Chapter 2 — The Disputed Bag Ownership — Then Store Loyalty Records Reveal Who Actually Made the Purchases
Clara stared at Martha across the kitchen island.
The accusation hung heavy in the warm air.
“You expect me to believe Allison left a stash of cash and grocery receipts in a bag sitting on my counter?” Clara asked.
“She was just in here an hour ago,” Martha insisted, her voice pitching higher.
“Allison doesn’t even buy these groceries,” Clara said.
Clara looked down at the long strip of white paper in her hand.
She smoothed the crinkled thermal receipt flat against the quartz countertop.
The list of items was extensive.
It included expensive cuts of aged beef, imported cheeses, and specialty baking ingredients.
None of those luxury items had ever been brought into this house or prepared for family meals.
Footsteps echoed softly from the hallway entrance.
Allison walked into the kitchen, wearing a light blue cardigan and carrying a stack of mail.
“What is going on in here?” Allison asked, stopping short as she saw the cash and papers spread across the counter.
“Martha is claiming this bag and these grocery receipts belong to you,” Clara said, her eyes fixed on her sister.
“My bag?” Allison asked, frowning deeply.
“I haven’t carried a black leather tote in months. Mine is brown and it’s currently in my car.”
Allison stepped closer to the island, peering down at the items.
“Why would I buy expensive ribeye steaks and gourmet truffles?” Allison asked.
“I am vegetarian, Clara. You know that.”
Clara turned her attention back to the top of the grocery receipt.
A string of digits near the barcode caught her eye.
“There is a store loyalty number printed right here at the bottom,” Clara murmured.
Clara pulled her smartphone out of the pocket of her black skirt.
She opened the local grocery store application.
Without breaking eye contact with Martha, Clara began typing the loyalty digits into the search bar on her screen.
“Let’s see whose phone number is actually attached to these purchases,” Clara said.
Martha’s color drained instantly as Clara read the loyalty account name aloud from her phone screen.