Chapter 9: Roll Footage

"Five years ago," Lydia said into the microphone, "this necklace was stolen from the woman who raised me."

She stood on the stage in white silk with her hand on my mother's shoulder.

The emeralds lay green against my mother's throat.

"We never thought we'd see it again," Lydia said.

"Tonight it came home."

The ballroom applauded.

My mother touched the stones with two fingers and began to cry.

It was a beautiful performance.

I knew exactly how it ended.

Lydia looked down at me across the floor.

"And I want to say to someone who's here tonight," she said, softly, "that we forgive you."

A hundred heads turned.

The flashes began again from the side doors.

"Whatever you did, whatever you needed," Lydia said, "this family forgives you, Kerensa."

She said my name so gently that the whole room sighed.

I felt Torsten's hand close around mine.

"Go," he said.

"Now?"

"She's given you the stage."

He let go.

I walked across the floor with every face following me.

I climbed the steps.

Lydia's smile didn't move.

"Kerensa, sweetheart," she began.

I held out my hand for the microphone.

She hesitated.

My mother rose and made a small sound.

Behind the stage curtain, a man from the hotel's audio crew was watching me.

Torsten had gone to find him an hour ago.

Lydia gave me the microphone.

"Thank you," I said.

My voice carried through the room.

"I'd like to show you what happened to that necklace."

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