The Locker That Opened Itself
Chapter 07 - The Locker That Opened Itself
The Bellmont had replaced its employee lockers two years earlier. Every lock kept a digital history.
Elena’s locker had been opened three times the previous day.
At 6:02 a.m., with Elena’s employee badge.
At 12:41 p.m., with Elena’s employee badge.
And at 3:11 p.m., with a Legacy Access override.
The same blue card Charlotte had dropped onto the marble floor.
Richard ordered everyone out of the room except Noah.
“This proves nothing,” he said.
“It proves Elena didn’t put the bracelet there at 3:11.”
“She could have done it earlier.”
“Then why use a Legacy card to open her locker?”
Richard rubbed his forehead. “We are not accusing a Wynn family member of planting evidence.”
“I didn’t say a Wynn family member.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Noah lowered his voice. “Someone used Charlotte’s card. Someone disabled the camera. Someone put that bracelet in Elena’s locker.”
Richard walked to the window.
“Do you know what happens if you are wrong?”
Noah looked toward the door Elena had just walked through.
“Do you know what happens if I’m right and we bury it?”
Outside, Elena sat alone on a bench in the service hallway.
Charlotte passed without looking at her.
Elena stood.
“Mrs. Wynn.”
Charlotte stopped.
“Your mother left something for you.”
Charlotte turned slowly.
For the first time, anger disappeared from her face.
“What did you say?”
Elena held her gaze.
“I tried to give it to you fifteen years ago.”
Charlotte’s voice became almost inaudible.
May you like
“My father told me you stole from her.”
And suddenly, the bracelet was no longer the only missing thing between them.
