Page 20 of Wild Card
Vincent smiles faintly. “Excellent. So the issue’s resolved, then.”
Miranda closes her folder with a softsnap.“It’s been a long few days. I think it’s safe to say we can put this to bed.”
I nod. “Agreed.”
Aria adds smoothly, “We’ll finish cataloging the last batch of footage just for documentation, but yes—everything appears consistent.”
I glance sideways at her. She’s a perfect liar when she wants to be.
Vincent stands, signaling the meeting’s end. “Good work, both of you. I’ll have PR finalize the closure statement this afternoon.”
Miranda smiles thinly. “Glad that’s over.”
We all exchange the usual polite nods and shake hands like this is just another day at the office. But the second we step into the hallway and the door shuts behind us, Aria rounds on me.
“What was that?” she hisses.
“Damage control,” I say quietly. “If we’d told them what we actually found, we’d have no chance of finding the real thief.”
She studies me for a long moment, jaw tight. “You should’ve warned me.”
“I couldn’t. You would’ve argued, and we needed them comfortable.”
She exhales through her nose, eyes narrowing. “So now they think it’s over.”
“Exactly,” I say. “Which means they’ll stop watching us. There’s something else.”
She doesn’t look at me, just keeps her eyes forward like she’s taking notes. “Of course there is,” she says under her breath. “You going to drop this one in the middle of a staff meeting too?”
“Relax,” I whisper. “No one’s listening.”
“I’ve been keeping a secret from you. About Miranda.”
That gets her attention. Her pen stills mid-note. “What kind of secret?”
“She’s in debt. Big time. A hundred thousand dollars owed to the Jade Petal. And rumor has it, that’s just the local tab.”
Aria turns slightly toward me, her whisper sharp. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious. The heads of these hotels—Vincent included—are a tight-knit club. They let each other slide on gambling debt as long as it stays quiet. But Miranda’s been pushing it. I’ve heard she owes even more at other casinos. Word is, she’s been taking out short-term credit through front companies just to keep herself afloat.”
Aria’s eyes flick briefly toward Miranda. “That’s dangerous. Especially for someone in her position.”
“Exactly.”
“Do you think she stole the jewels?”
I exhale slowly. “I don’t know. But think about it—who was in that room when the new security measures were approved? Vincent. Miranda. You. Me. That’s it. And we know the fake detector was installed intentionally. We know the jewels that were ‘recovered’ are fakes. Someone here made it happen.”
Aria’s voice drops even lower. “And you’re saying the only other two people who could have done it both have a motive.”
I nod once. “Vincent’s affair gives him access. Miranda’s debt gives her desperation.”
Aria leans back, crossing her arms, eyes distant. “And we’re the only ones who don’t have anything to gain.”
I smirk faintly. “Unless you’re secretly fencing diamonds out the back of the Citadel.”
She glares at me. “Not funny.”
