Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Never Came Back
Morgan left work twenty minutes later.
She told her supervisor she had a family emergency.
For once, that wasn't a lie.
Harper & Bell Jewelers occupied a narrow storefront near Chicago's historic Jewelers Row.
Inside, glass display cases glittered beneath warm lights.
A brass clock ticked above the counter.
An older woman with short silver hair stood waiting when Morgan entered.
"You called about the necklace?"
Morgan nodded.
"My name is Morgan Bennett."
"Elaine Harper."
The woman locked the front door.
Morgan stared at her.
"Why are you locking the door?"
"Because I'd rather not have customers walking in while we discuss this."
Elaine led her into a small back office.
Morgan carefully unwrapped the container.
Elaine's expression changed the moment she saw the black liquid.
"Oh, Lord."
"You recognize it?"
"Maybe."
Elaine put on protective gloves and examined the glass without opening it.
"Where did this come from?"
"My husband gave it to me."
"When?"
"Last night."
Elaine looked up.
"What's his name?"
"Julian Bennett."
The jeweler's face became unreadable.
"Does your husband have dark hair? About forty? Talks fast when he's nervous?"
Morgan felt a cold pressure in her chest.
"Yes."
Elaine stepped backward.
"Sit down, Mrs. Bennett."
"I'd rather stand."
"Please."
Morgan sat.
Elaine opened a drawer and removed a small notebook.
"About three months ago, a man came here asking whether we could modify a necklace."
Morgan's mouth went dry.
"What kind of modification?"
"He wanted a hidden compartment installed behind a decorative pendant."
Morgan looked at the glass.
"Like that one?"
"Very similar."
"What was it supposed to hold?"
"He wouldn't say."
Elaine closed the notebook.
"My technician refused the job."
"Why?"
"Because the man specifically wanted the compartment to open only after prolonged contact with moisture."
Morgan stared.
"That doesn't make sense."
"No," Elaine agreed.
"It doesn't."
"Was the man my husband?"
"I never met him personally."
"Then how do you know what he looked like?"
Elaine opened her laptop.
"We keep security footage for repair disputes."
She found a folder.
Clicked a video.
A man appeared on the screen.
Dark hair.
Expensive watch.
Charcoal jacket.
Julian.
Morgan pressed a hand over her mouth.
The date in the corner read July 17.
Three months earlier.
Julian leaned against the counter, speaking animatedly to a young technician.
Then he opened a velvet box.
Navy blue.
Morgan's knees weakened.
"He bought it three months ago?"
"He brought the setting here three months ago," Elaine corrected.
"That doesn't mean the necklace was finished then."
Morgan watched Julian push a folded paper across the counter.
The technician studied it.
Shook his head.
Julian argued.
Then abruptly snatched the paper back.
"What was on that paper?"
"A design request."
"Do you have a copy?"
Elaine hesitated.
"Possibly."
Morgan leaned forward.
"Please."
Elaine found the scanned work order.
It contained a drawing of a small oval pendant and handwritten dimensions.
Across the top were three words.
Delayed Exposure Housing.
Morgan stared at them.
"Exposure to what?"
"That's the question."
Elaine picked up her phone.
"I think we should call the police."
Morgan immediately shook her head.
"Not yet."
"Mrs. Bennett—"
"My husband is at home."
"Then you shouldn't go home."
Morgan looked at the necklace.
"Tell me about the woman who died."
Elaine's expression softened.
"Her name was Rachel Mercer."
"Was she married?"
"Yes."
"Did her husband give her a necklace?"
Elaine nodded.
Morgan felt sick.
"What happened?"
"Rachel came here complaining that her necklace had left a strange residue on her skin."
"Did you examine it?"
"Not before she left."
"Why not?"
"She said she needed to pick up her daughter."
Elaine lowered her eyes.
"Three days later, I saw her obituary."
Morgan struggled to breathe.
"Are you saying the necklace killed her?"
"I'm saying I don't know."
Elaine looked directly at her.
"And that's why we need someone qualified to examine yours."
Morgan's phone vibrated.
A message from Julian.
Hey babe. Just checking. Are you wearing my gift today?
Before she could respond, another message appeared.
Send me a picture. I want to see how beautiful you look.
Morgan showed Elaine.
The older woman's face hardened.
"Don't answer him yet."
Another notification flashed.
This time, it wasn't Julian.
Unknown number.
You went to the jewelry store. That was your first mistake.
Morgan stared at the screen.
May you like
Then a second message arrived.
Your husband isn't the only person watching you.
