Chapter 2 - THE BOY WHO SAW EVERYTHING
Clara wanted to ask a hundred questions.
Where had Margaret taken the necklace?
Why had she hidden it?
Who else knew?
But Idan was only seven years old, and his frightened expression told Clara that someone had already placed an unbearable burden on his shoulders.
She knelt in front of him.
"Sweetheart, you don't have to tell me anything that scares you."
Idan shook his head.
"But they're being mean to you."
Clara brushed his hair away from his forehead.
"That's something the grown-ups need to fix."
He looked at her.
"Will they put you in jail?"
Clara felt her heart break.
"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure the truth comes out."
Idan hugged her.
For a moment, Clara forgot the court summons, the overdue electric bill, and the newspaper photograph that had turned her into a stranger in her own neighborhood.
She was simply holding a little boy who missed her.
Then a car horn sounded outside.
Idan flinched.
"My nanny."
Clara looked through the window.
A black Mercedes was parked beside the curb.
A young woman hurried toward the house.
"Idan!"
The nanny, Vanessa, appeared breathless.
"Your grandmother is going to fire me."
Clara stepped onto the porch.
"He came here by himself?"
Vanessa looked ashamed.
"He told me he needed to use the bathroom at the park. I turned around for a moment, and he was gone."
Clara looked down at Idan.
"You must never leave without telling an adult where you're going."
"I know."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
Vanessa took his hand.
Before leaving, Idan turned back.
"Clara?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Don't throw away my picture."
Clara held it against her chest.
"Never."
That evening, Clara placed the drawing on her kitchen table.
Across from her sat a young woman named Maya Bennett.
Maya was twenty-four, a law student working under the supervision of an attorney at a neighborhood legal clinic.
She had met Clara through a community assistance program.
The clinic had agreed to review her case, but the Hamilton family's influence made the situation complicated.
Maya studied the drawing.
"Did you ask Idan to draw this?"
"No."
"Did you tell him what to put in it?"
"Of course not."
Maya nodded.
"Good."
She looked at Clara seriously.
"We need to handle this carefully. A child's statement can't simply be treated as proof without proper procedures."
Clara lowered her eyes.
"I understand."
"But it may give us a place to start."
Maya pointed to the black rectangle.
"Is that a camera?"
Clara nodded.
"Outside Mrs. Hamilton's dressing room."
Maya leaned forward.
"Does it record?"
"Yes."
"Who controls the footage?"
Clara hesitated.
"Margaret's private security office."
Maya sat back.
"Then we have a problem."
Clara looked at her.
May you like
"What problem?"
"If Margaret hid the necklace, she may also control the evidence that could prove it."
