Chapter 13 - the wedding trap
The next morning, the Vale Grand Hotel looked untouched by the chaos of the previous night.
White roses covered the ballroom entrances. Musicians tuned their instruments beneath the chandeliers. Photographers positioned themselves along the aisle.
Guests arrived believing they were attending a wedding.
Only a small group knew they were entering a controlled investigation.
Marcus replaced the ballroom recording system with an independent network. Every camera transmitted to three separate locations.
Naomi prepared copies of the original and fraudulent wedding documents.
The police waited in unmarked vehicles outside.
Sophie remained with Evelyn in a secured bridal room.
“You don’t have to go into the ballroom,” Evelyn told her.
Sophie looked down at her flower-girl dress.
“If I hide, Preston will think I’m scared.”
“You are allowed to be scared.”
“Were you scared when Aunt Nora disappeared?”
“Yes.”
“Did you hide?”
“For a long time.”
Sophie reached for the denim jacket.
“I want to wear this.”
“It doesn’t match the dress.”
“I know.”
Evelyn understood.
The jacket was the one Preston intended to use. Wearing it gave Sophie control over the object that had been turned into a weapon against her.
Evelyn helped her put it on.
Marcus entered the room.
“Preston has arrived.”
“Is he communicating with Northstar?”
“He received one message ten minutes ago.”
“What did it say?”
“Proceed exactly as planned.”
Evelyn looked toward the mirror.
She was not wearing a traditional wedding gown. After discovering the conspiracy, she had replaced it with a simple ivory suit that belonged to her grandmother.
Celeste entered behind Marcus.
She wore the same pale gold gown from the security footage.
“I want to stay with Sophie,” she said.
“No,” Evelyn replied.
“I can protect her.”
“You had that opportunity before.”
Celeste accepted the answer without argument.
“I gave Preston the temporary access code,” she said. “I signed the appendix. I helped create the accusation because I believed he would save the company.”
Evelyn waited.
“I did not know about the false photographs or the plan to remove Sophie permanently.”
“You still knew he intended to frighten her.”
“Yes.”
“Why should I believe anything else you say?”
Celeste reached into her purse and removed a small recording device.
“Because I spoke to Northstar this morning.”
Marcus immediately took it.
“You know who it is?” Evelyn asked.
“No. The voice was altered.”
“What did they say?”
“That if Preston failed, someone inside the ballroom would finish the plan.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
Evelyn looked toward the ballroom doors.
Every guest had become a possible accomplice.
The music began.
Sophie took Evelyn’s hand.
Together, they entered the ballroom.
Preston waited near the stage in his black tuxedo.
To everyone else, he looked like a nervous groom.
To Evelyn, he looked like a man waiting for a signal.
The ceremony began.
Preston spoke his vows without hesitation. Evelyn repeated hers from a prepared card, careful never to promise anything real.
When the officiant reached the signing portion, a hotel employee carried the silver folder to the table.
Preston looked toward the nearest camera.
May you like
His phone vibrated.
Then his eyes moved to Sophie.
