Oscar stopped tapping his pen, and the four associates turned to look at us.

“That brooch is mine,” I said, keeping my voice low and calm.

“My mother gave it to me.”

“I locked this exact piece of jewelry in the safe in my bedroom this morning,” Doña Victoria lied, holding the white pearls up in the sunlight for everyone to see.

“Are you taking valuables out of my house now?”

I touched the thin gold band on my right index finger, pressing the cold wire against my knuckle.

“That brooch has never been in your safe, Victoria.”