Maya sat stiffly on the stool opposite her father, her head bowed, hands folded tightly in her lap as if bracing herself for an inevitable storm. Gerald leaned against the table, arms crossed, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. He had spoken already, but Maya had not moved.
“I said,” Gerald repeated slowly, his voice edged with irritation, “you are going to take this ring and put it in Luna Faye’s purse. Did you not hear me?”
Maya’s lips parted, but no words came at first. When she finally spoke, her voice made it clear she was afraid. “I heard you, Father… but what if the consequences aren’t serious enough? What if Luna Faye isn’t… removed? Then she’ll know. She’ll know it was me. I’m the only staff with full access to her room and her belongings. She’ll figure it out in a heartbeat,
