by Diane Darcy
“I know, Sweetie. But I promise you this. If she could have been here to see you now, she’d be so proud of you, so happy with how smart and pretty you are.”
Courtney turned and unexpectedly hugged Isabelle. “I’m going to miss you when I go to school. I missed you so much the year you left. And now I’m leaving you.”
Guilt stung Isabelle’s eyes as she hugged her sister, both for the year that she’d deserted Courtney when her sister was twelve, and for the fact that, as much as she loved her sister, she was excited that Courtney was grown up and leaving home so Isabelle could do the same. The sense of freedom she felt every time she thought about getting her own place was guilt-inducing and heady at the same time.
There was a knock at the door. “Is this a private party or can anyone join in?”
Courtney giggled. “Come in, Dad.”
The door opened and their father, Stephen Kenna, stood in the doorway and studied Courtney. Sudden tears glistened in his eyes. “Wow. You look fantastic.”
Courtney touched the elaborate hairstyle, half her light-brown hair anchored in an updo, the rest curling around her neck and down her back. “I could never do this on my own. Izzy did my hair and makeup.”
Isabelle smiled. “Practice makes perfect.”
Dad chuckled and wiped his eyes. “It’s handy to have a genuine beauty queen in the family, isn’t it?”
Isabelle leaned over to pick up a shirt and a pair of jeans from the floor. “That was five years ago, Dad. I’m not sure I qualify any more.”
“Once a beauty queen, always a beauty queen,” he corrected, but he was looking at Courtney. “I have something for you, little girl.” He pulled out a black jeweler’s box and handed it to her. “But I don’t want you to get too excited, because it’s only on loan. If you aren’t home at midnight, then this will turn you into a pumpkin.”
“Glass slippers?” teased Courtney as she plucked the box from his hands, growing excitement on her face. “Izzy, oh my gosh, it’s from Wilder’s!” She cautiously opened the box and gasped. “Oh. My. Gosh.” She glanced up. “Dad, how did you get this? It’s the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life! Izzy, look at this!” She turned the box around, cradling it like something precious.
Isabelle saw why. Her own breath caught, even as her stomach sank as she gazed at the beautiful necklace. The golden, star-shaped pendant glittered with oblong rubies, teardrop diamonds, and square cut sapphires.
Dad was grinning. “It’s called The Starfire.”
“The Starfire,” Courtney said reverently as she turned the box slowly. The light from above caught the jewels and the entire piece seemed to sparkle and shine, a live thing showing off for its audience. Courtney’s mouth curved into a smile. “I’ll be the most blinged-out girl at the prom.”
Isabelle wished she could share her sister’s excitement, but her stomach was starting to ache. “Dad, are you allowed to borrow jewelry from your store?”
He shrugged. “I’m the manager now, so it’s fine. We’ll have it back first thing in the morning and no one will be the wiser.”
“But--”
“Don’t worry, Izzy. I like being able to provide pretty things for my girls. Even if they are only just for one night.”
“Dad, hurry.” Courtney handed him the box. “Help me put this on before Daniel gets here.” She took off the scarf she’d admired earlier and let it flutter to the floor as Dad took the necklace out of the box, lifted it over Courtney’s head, and clasped it around her neck.
Courtney moved to stare into the mirror, mesmerized, and Isabelle couldn’t blame her. The necklace was amazing, shimmering against Courtney’s skin, the brilliant stones glowing with life.
In a fast movement, Courtney turned and threw her arms around Dad’s neck. “It’s fantastic, Dad. Just fantastic. Thank you.”
Isabelle wanted to protest, but with her sister so excited, with the two of them hugging and, for once, showing some solidarity, she just couldn’t get herself to do it. That didn’t mean she wasn’t worried. Courtney might be a genius at schoolwork, but she certainly wasn’t known for her common sense. To let her out of the house wearing what looked like a fortune in jewels scared Isabelle half to death.
There were so many warnings Isabelle longed to give, but instead she said, “Just don’t lose it.”
Courtney rolled her eyes and placed her fingers against the jewels. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”
Isabelle turned away, unable to look at the necklace for another moment. “Come on, let’s go outside and get some pictures before your date gets here.”
On the front lawn, Courtney posed in the sunshine as Isabelle snapped pictures, both of Courtney alone, and also with Dad.
“Wow, you look like a princess.”
Isabelle turned to see Rosie, the eight-year-old girl who lived two doors down, her eyes wide as she studied Courtney.
“Thanks, Rosie.” Courtney dipped into a curtsy.
“My cat just had babies.”
“Really?” said Isabelle. “I’ll have to come over and see them sometime.”
“Me, too,” said Courtney.
“Okay. But Queenie is sort of a meanie around her kittens, so you’ll have to be careful so she doesn’t scratch you.”
“I’m going back inside,” said Courtney. “I don’t want to get caught posing when Daniel gets here. See you, Rosie.”
A few minutes later, Isabelle waved goodbye to Rosie. “Tell your mother I said hello.” She made her way back to the bedroom she shared with Courtney. She watched as her sister positioned her curls around her neck and admired herself, and the necklace, in the mirror.
The doorbell rang.
“He’s here. You guys answer the door and then call me like I’m still getting ready or something. Then I’ll come out in a few minutes, okay?”
“All right.” With one last concerned look at the necklace, Isabelle moved down the short hall and into the living room. She did a quick check to make sure the apartment looked presentable. It did. They might still be renting after all these years, and many of their possessions came from thrift stores, but things had been looking up for them for a while now. She’d managed to add a few nice touches: nice furniture, throw pillows, family photos, and decorations. Their place was pretty and homey. She stood behind Dad as he opened the front door.
“Hello, you must be Daniel.” As always her father had impeccable manners, a trait that made him a good salesman, and even when he used to be drunk all the time, he’d never quite lost his charm.
“Yes, sir.” The boy, blond, buff, and a little on the pretty side, was all smiles. “Is Courtney ready yet?”
“Izzy, will you go tell Courtney her date is here? Come on in, Daniel. Tell me about yourself.”
Izzy headed down the hall and knocked lightly on the door. Her sister opened it and waved her inside, her eyes sparkling. “Do you think I’ve waited long enough?”
Isabelle smiled at her sister’s dramatics. “Yes.”
“Okay. How do I look?”
“Gorgeous.”
“What did you think of Daniel?”
“He’s a cutie.”
“He is, isn’t he?” Courtney took a breath. “Okay, let’s do this.”
Isabelle followed behind Courtney as she made her grand entrance and watched the two kids greet each other, exchange the corsage for the boutonniere, then pose for the pictures Dad took. They looked beautiful and carefree and, after they left, Isabelle finally acknowledged that, until they returned with the necklace intact, she wasn’t going to be able to completely relax.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” she asked her father.
“Sure. Erin’s coming over soon. Is Hondo okay?”
Isabelle chuckled. She would have preferred a romance, but Erin and Dad both loved western movies and anything starring John Wayne made the top of the list. “Sounds good.” At this point, anything that would take her mind off the necklace was a good thing.
; ~~~
Isabelle yawned and glanced at the clock as Erin plucked a card from the pile, then discarded another. “Don’t worry, it’s almost midnight. She’ll be home soon enough.”
Isabelle grinned sheepishly as she took her turn. “That obvious, huh?”
Dad reached for the discard. “She can’t help it. She’s always been a mother hen with Courtney.”
Erin shot Dad a pointed look. “She’s had to be, hasn’t she, Stephen?”
Brows furrowing, Dad glanced at Isabelle. “You’ve got me there.”
As the two continued to banter, Erin never letting Dad get away with anything, Isabelle bit back a smile. When Courtney went off to school, and Isabelle left home, Dad would be just fine. It wouldn’t surprise her if he and Erin married soon. It was working out for everyone and she couldn’t be happier.
Isabelle’s thoughts turned to Adam, the guy who’d asked her out twice now. His persistence, and the way he’d looked at her, was flattering to say the least. Her friends at the hospital were wrong about her. She’d dated. She’d simply stopped when it had become too complicated. Men tended to take up a lot of time and energy, commodities that had been in short supply when she’d been working, going to school, and spending time with Courtney.
But now? Again she thought of the way Adam had looked at her this afternoon, and felt warmth blossoming in her chest. He’d been awfully quick to ask if he could help her move, obviously trying to insinuate himself into her good graces, and into her life. Who knew what could happen between them? One thing was for sure, based on the way she felt whenever she spoke to him, she was ready to find out.
She heard muffled voices coming from outside, and then Courtney’s high-pitched laughter, and then more talking. After a moment of silence that went on far too long, Isabelle wondered if she should step outside, or maybe switch the porch light on and off. Just when she was considering getting up, Courtney finally opened the door, then shut it quickly behind her.
She was all smiles. “Ask me who had the best prom any girl has ever had in her entire life.”
“Who?” asked Dad.
“Me!”
Erin grinned. “I take it your date went really well?”
“It did. We’re going out again on Monday.”
As Courtney continued to chatter about what a great night she’d had, Isabelle studied her neck. She couldn’t see the necklace, but surely Courtney’s hair had to be hiding it.
Showing off her dress, Courtney twirled around for Erin, and when her hair lifted, Isabelle could plainly see Courtney’s neck was bare. “Courtney, where is the necklace Dad loaned you?”
Courtney’s hand shot to her throat and she patted the skin and gasped. Her face drained of color. “I don’t know!”
Isabelle’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood.
Dad slowly stood, as well. “Courtney, we have to find that necklace. Did you put it in your purse?”
Courtney shook her head wildly. “I didn’t take a purse.”
Dad paced to the kitchen counter and put his hand to his forehead.
Erin looked confused. “What necklace? What’s going on?”
“We…we…” Dad turned to face Isabelle and tears shimmered in his eyes. “The necklace. We have to look for that necklace. He was stammering. “I…it’s got to be here.” He looked at Courtney. “Are you sure you don’t have it?”
Izzy hurried to her sister and lifted her hair to expose her bare neck. She ran her fingers through her sister’s thick hair, then searched the floor. “It’s not here.”
“That…it…the necklace is worth $100,000. I could go to jail if my boss finds out I took it.”
Courtney started to wail.
Dizziness swept over Isabelle and she placed a hand on the wall to steady herself. $100,000? What had he been thinking to loan such a valuable necklace to a teenager? How could this possibly be happening? “Okay, everyone. This is no time to panic. We’re going to find the necklace. We have to.”
Erin stood. “Courtney, go to your room and take off the dress. Maybe the necklace slipped inside.”
Courtney rushed into her bedroom and Isabelle followed and unzipped the dress before stepping back into the hall. A few minutes later, Courtney wrenched open the door. Dressed in her bathrobe, tears running down her face, she shook her head. “It’s not there.”
Isabelle hurried into the room and shook out the dress. Nothing. Woodenly, she walked back into the living room to see Courtney all alone, lowering her cell phone. The younger girl shook her head. “Daniel isn’t answering. His phone went dead earlier when we were taking pictures at the dance and sending them to our friends. Izzy, what do I do?”
“Did you have the necklace on at the prom?”
Courtney scrolled through the pictures on her cell phone. She nodded. “I was wearing it at dinner and then afterward at the prom. Look.” She held up a picture of herself and three grinning girlfriends, and the necklace was plainly visible.
“Was that the last picture you took of yourself?”
Courtney nodded. “Yes. I accidentally left my phone in the limo when we went for ice cream afterward. We walked down to the beach, then after, we dropped everyone off and went home.”
“What limo service did you use?”
“I don’t know. Daniel set it up.”
“Okay. Call your friends and see if any of them have pictures of you at the ice cream shop, at the beach, or in the limo.”
Courtney was shaking her head. “After we got our ice cream we walked on the beach. But not together. As couples. We sort of split up to be alone, you know? And I don’t think anyone took pictures in the limousine at the end of the night. We’d sort of done all that before.”
“Give it a try,” said Isabelle. I’m going to start searching outside.” Isabelle went to the drawer where they kept the flashlight and joined her father and Erin. Erin was using the flashlight app on her cell phone as they searched the sidewalk.
Isabelle searched the grass between the apartments clear to the parking lot. When Courtney came outside to tearfully tell them no one had any more pictures, Isabelle had her sister lead them to the exact spot she’d exited the limousine.
They didn’t find the necklace.
Isabelle reached up to wipe at the sweat beading on her forehead. “Let’s go to Daniel’s house and see if he found it. If not, we’ll get the phone number for the limo driver from him.” She turned to see Dad pacing, his hand pressed to his mouth, his face pale.
Her heart went out to him. “Don’t worry, Dad. We’ll find it.”
They had to. They didn’t have a choice.
Chapter Two
THEY’D LOOKED EVERYWHERE. THEY’D WOKEN Courtney’s boyfriend, but Daniel hadn’t seen it and couldn’t remember when she’d last been wearing it. He’d joined with them in searching the school parking lot with flashlights. They’d looked outside the ice cream store, shined flashlights in windows, then scoured the beach. They were all holding out hope that the limo driver would have it, or that it would be found inside the school, or at the ice cream shop. But for now, there was nothing more to do but wait for morning.
Dad finally sent Erin home and a red-eyed Courtney to bed.
Isabelle was trying to hide it, but she was furious. How could her father have done something so stupid? How could Courtney? Why hadn’t she stopped them? She tamped down her anger. “We’ll find it tomorrow, Dad. I just know it. It’s probably in the limousine. You’ll be able to replace it and no one will be the wiser.”
“My boss will notice it’s missing right away,” Dad admitted, as he sank down onto the couch and put his head in his hands.
“But as the manager, can’t you hide that it’s gone for a little while? Even for one day while we look?”
Dad rubbed his face then sat back. “The owner comes in every Sunday morning at ten o’clock when the store opens. I was planning to go in early and put it back before he arrived. It’s his best piece. He’s really proud of it and ask
s me every time I talk to him if I’ve sold it yet. He’ll notice it’s missing right away. Frank, my assistant manager, will be there to witness the whole thing. He’ll be glad about this. The thought of him gawking…” Dad shook his head.
“Maybe you could go and talk to the owner at his house. Try and explain we’re still looking for it.”
“I…I just…I can’t.”
“It’s better than doing it in front of witnesses. Do you know where he lives?”
Reluctantly, he nodded. “I’ve had to pick up and drop off jewelry a few times.”
“Then we’ll go out to his place bright and early.”
“I can’t.”
Isabelle sat down beside him, perched on the edge of the couch. “Why not?” she asked softly.
“I’m afraid of him. He scares me. I don’t know what he’ll do.”
“Dad, I’ll go with you. You don’t have to do this alone.”
After a long pause, he finally nodded. “Okay. Okay.”
She patted his leg. “But for now, let’s try and get some sleep.”
She watched as her father stumbled to his bedroom, his shoulders slumped, looking older than ever before. She sincerely hoped there wasn’t any alcohol in the apartment. The last thing they needed right now was for her father to fall off the wagon and start drinking again.
A few minutes later, she headed to her room and was glad to see Courtney was already asleep. Isabelle got ready for bed, set her alarm clock, and climbed between the sheets. Exhausted, on the verge of tears, she choked back a sob. How could this happen right now? Right when their little family was doing so well? Would his boss press charges? They just needed a little more time to find the necklace. It would show up. She was sure of it.
~~~
The next morning at exactly nine a.m. Isabelle’s father pulled into the driveway of his boss’s house. If it could be called a house. Isabelle gaped. “He lives in The Castle?”
Dad’s only response was to swallow and nod as his hands gripped and loosened repeatedly on the steering wheel.