Chapter 6 - Painted in Light
A mechanical whirring sound resonated from the ceiling, cutting through the murmurs of the crowd. Above the grand stage at the front of the ballroom, a massive, fifty-foot projector screen began to descend.
The venue’s automated lighting system dimmed the chandeliers to a soft, theatrical low. Every head in the room turned toward the front. The screen flickered to life, projecting a crisp, black-and-white security video. The timestamp in the corner proved it was recorded less than an hour ago.
There, fifty feet tall, was Eleanor Vance. The footage clearly showed her standing near the VIP cloakroom, her back partially turned. The high-definition camera captured every damning detail.
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Then, the venue's surround-sound speakers crackled to life. Maya had paired the video with an AI-generated audio transcription of Eleanor’s own whispered, frantic mutterings, enhanced for the whole room to hear. The voiceover echoed through the silent hall: "Secretly slipping an expensive gold watch into your... pocket."
On-screen, Eleanor’s hand darted out, burying the gleaming gold timepiece deep inside Maya's recognizable wool coat. The footage looped once, freezing on a high-definition frame of Eleanor’s guilt-ridden face. The truth hung over the room, undeniable and absolute.
