The Necklace They Gave Me Last novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: Not Before

Susannah's POV

The call came through the company switchboard at six, from a young man who was whispering.

"Miss Sterrett? There's a man here named Gorman, and a woman in a camel coat, and a policeman. I'm in the alley behind the shop."

I was in the car before he finished the address.

Two of my new guards came with me, and neither of them asked why.

The shop door was open.

Dermot stood with his back half turned and one wrist already in a steel cuff.

Pauline stood close beside him, with her gloved hand on a ledger.

"Officer," I said.

Everyone turned.

Dermot's face changed, and he did not say a word.

"I'm Susannah Sterrett," I said to the officer. "I own the Sterrett house in Rhinebeck, and I run the company. Mr. Gorman went into that study with my permission and a key I gave him."

It was not quite true, and I said it flatly, to the officer's face.

"Ma'am, Mrs. Sterrett has made a complaint."

"Mrs. Sterrett doesn't live in that house anymore. I'm the owner, and I decline to press anything."

"It's her husband's study."

"My father resigned as chairman yesterday morning. Ask the nurse who witnessed it."

I took the ledger from under Pauline's glove.

She let me.

I opened it, and the old jeweler spoke from his chair, his voice cracking.

"The page with the check is marked with a ribbon, miss. One point nine million, to Mrs. Sterrett, eight months ago."

"That is a lie," Pauline said gently.

"There's your complaint," I said, and I handed the book to the officer. "Forgery, theft from a trust, and fraud on a company. Take her statement tonight if you like."

The officer looked at the page for a long time.

Then he took the cuff off Dermot's wrist and put it back on his belt.

"Mrs. Sterrett, I'll need you at the station."

"Of course," Pauline said. "I'll bring my attorney."

She looked at me.

Her face was perfectly kind.

"Saturday, darling," she said, so softly that only I could hear. "I have something of yours that I'd like to read out at the dinner."

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