Chapter 4

Pushed to her absolute limit, her face still sticky from the margarita, her blouse torn, Sarah pulled out her phone. Her hands were surprisingly steady.

The party-goers, momentarily paused by her sudden calm, watched with derision.

"What's she gonna do, call her mommy?" Brittany taunted, clinging to David's arm.

Sarah ignored them. She dialed 911.

"911, what's your emergency?" The operator's voice was calm, professional.

"I need to report a trespass, assault, and theft at my property," Sarah stated clearly, her voice cutting through the lingering music. She gave her address.

The crowd went quiet. David' s face, which had been a mask of annoyed indifference, now showed genuine alarm. Brittany looked confused, then scared.

"Theft?" Brittany scoffed, but her voice trembled. "What theft?"

Within minutes, the wail of sirens grew louder, and two local police cars pulled up, lights flashing, casting unsettling strobes across the debauched party scene. The music died abruptly.

Two officers stepped out, their presence instantly sobering the atmosphere.

"What's going on here?" one officer asked, his gaze sweeping over the scene – Sarah disheveled, David and Brittany defiant, the crowd of young people suddenly looking less sure of themselves.

Sarah stepped forward. "Officer, I am Sarah Miller. This is my house. These people are trespassing. I was assaulted, and that young woman," she pointed directly at Brittany, "is wearing a stolen piece of jewelry belonging to my family."

All eyes turned to Brittany's wrist. The antique diamond bracelet sparkled innocently.

"It's a Hamilton family heirloom," Sarah continued, her voice firm. "An antique diamond bracelet. Its appraised value is well over six figures."

A collective gasp went through the remaining party guests. Brittany's face went pale.

"It was a gift!" Linda Evans, the housekeeper, suddenly interjected, stepping forward. "David gave it to her for her birthday!"

David looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him.

"A gift?" Sarah raised an eyebrow. "That's interesting, Linda. Because I have photographs of my grandmother wearing this exact bracelet at numerous family events over the decades. I also have the original purchase receipts and the most recent appraisal documents. I doubt David has ever seen six figures in his life, let alone spent it on a gift."

The officers exchanged a look. The mention of "six figures" and "heirloom" changed the dynamic. This wasn't just a drunken squabble.

"Ma'am," one officer said to Brittany, "can you explain how you came to possess this bracelet?"

Brittany stammered, "He... David, he gave it to me."

"Mr. Carter?" the officer turned to David.

David looked trapped. "It was... a misunderstanding. I thought..."

"You thought you could give away my grandmother's priceless heirloom to your mistress?" Sarah finished for him, her voice like ice.

The police, seeing the clear value and Sarah's confident assertion backed by evidence she could produce, decided to take things seriously.

"Miss Evans, Mrs. Evans," the officer said, "we're going to need you to come down to the station to answer some questions regarding a potential grand larceny."

Brittany started to cry. Linda looked furious but helpless.

As the officers escorted a wailing Brittany and a stone-faced Linda towards their cars, David rounded on Sarah, his face contorted with rage.

"Are you happy now?" he hissed. "You've made a scene! You involved the police! You're ruining everything!"