Chương 8
“You knew who Maya was.”
“Yes.”
“You knew the brooch had been found.”
“Yes.”
“And you still put her on the staffing request.”
Paige swallowed.
“I didn’t know what your mother would do.”
“But you knew she hated her.”
Paige looked at the table.
“I knew she remembered her.”
Avery’s voice became very quiet.
“That’s not an answer.”
“No.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
Paige’s eyes filled.
“Because I am very good at my job.”
Avery stared.
Paige gave a broken little shrug.
“That is the ugliest true answer I have.”
Nobody spoke.
Grant had heard better excuses.
He had also heard worse truths.
Paige continued.
“I solve problems before they upset your mother. I remember names she wants remembered and forget things she wants forgotten. I tell florists they misunderstood her. I tell hotels there was a communication issue. I apologize to drivers. I send gifts after dinners. I pay people who shouldn’t have had to ask twice.”
Avery looked sick.
“You make her harmless.”
“No.”
Paige shook her head.
“I make the damage quiet.”
That sentence stayed in the room.
Daniel was the first to move.
“Ms. Morrison, do you still have records related to the Beaumont brooch?”
Paige nodded.
“Email inventory?”
“Yes.”
“Messages with Mrs. Sterling?”
“Yes.”
“Do not delete them.”
“I won’t.”
“Will you provide them if requested by the appropriate authorities?”
Paige looked toward Avery.
Then at Grant.
Then down at her hands.
“Yes.”
Avery left the room without another word.
Noah followed.
This time she did not tell him not to.
In the crew mess, Maya had begun collecting herself by doing something she understood.
She folded napkins.
Tessa walked in and stopped.
“Why?”
“They were uneven.”
“They’re paper.”
“So?”
“So you’re stress-folding cocktail napkins.”
Maya aligned another corner.
“I’m working.”
“You are off duty.”
“I don’t want to be off duty.”
Tessa pulled out the chair across from her.
“Maya.”
“What?”
“Grant found more.”
Maya’s hands stopped.
“What?”
Tessa had been told only enough to prepare her before Daniel came down.
“Vanessa requested you specifically for the party.”
Maya stared at her.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because of that hotel dinner.”
The napkin in Maya’s hands tore.
She looked at the rip.
Then folded the torn piece anyway.
“She remembered me for four years?”
“Apparently.”
Maya began shaking her head.
“No.”
Tessa waited.
“That’s crazy.”
“Maybe.”
“She accused Elena. I barely said anything.”
“You contradicted her.”
“Because she was wrong.”
“I know.”
“I told security what I saw. That was it.”
“I know.”
“She remembered my face?”
“Yes.”
Maya pushed away from the table.
The room suddenly felt too small.
She walked to the sink.
Then to the refrigerator.
Then back.
“Did she charter this yacht because of me?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Avery’s engagement was planned months ago.”
“So she saw my crew profile and—what? Decided to ruin my life between champagne service and cake?”
Tessa did not answer.
Maya turned.
“Say something.”
“I don’t know enough yet.”
“I’m tired of everyone being responsible with words.”
“That’s because irresponsible words put you here.”
Maya flinched.
Tessa immediately regretted it.
“I’m sorry.”
“No. You’re right.”
Maya sat again.
Her anger had become strangely cold.
“Was the brooch ever found?”
Tessa hesitated.
That was the answer.
Maya stared.
“No.”
“It was found at Vanessa’s house.”
“When?”
“Two months after the dinner.”
The room seemed to tilt despite the yacht moving smoothly.
Maya pressed her palms against the table.
“She knew?”
“Yes.”
Maya’s face emptied.
Tessa expected anger.
What came instead was embarrassment.
Maya looked down at her uniform.
At the navy vest she had ironed twice before the party.
At the white blouse she had changed after getting a tiny spot of citrus oil on the first one.
At the name badge Vanessa had stared at as Maya defended herself.
“I was so scared,” she said.
Tessa’s throat tightened.
Maya rubbed the edge of the badge with her thumb.
“I actually thought maybe I did something.”
“What?”
“I don’t know.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“I know.”
She looked up.
“When she said it with everybody watching, I started going through my entire night. Did I pick up the wrong bag? Did somebody hand me something? Did I touch the case and forget? I knew I didn’t. But she was so sure.”
Tessa said, “That’s what certainty does.”
Maya stared at the torn napkin.
“I want to talk to her.”
“No.”
“I wasn’t asking.”
“I’m still saying no.”
“Tessa.”
“You are furious, and she is cornered. That is a terrible combination.”
“She needs to tell me why.”
“She may not.”
“Then I need to ask.”
Tessa leaned forward.
“Why?”
Maya opened her mouth.
Nothing came.
Because she deserved an explanation sounded weak.
Because Vanessa owed her one sounded true but useless.
Because Maya thought understanding might put the world back in order was the real answer, and she disliked it.
Finally she said, “I don’t want her to get to decide what happened.”
Tessa studied her.
“That’s different.”
Daniel entered.
Maya looked immediately at his face.
He sat.
“We have enough information now that I’m going to make several things explicit.”
Maya’s shoulders stiffened.
“You are not suspected by me or by Grant of stealing Mrs. Sterling’s necklace.”
The sentence should have brought relief.
Instead Maya felt angry.
“Can I get that in writing?”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
She had expected resistance.
The quick answer almost undid her.
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Not after management reviews it.”
“Tonight.”
Tessa looked at him with mild surprise.
Daniel continued.
“I have notified yacht management that the video shows Mrs. Sterling placing the case in your bag. I have preserved the video and associated records. Management counsel is contacting the relevant authorities for our arrival.”
Maya’s mouth went dry again.
“Am I suspended?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Can management suspend me?”
“They employ you, so they can make employment decisions. If they ask me for my assessment, they will receive it.”
May you like
“What assessment?”
“That you were falsely accused while performing assigned duties.”
