I was standing in the foyer in my silk robe, confused and trembling, as two uniformed police officers stomped mud onto the pristine rugs. Victoria was giving the performance of a lifetime. She was slumped on the velvet chaise, a handkerchief pressed to her eyes, though I noticed her weeping didn’t smear her perfect eyeliner.
“I saw her!” Victoria wailed, pointing a shaking, accusatory finger straight at my face. “I saw her lingering near the safe yesterday! She’s always been jealous of me! She’s a gold digger who finally showed her true colors!”
“That’s a lie!” I screamed, the injustice burning my throat. “I never touched your safe! I don’t even know the combination!”
“Officers,” one of the policemen said, stepping toward me. “We need to check your personal belongings. Ma’am, please step back.”
They dumped my handbag onto the console table. Lipstick, receipts, a wallet—my mundane life scattered for inspection. They found nothing. But Victoria wasn’t done.
