
She nodded.
“Exactly.””
“But there’s something interesting.””
Her expression tightened.
“My ID is only supposed to work with a biometric confirmation.””
Daniel slowly turned toward her.
Helen’s face went blank.
I looked at the employee records again.
“Who has administrative permission to override biometric verification?””
Daniel hesitated.
Only one person had that authority at the downtown location.
Then at Helen.
“The assistant director.””
Nobody spoke.
Helen laughed once.
“That's absurd.””
“Then give us your access card.””
She stared at me.
“My what?””
“Your access card.””
“Because if you have nothing to hide, you won't mind.””
Her eyes hardened.
“You cannot treat me like a criminal.””
“No,” I said.
“But I can ask questions.””
She glanced toward Daniel.
“Are you seriously allowing this?””
“I’m sorry, Helen.””
She stared at him.
“You’re sorry?””
Then something unexpected happened.
Helen reached into her handbag.
She pulled out her access card.
For a moment, I thought she was going to hand it over.
Instead, she dropped it onto the counter.
“Fine.””
Daniel picked it up.
He scanned it.
The system beeped.
His face changed.
“What is it?””
Daniel stared at the screen.
“This card was used at 9:11 a.m.””
Helen looked surprised.
“That can't be right. I wasn't here at 9:11.””
“Where were you?””
“At home.””
Daniel checked the camera attached to the front entrance.
Then he froze.
I watched him replay the clip.
A woman entered the boutique at 9:10.
She wore Helen’s exact charcoal suit.
Her face was partially covered by sunglasses.
But the handbag was unmistakable.
Helen's handbag.
The woman walked straight toward the private collection.
Nobody followed her.
Nobody stopped her.
She opened the cabinet containing the emerald dress.
Then she took something from her pocket.
A small silver blade.
Chloe gasped.
Helen went completely still.
“You said you weren't here.””
“I wasn't.””
“Then who was that?””
Helen didn't answer.
Daniel zoomed in.
The woman removed her sunglasses for only a second.
The image was blurry.
But there was enough.
Enough to see the face.
My stomach dropped.
Because it wasn't Helen.
It was Helen's daughter.
And she had worked in this very boutique three months earlier.
Chapter 4: The Woman Behind the Glass
Helen stared at the frozen image.
“No, that’s not possible.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“You know her.””
Helen didn't respond.
I did.
“That's your daughter, isn't it?””
Her lips parted.
“She was an employee here.””
“Was?””
“She resigned.””
“When?””
Helen swallowed.
“Six weeks ago.””
I looked at the screen.
The footage showed a woman who clearly knew exactly where the private collection was stored.
She knew which cabinet to open.
She knew how to bypass the staff areas.
And she had somehow used Helen’s credentials.
I looked at Daniel.
“Pull every recording from the past six months.””
Helen shook her head.
“This is getting out of control.””
“No,” I said quietly.
“It has been out of control for six months.””
She lowered her voice.
“Evelyn, listen to me.””
“I’m listening.””
“You don't know what you're looking at.””
“Then explain it.””
She looked toward Chloe.
“Not here.””
I glanced around the boutique.
There were only six employees left.
“Then tell everyone to leave.””
“You trust me enough to do that?””
“Clear the floor.””
Within minutes, the customers were guided outside.
The employees were sent to the back office.