June’s eyes widened. “Sienna?”
“As Sienna wasn’t around when the jewelry went missing, that leaves us looking at how it came into her possession,” Holt explained.
“Victoria,” June said quietly.
“It could be Victoria.” Holt nodded. “Or her father. Tom was there that day too.”
Another thought brought a different possibility to June.
“Victoria’s father was there too,” June reminded him. “The man had just had that bank scandal and was accused of looting security deposit boxes.”
“Correct.” Holt unbuckled his seat belt.
“But it could also have been Tom,” June pointed out. “He was always around.”
Holt was already shaking his head. “I doubt Tom would do something like that. He would have had no reason. Tom’s family has always had plenty of money and enough heirlooms of their own to fill a museum. He was also never particularly interested in jewelry.” He looked at her. “I don’t think the man has stolen anything, even fries off someone’s plate.”
“But why wouldn’t Tom say anything if he saw it later?” June asked. “If Victoria or her father took it, she would’ve worn it sometime. Surely Tom would have known it was your sister’s? The two of you were practically raised together.”
Holt stared out the windshield. “Tom never noticed details like jewelry unless someone put it directly in front of his face. And I never reported it stolen.”
That made June glance at him quickly. “No. You wanted to, though.”
“I did.” His jaw tightened. “My mother and uncle forbade me.”
June hesitated.
Then she held up one hand slightly. “Don’t get angry.”
Holt’s eyes narrowed. “That is rarely a promising beginning.”
“I always found it strange,” June admitted carefully, “that your mother and your uncle didn’t want the missing items reported.” The silence beside her deepened. “They were, after all, worth a small fortune.”
Then Holt ran a hand through his hair. “What are you saying?”
June’s heart started beating harder, though she kept her voice measured. “Your sister’s treatments were expensive, Holt. What if…”
He went completely still as the implication hit him. For a second, June regretted saying it at all.
Then Holt let out a slow breath and looked down at his hands.
“After I tore into Carmen and blamed Annie, I was still set on reporting the theft.” His eyes lifted to hers. “My mother and my uncle both told me not to. Let it go. There were bigger things happening, and everyone was grieving.” He swallowed. “At the time, I thought the same thing.”
“This gets stranger by the minute.” June unbuckled her seatbelt and sat back, looking at the police station for a moment.
“It does,” Holt agreed.
“We need to get everyone who is directly involved together. You, me, Rad, Margo, Willa, Carmen, and Zane.” She frowned. “And I think Ace too.”
“No.” His answer was immediate enough to make her turn her head.
“Why not Ace?” June asked, more sharply than she intended. “He’s trustworthy, and he’s family.”
“He is also casually dating Sienna Morrison.” Holt’s brows rose pointedly as he held her gaze.
June blinked. “I didn’t know that.”
“And now you do,” Holt said. “We need people who we know are not going to jeopardize what’s turning out to be quite a perplexing puzzle.”
