On the day of the trial, Clara arrived early.
She didn’t wear a fancy dress or a lawyer by her side.
He only had an old folder, the photographs he had managed to gather and the small drawing that Idan had given him.
The drawing was carefully folded inside her bag.
When he entered the room, he saw Adam sitting next to his mother.
Margaret was wearing an impeccable suit.
The family’s lawyer had several documents organized on the table.
Clara swallowed.
For a moment she felt like that woman
who had entered the mansion for the first time years before with a small bag of clothes and nothing else.
But then she remembered the words of the young intern who had decided to help her.
—You don’t need to be rich to be right, Clara. We just need to prove it.
The judge entered.
Everyone stood up.
The procedure began.
The Hamiltons’ lawyer was the first to speak.
—Your Honor, the accused had practically unlimited access to the residence and knew perfectly well where the valuables were kept.
Clara
remained silent.
—Furthermore —he continued—, the jewel disappeared the same day that Mrs. Clara was alone in the private wing of the house.
Margaret looked down with a carefully prepared sad expression.
—We trusted her —she said—. We considered her part of our family.
The lawyer paused.
—Precisely for this reason it is especially painful that he has abused our trust.
Clara squeezed her hands.
She couldn’t believe how easy it was for them to turn years of work into a story where she appeared as a criminal.
Then the
young intern stood up.
—Your Honor, we have some questions.
The Hamiltons’ lawyer smiled.
—Forward.
—Mrs. Margaret, who was the first person to say that Clara had stolen the jewel?
—I.
—And did you have any proof at that time?
Margaret responded quickly.
—I knew the woman who worked in my house.
—That doesn’t answer the question.
The judge intervened.
—Answer directly.
Margaret sighed.
—I didn’t have a physical test.
The intern nodded.
—Thank you.
Then he showed a photograph.
—This image was taken the morning the jewel disappeared. Can
you confirm that the safe was open?
Margaret looked at the photograph.
—Yeah.
—And who had the combination?
—My son and I.
The young woman paused.
—Did Clara have the combination?
—No.
A murmur ran through the room.
