Chapter 2 - The Woman in the Blue Room
Lily did not know where she was going.
She ran past the staircase, through the lobby, and into a corridor lined with towering flower arrangements. The phone felt heavy in her hands.
Behind her, the man did not shout.
That frightened her more.
People who shouted wanted others to notice.
People who remained silent did not.
Lily slipped through the kitchen doors.
Heat and noise surrounded her. Chefs hurried between ovens. Servers carried trays toward the ballroom. Someone shouted about missing champagne flutes.
Lily spotted Hannah at the far counter, carefully pressing sugar flowers onto the third tier of the wedding cake.
“Mom.”
Hannah did not hear.
“Mom!”
Hannah turned, startled.
“Lily? You’re supposed to be upstairs.”
Lily rushed into her arms.
Hannah immediately set down the piping bag.
“What happened?”
“There’s a lady in a room.”
“What lady?”
“She fell down. A man came out. He wants this.”
Lily showed her the phone.
Hannah frowned.
“Where did you find it?”
“Near the stairs.”
“Did you take it?”
“No. It fell.”
Hannah wiped her hands and looked more closely at the device.
The screen requested a fingerprint or passcode.
“Sweetheart, we need to bring this to hotel security.”
Lily gripped her wrist.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“The man had a security badge.”
Hannah stopped.
“What did he look like?”
“Tall. Black suit. White flower.”
Hannah glanced through the kitchen doors.
Half the men at the wedding wore black suits. Many had white flowers.
“Did you see his face?”
“Not all of it.”
A server approached.
“Hannah, Chef Marcus needs you.”
“One minute.”
“The cake has to move now.”
Hannah looked from the unfinished cake to her daughter.
She had spent years learning to recognize Lily’s fears. Some were ordinary: thunder, deep water, barking dogs. This was different.
Lily’s skin was pale. Her fingers were ice cold.
Hannah crouched.
“I believe you.”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“We’ll go together. Stay beside me.”
Hannah removed her apron and told another pastry assistant to finish the cake.
As they crossed the kitchen, a man stepped through the opposite door.
Tall.
Black tuxedo.
White carnation.
Lily froze.
“That’s him,” she whispered.
The man smiled warmly at Hannah.
“Is everything all right?”
His badge identified him as Martin Cross, director of hotel security.
Hannah placed one hand protectively on Lily’s shoulder.
“My daughter found a phone.”
Martin looked at Lily.
“Did she?”
His voice was pleasant.
“She also says someone may be injured in one of the upstairs rooms.”
“Children can become overwhelmed at large events.”
“She saw a woman on the floor.”
Martin’s smile remained.
“Which room?”
“The blue room near the upper landing.”
For a fraction of a second, his expression changed.
Then the smile returned.
“I’ll investigate.”
“We’re coming with you,” Hannah said.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“I think it is.”
Martin’s eyes dropped toward Lily’s purse.
The phone was hidden inside it.
Hannah noticed where he was looking.
“Mrs. Hart,” he said quietly, “this wedding includes several high-profile guests. Misunderstandings can create serious consequences.”
“My name is Ms. Hart.”
“Of course.”
He stepped closer.
“Give me the phone.”
Hannah took Lily’s hand.
“No.”
The kitchen noise continued around them, but the space between Hannah and Martin seemed suddenly isolated.
Martin’s voice lowered.
“You don’t understand what you’re carrying.”
“Then explain it.”
He stared at her.
A waiter came between them carrying a tower of plates. Hannah used the moment to pull Lily toward the service elevator.
Martin did not follow.
He simply watched.
Inside the elevator, Hannah pressed the button for the upper floor.
“We’re going to the room,” she said. “Then we’re calling the police.”
Lily nodded.
When the elevator doors opened, the corridor was empty.
They found the blue room.
The door stood open.
Inside, chairs were neatly arranged. The carpet was clean. There was no blood, no fallen woman, no silver pendant.
Hannah examined the room.
“Are you certain this is it?”
“Yes.”
Lily pointed toward the far wall.
“She was there.”
Hannah approached the spot.
Something glinted beneath a cabinet.
She reached down and pulled out a small silver chain.
At the end hung a round pendant engraved with the initials E.M.
Lily whispered, “That was hers.”
Hannah’s phone vibrated.
An unknown number had sent a message.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU.
A second message appeared.
BRING IT TO THE WEST BALCONY.
COME ALONE OR YOUR DAUGHTER WILL NOT FINISH THE PROCESSION.
Hannah stared at the words.
Lily read them too.
“Mom?”
Hannah locked her phone.
“We’re leaving.”
They reached the elevator.
The button did not respond.
Hannah tried again.
Nothing.
May you like
Behind them, the door to the blue room slowly closed by itself.
Then every light in the corridor went out.
