He called the investigator assigned to the case and asked whether the necklace had been recovered.

“No, sir,” the investigator replied.

“And you should know we are still gathering information.

Your mother’s complaint is an allegation, not a determination.”

Adam sat with the phone in his hand long after the conversation ended.

He had fired Clara because he believed swift action showed responsibility.

Now he began to wonder whether he had simply mistaken obedience to his mother for moral courage.

PART 7