Chapter 6 - The False Security Director
Martin Cross held Hannah’s badge between two fingers.
Lily stared at it.
“Where is my mom?”
“Waiting on the west balcony.”
“No, she isn’t.”
Martin’s expression remained pleasant.
“She asked me to bring you.”
“Then why didn’t she come?”
“She is speaking to the police.”
Lily almost believed him.
Then she noticed a dark red mark near the cuff of his shirt.
Blood.
The woman in the blue room had worn red lipstick, but this mark was too low, too uneven.
“You hurt the lady,” Lily said.
Martin’s smile faded.
“Children imagine many things.”
“You’re Julian.”
His eyes sharpened.
“Who told you that?”
“The video.”
Martin looked around the corridor.
Wedding guests were entering the ballroom nearby, but no one stood close enough to hear.
He crouched beside Lily.
“Do you know what happens to children who tell dangerous lies?”
“My mom says the truth is only dangerous to people hiding from it.”
Martin’s hand closed around her upper arm.
Lily winced.
“You are going to give me the phone.”
“No.”
He tightened his grip.
Then a voice called from behind him.
“Is there a problem?”
Adrian Vale stood at the end of the corridor.
Martin immediately released Lily.
“Mr. Vale. The child became separated from her mother.”
Lily ran toward Adrian.
“He’s lying.”
Adrian looked down at her.
“About what?”
Martin stepped forward.
“She’s frightened and confused.”
“He hurt the lady in the blue room.”
Adrian’s eyes shifted to Martin.
“What lady?”
“Elena.”
Martin’s face remained controlled, but Adrian saw the reaction.
“Elena Marlow is here?”
“I have not seen her,” Martin said.
Lily pulled the silver pendant from her purse.
“This fell beside her.”
Adrian recognized the initials.
E.M.
He took out his phone.
“I’m calling the police.”
Martin’s hand moved inside his jacket.
Adrian saw it.
So did Lily.
She screamed.
Adrian grabbed her and turned as Martin drew a compact pistol fitted with a suppressor.
A shot struck the wall.
Guests near the ballroom entrance shouted and scattered.
Adrian carried Lily behind a marble pillar.
Martin fired again.
The bullet shattered a vase.
Hotel employees ran in every direction.
Adrian looked toward the ballroom doors. Too many people. If Martin fired into the crowd, dozens could be hurt.
A service door opened behind them.
Daniel appeared.
“This way.”
Adrian pushed Lily through first.
Daniel pulled them into the passage and slammed the door.
“Is she injured?” Daniel asked.
“No.”
Lily clutched Adrian’s jacket.
“He wants the phone.”
Adrian looked at her purse.
“What’s on it?”
“A video.”
“Show me.”
Before Lily could remove it, the passage lights turned red.
An automated voice announced a fire alarm.
Sprinklers erupted in the ballroom.
Guests screamed and surged toward the exits.
Daniel cursed.
“He’s creating cover.”
Adrian took Lily’s hand.
“We need to reach the police.”
“The main exits will be blocked,” Daniel said.
Celeste appeared from a side doorway, still wearing her silk robe.
“Follow me.”
Adrian stared at her.
“What are you doing here?”
“Saving your life.”
“You knew about the document.”
“Yes.”
The admission struck harder than Adrian expected.
Celeste’s face crumpled.
“But I didn’t know about the poison.”
Lily looked between them.
“Your mom put it in the glass.”
Celeste turned pale.
“She already did it?”
“The video shows her doing it.”
Celeste grabbed Lily’s shoulders.
“Which glass?”
“The special one on the silver tray.”
The ceremonial toast.
Celeste looked at Adrian.
“The glasses will be moved into the ballroom during the vows.”
“Then we stop the ceremony,” Daniel said.
“No,” Celeste replied.
Everyone stared at her.
“If we stop now, my father disappears. My mother destroys the evidence. Every person involved will claim misunderstanding.”
“You expect me to continue?” Adrian asked.
“I expect you to expose them in front of every witness they invited.”
Adrian’s expression became cold.
“And how do I know this isn’t another trap?”
Celeste released Lily.
“You don’t.”
The fire alarm suddenly stopped.
Through the passage wall came the sound of the orchestra resuming.
A calm announcement assured guests that the alarm had been caused by a kitchen malfunction.
Celeste looked toward the ballroom.
“My mother is proceeding with the wedding.”
May you like
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Then so are we.”
