Her Design, Their Theft

Synopsis

The evening light filtered through the windows of our Upper West Side apartment as I hurried up the stairs, clutching the scale model of my sustainable housing project to my chest. My heart raced with anticipation. After six months of sleepless nights and countless revisions, I'd finally perfected the revolutionary design that could transform urban living spaces while reducing carbon footprints by forty percent. "James?" I called out, setting my keys on the marble countertop. "I've got something amazing to show you!" Only silence greeted me. Strange. His schedule showed he should be home by now. I noticed his briefcase by the door and his coat draped over the living room chair. "James?" I called again, making my way toward his study. The door was ajar, spilling warm lamplight into the hallway. I pushed it open, expecting to find him hunched over his desk,