“The corporate audit team arrived through the service entrance ten minutes ago.”
The manager turned slowly.
“What audit?”
The Assistant Director stared.
“The one announced this morning.”
The Black Owner looked at his watch.
“Actually, it started fourteen minutes ago.”
The manager’s lips parted.
No sound came.
The Assistant Director added the final blow.
“They're already pulling security footage.”
The Black Owner looked directly at the manager.
“So now we can answer your question.”
She swallowed.
“What question?”
He pointed toward the empty watch box.
“Where the watch went.”
The police officers exchanged a look.
The Boutique Manager forced a laugh.
“This is obviously a misunderstanding.”
The Black Owner said nothing.
“I had no idea who you were.”
“That is not a defense.”
“No, I mean…”
She stepped closer.
“I would never have spoken to you like that if I had known.”
The Black Owner stared at her.
Around them, everyone understood what she had just admitted.
The manager heard it too.
Her face changed.
“I didn't mean—”
He lifted one hand.
“Stop.”
She did.
“Don't improve it.”
Silence.
The Black Owner turned toward the first officer.
“I’m sorry your time was wasted.”
The officer looked toward the manager.
“We still have a theft allegation.”
The owner nodded.
“Yes.”
“Stay.”
The Boutique Manager stared.
The officer continued.
“If a seventy-eight-thousand-dollar watch is missing and police were called, we need to document it.”
The manager suddenly looked uncomfortable for a new reason.
The Black Owner noticed.
So did the security guard.
Interesting.
The first officer asked:
“Who last handled the watch?”
A sales associate raised her hand slowly.
“I did.”
“Then what?”
“I showed it to a client.”
“Which client?”
She pointed toward an older man standing near the private salon.
The officer asked:
“Did you purchase it?”
The man shook his head.
“No.”
“Who took it afterward?”
The associate looked at the Boutique Manager.
The room shifted.
The manager snapped:
“Don't look at me.”
The associate flinched.
The Black Owner saw it.
The officer did too.
“Did the manager handle it?”
The associate nodded.
“Yes.”
The manager’s voice rose.
“I returned it to the counter.”
The officer looked at the empty box.
“Did anyone see that?”
Silence.
The manager became defensive.
“This is absurd.”
The Black Owner leaned against the counter.
“You called the police.”
“We're following your process.”
She stared at him.
He smiled without warmth.
“You wanted an investigation.”
“Now you have one.”
The corporate audit team appeared from the rear corridor.
Four people.
Compliance Director.
Inventory Auditor.
Human Resources Counsel.
Regional Operations Executive.
The Boutique Manager looked as though the floor had disappeared beneath her.
The Compliance Director approached the Black Owner.
“We have the footage.”
He nodded.
“Show police first.”
The manager stepped forward.
“This is internal proprietary—”