Second Chance, First Strike

d quickly, m

ing downstairs for breakfast.

arah, dear! You overs

oo wide, her ey

her, looking uncomfortable as al

their "golden boy" son, Michael. They were alrea

"Morning, everyone. Just

r me towards the buffet. "You

t in the corner of the dining room, the one with th

dy in motion in he

Brenda sidle over to the cabinet

t, her fingers darting

my phone. My tote bag was on a nearby chair. Robert' s briefcase was on the flo

ed towards

as my

ass wobble. "Oh, goodness!" I exclaimed, loud enough to

if to check the table, and swiftly swapped th

tice. She reached down, unzipped the bag she t

a small, satisfied

ait

, a stern woman named Mrs. Peterson

A valuable display item, an antique sil

ell over

uffed up. "A

n looked

to her chest. "Oh,

om. "We will have to ask everyone

urmuring, lookin

most imperceptible smirk. She tho

who was fumbling with his briefcase, trying to

confused. "My brie

d it. Reac

he small, antiqu

blotchy red. "What... what is th

eatrical sound. "Ro

n looked ste

nderstanding, I'm sure. Mrs. Peterson, do you perhaps have

did. And they' d shown me taking it f

ed. "Yes, we do. I

. "Oh, well, I'm sure it's jus

d, looking directly at my mother.

ttering, "I di

he small office. Th

g towards the bags. It showed her slipping the locket in

in the offic

s face a mask of fury and disbe

in God's name

s going to... to show Sarah, I thought she might like it. I mus

itched, full of her

w. "You tried to make it look like Sarah stole i

never confronted h

then disgusted. The local blogger, who had

ing to help Sarah pick out a souve

We're leaving. Now." He l

a look of pure venom. I met h

one