Chapter 1 — The Kitchen Confrontation — Then Clara Pulls a Hidden Roll of Cash From the Black Handbag
When Clara walked into the kitchen and found the young girls in tears, she knew something was desperately wrong.
Sophie and Emma stood near the center island, their shoulders shaking as they tried to quiet their sobs.
“Where did it go?” Clara demanded, her voice cutting through the tense air of the bright modern room.
Clara immediately started digging through the black handbag resting on the white quartz counter.
She pulled out handfuls of crinkled receipts and loose papers, scattering them across the smooth surface.
The girls watched in agony as Clara laid out a long grocery tape.
Clara pointed directly at the mismatched totals and unaccounted expenses printed down the paper.
Without hesitation, Clara reached deep back into the dark interior of the bag.
Her fingers closed around a thick, rubber-banded roll of cash.
She pulled the bills out into the harsh overhead light.
Clara turned around sharply, holding the money up directly in front of Martha.
Martha stood by the refrigerator wearing a thick grey sweater, her hands frozen mid-motion.
Martha froze in absolute horror.
Her eyes went wide with shock as the stolen money and receipts were displayed right in front of her.
“Explain this,” Clara said, the paper rustling in her grip.
Martha swallowed hard, her chest rising and falling beneath the grey wool.
“That bag isn’t mine,” Martha stammered, her voice shaking as she backed away toward the hallway.
“It belongs to Allison.”