"How does it have nothing to do with him? Renata, you're the one being unreasonable here." Mrs. Fleming swept in from outside the door. "Everything in this house, down to the last blade of grass, was earned by Dale's hard work."
"And somehow when it comes to you, none of it's connected?"
"All these years you've been eating his food, living off his money. He's not even asking you to settle that tab in the divorce."
"One little necklace, and you insult him? Saying he's pushing his luck? The only one pushing her luck here is you."
"Take off the necklace and give it to Noreen."
I ignored Mrs. Fleming entirely. My eyes stayed locked on Dale. "Dale Fleming. I'm asking you one more time. Does this necklace have anything to do with you?"
"Renata, I was right there when my brother bought you that necklace."
Zoey Fleming. Dale's older sister, and once upon a time, my closest friend. She'd arrived too.
She went on, her tone casual and certain: "I even asked Dale to buy me one just like it, but it turned out to be a one-of-a-kind piece. Don't tell me you've forgotten?"
Mrs. Fleming shot me a sideways glance. "Ungrateful wretch. As if she'd remember anything."