Chapter 7 - The Diamond Trap
Not everyone was happy with our new life.
Elena,
my ex-fiancée,
viewed Savannah as a threat to her social standing.
She believed that if she got rid of the "maid,"
I would return to the world of galas and gossip.
She came over one afternoon,
uninvited,
dripping in diamonds and desperation.
"David,
this is getting ridiculous,"
she said,
stepping over a pile of Leo’s blocks.
"The whole city is laughing at you."
"You've turned into a hermit for a child who can't even say thank you."
"Get out,
Elena,"
I said,
not looking up from the towel I was trying to fold.
(I was working on a cat,
though it looked more like a lumpy potato).
She huffed and walked toward the door,
but not before stopping near Savannah’s bag.
Later that evening,
Elena called me,
hysterical.
"My diamond watch is gone!"
she screamed.
"The one with the emerald surround!"
"I had it on when I came over,
and now it's gone!"
"That girl must have taken it!"
"She earns fourteen dollars an hour,
David!"
"Think about it!"
I felt a cold dread in my stomach.
Not because I believed her,
but because I knew how the world worked.
I went to Savannah’s room,
my heart heavy.
She was reading a book,
Leo asleep in the small bed next to her.
"Savannah,"
I said softly.
"Did you see a watch?"
She looked at me,
and I saw the old,
familiar flicker of 'the maid' in her eyes.
The invisible girl who was always the first suspect.
"I didn't take it,
Mr. Sterling,"
she said,
her voice flat.
"Search the bag,"
she said,
handing it to me.
I didn't want to.
But I had to know.
I reached into the side pocket,
and there it was.
The diamond watch,
shining like a snake in the dark.
Savannah went pale.
"I didn't..."
she whispered.
"I know,"
I said.
"I saw the security footage."
"I saw Elena drop it in there while you were in the kitchen."
I looked at the watch,
this symbol of everything I used to value.
I took it to the balcony and threw it into the night.
"Let the city have it,"
May you like
I said.
"We don't need that kind of light here."
