Chapter 3 - The Trap Springs ShutFor three agonizing seconds, no one breathed.
Celeste looked down at the platinum key, then up at Evelyn, her lips parting in a triumphant, theatrical smirk. She dropped to her knees, snatched the key from the floor, and held it up for the entire room to see like a trophy hunter displaying a rare kill.
“Well, well, well!” Celeste shrieked, theatrical shock dripping from every syllable. “Look at what fell from the child’s toy! The master key to the vault containing the family heirlooms! Mason, are you blind? She didn't just steal the necklace—she was planning to clean out the entire safe tonight!”
Evelyn felt the blood drain entirely from her face. The room began to spin. No. No, Lily’s toy was just a stuffed animal. She never touched the safe. She didn't even know what a vault was!
“That’s impossible,” Evelyn whispered, her voice cracking. “Lily never leaves my side. She found that toy in the charity bin last week. I swear to you, I didn’t take any key!”
“Save your lies for the magistrate, maid,” Celeste spat, stepping forward with venomous triumph. She turned to Jerry, the aging security guard. “Jerry! Do your job! Arrest her! Handcuff them both before they escape!”
Jerry looked miserable, his hands trembling as he reached for his belt, pulling out a pair of cold steel handcuffs. He looked at Evelyn, his eyes full of apology. “I’m sorry, Evelyn... orders are orders.”
Before the cold metal could touch Evelyn’s wrists, Mason’s hand shot out, gripping Jerry’s forearm like a steel vice.
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“Nobody is touching her,” Mason commanded, his voice shaking with suppressed fury. He stared directly into Celeste’s triumphant eyes. “Because that key hasn't been used in five years. And more importantly... the vault it opens was emptied by me this morning.”
Celeste’s triumphant smirk instantly froze on her face.
