Chapter 6 - THE MAN WHO WANTED THE BRACELET
Three days later, Emily noticed the gray sedan.
It was parked across from her apartment.
The driver wore sunglasses despite the cloudy weather.
She told herself it was coincidence.
Then she saw the same car outside Moretti Holdings.
And again near Daniel's college.
Her stomach tightened.
She called Vincent.
“I think someone is following me.”
His voice changed.
“Where are you?”
“At work.”
“Stay inside.”
Within minutes, Marco arrived.
He reviewed security footage.
The same sedan appeared outside the building twice.
Vincent joined them.
His expression was grim.
“Emily, I need you to tell me everything you remember about your mother's belongings.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because someone may believe she left you something.”
Emily looked down at her bracelet.
Vincent followed her gaze.
“Not necessarily that.”
That evening, Emily returned home with Marco nearby.
Daniel was waiting.
He looked pale.
“Em.”
She stopped.
“What?”
“Someone came here.”
Her stomach dropped.
“Who?”
“A man. Said he was from an insurance company.”
Emily stared.
“What did he want?”
Daniel swallowed.
“He asked about Mom.”
Emily felt cold.
“What did you tell him?”
“Nothing.”
He looked frightened.
“Then he asked whether you still had her bracelet.”
Emily instinctively covered her wrist.
Vincent's warning echoed in her mind.
Someone may believe she left you something.
The next morning, Emily brought the bracelet to a jeweler recommended by Vincent.
The jeweler examined it carefully.
Then frowned.
“Interesting.”
Emily leaned forward.
“What?”
He turned the bracelet beneath a magnifying lens.
“The clasp has been altered.”
Her heart began pounding.
“Altered how?”
He pointed toward a tiny seam.
“This compartment wasn't part of the original design.”
Emily stared.
The jeweler used a fine tool to open the clasp.
Inside was a tightly rolled strip of paper.
Yellowed with age.
Emily stopped breathing.
The jeweler handed it to her.
She carefully unrolled it.
There were four words.
And a number.
ST. AGNES — LOCKER 417.
Emily looked at Vincent.
His face had gone completely still.
“St. Agnes,” he whispered.
“What is it?”
He swallowed.
“The hospital where your mother worked.”
Emily stared.
May you like
Then he added:
“And the hospital where my father was pronounced dead.”
