"My father died believing that you stole his life."
Vincent stepped back.
"I didn't."
"That's what I thought."
"You think I ruined your father's life?"
Emily didn't answer.
Instead, she opened her old bag again.
She removed a small cloth pouch.
Inside was a watch.
Vincent saw it.
And immediately recognized it.
His face went pale.
It was a Bellmont No. 7.
One of the rarest watches ever produced by the company.
Only twelve had been made.
Each had a unique serial number.
Vincent knew every one.
He had personally inspected them.
But this one looked different.
The case was scratched.
The leather strap was old.
The glass was slightly cracked.
Yet the mechanism looked almost perfect.
Vincent whispered,
"Where did you get that?"
"My father."
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"That watch was stolen."
Emily stared at him.
"Stolen?"
"Fifteen years ago."
"Who stole it?"
Vincent looked at the serial number.
His hands began to shake.
"Your father."
Silence filled the store.
Emily's face changed.
"My father didn't steal anything."
Vincent looked at her.
"That watch disappeared from my private collection."
"And you accused him."
"Because he had access."
"Did you have proof?"
Vincent hesitated.
"No."
Emily's eyes filled with disappointment.
"So you destroyed his reputation because you had no proof?"
Vincent looked away.
"I had circumstances."
"That's not proof."
He didn't answer.
A customer entered the store.
The receptionist greeted him.
Vincent barely noticed.
His eyes remained on the watch.
"Why did your father keep this?"
"I don't know."
"You should leave."
Emily looked surprised.
"What?"
"Take the watch."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want it here."
She slowly picked it up.
"Is that all?"
Vincent couldn't look at her.
"Yes."
Emily put the watch back into the pouch.
She closed her bag.
Then she turned toward the door.
She had almost reached it when Vincent heard her say,
"My father told me one more thing."
Vincent looked up.
She stopped.
"He said you would probably tell me to leave."
Vincent froze.
Emily continued.
"He said you always did that when the truth made you uncomfortable."
Then she walked away.
The doors closed behind her.
Vincent stood motionless.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
His assistant approached.
"Mr. Bellmont?"
Vincent looked at the door.
"Find Daniel Carter's old employee records."
"Why?"
"Now."
The assistant hurried away.
Vincent looked at the photograph again.
Daniel's smile stared back at him.
For fifteen years, Vincent had believed he had done the right thing.
He had believed Daniel stole the watch.
He had believed Daniel had betrayed him.
But there had always been one problem.
Vincent had never found the watch.
Not once.
He had searched the workshop.
Daniel's apartment.
His bank accounts.
His family.
Nothing.
The watch had vanished.
Until today.
And now it had returned.
Not in the hands of a thief.
But in the hands of Daniel's daughter.
Vincent sat down.
His assistant returned with a thick file.
"Here."
Vincent opened it.
Inside were Daniel's employment records.
Performance reviews.
Salary statements.
Security reports.
Inventory documents.
Vincent flipped through the pages.
Then he found the report.
The original theft investigation.
He read it carefully.
Something caught his attention.
The report said the watch was last seen at 6:42 p.m.
Daniel's shift ended at 5:00 p.m.