Aaron hesitated.
Victoria’s stomach dropped.
“What?”
“Not theft.”
“What, then?”
“Information control.”
She stared.
“Explain.”
Aaron folded his hands.
“Thomas had unusual access.”
“Family residences.”
“Schedules.”
Vehicle movements.”
“Guest lists.”
“But because he had been with your family since before most of us, nobody questioned it.”
“Including me.”
“Yes.”
Victoria looked away.
Aaron continued.
“There were incidents.”
“What incidents?”
“Missing items.”
“Small amounts.”
“Jewelry.”
“Cash.”
“Guest property.”
“You remember?”
She did.
Too many at once.
A watch disappeared from the Hamptons house seven years earlier.
A housekeeper named Elena Ruiz was fired.
A pair of sapphire earrings vanished after a charity weekend in Aspen.
A temporary wardrobe assistant was dismissed.
Cash disappeared from a guest suite during a conference at one of Sterling’s private lodges.
A valet was reported.
No charges held.
He lost his job anyway.
Victoria felt sick.
“Thomas was involved in those investigations.”
Aaron nodded slowly.
“Often first person to report inconsistencies.”
Her hands went cold.
“He gave me names.”
“Yes.”
“He told me Elena had been inside my room.”
“I remember.”
“He told me Andre had access to the guest car.”
“Yes.”
“Oh God.”
Aaron’s phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then looked at Victoria.
“We have Thomas.”
“Where?”
“Your father’s old carriage house.”
“He was packing.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Bracelet?”
“Not found yet.”
“Bring him to the estate office.”
Aaron hesitated.
“Police?”
“Not until I speak to him.”
“Victoria.”
“I need five minutes.”
Aaron’s face hardened.
“You get five minutes with security present.”
“Then law enforcement takes over.”
She almost reminded him she was his employer.
Did not.
Daniel Carter had already shown her the ugliness of assuming authority meant truth.
“Fine.”
Thomas sat in the old estate office forty minutes later.
He looked exactly like himself.
That was the unbearable part.
Silver hair neatly combed.
Charcoal coat.
Black gloves folded in his lap.
The same face that had smiled at every birthday.
The same hands that once bandaged Victoria’s knee when she fell off a bicycle.
Aaron stood near the door.
Two security officers remained outside.
Victoria entered.
Thomas stood.
“Victoria.”
She stopped.
“Sit.”
He did.
She remained standing.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Victoria placed the empty burgundy jewelry case on the desk between them.