Chapter 6 - the voice beneath the silence
Khloe’s phone had captured only sound.
The screen had gone dark when it fell, but the microphone continued recording everything that happened in the corridor and inside the suite.
Officer Reyes connected the phone to his tablet.
At first, the audio contained footsteps and the faint sound of music from the gala.
Then Isabella’s voice became clear.
You promised she would sign without asking questions.
A man answered.
His words were muffled.
Officer Reyes increased the volume.
The voice remained distorted, as though the speaker had covered his mouth or spoken through a device.
Isabella continued.
If Marcus sees the original document, he will know the trust has already been altered.
Marcus leaned closer.
“Play that again.”
Officer Reyes replayed it.
Khloe listened to the man’s reply.
Only three words could be understood.
Get her inside.
Elaine’s face hardened.
Isabella’s voice followed.
She will not come unless she thinks Marcus is involved.
The recording captured Khloe’s arrival, Isabella’s accusations, the struggle over the handbag, and the crash of the lamp.
Then came the moment that changed everything.
Khloe’s voice said, Who is that?
A door opened.
A second man spoke from the corridor.
Is she down?
Marcus looked at Officer Reyes.
“That is not the same voice.”
“No,” the officer agreed. “There were two men.”
Elaine moved closer to the tablet.
“Continue.”
The recording captured Isabella pushing the door closed.
Then Isabella whispered something Khloe had not heard at the time.
You were supposed to wait.
The second man answered.
The schedule changed.
His voice was natural, not distorted.
Marcus’s expression became confused.
“I know that voice.”
Elaine looked at him. “Who is it?”
Before he could answer, the suite door opened.
Owen Shaw stepped inside.
The recording stopped.
Everyone turned toward him.
Owen glanced at the device in Officer Reyes’s hand.
“You recovered the phone.”
It was not a question.
Officer Reyes locked the tablet screen.
“How did you know it was missing?”
Owen paused.
“The guards mentioned it.”
“No,” Khloe said. “They did not.”
Owen looked at her.
“I assumed.”
Officer Reyes stepped toward him.
“You also assumed there was no internal recording before examining the device above the door.”
“I know the hospital system.”
“And you knew exactly when the corridor camera stopped.”
“The system reports to me.”
Elaine’s voice was colder than the winter rain against the windows.
“Give Officer Reyes your executive access card.”
Owen did not move.
“That would prevent me from doing my job.”
“You are suspended.”
“You cannot suspend me without a board vote.”
“I can revoke your access to this hospital.”
Owen’s calm expression cracked.
“You have no idea what you are doing.”
Elaine held out her hand.
“The card.”
For several seconds, he stood perfectly still.
Then he reached inside his jacket.
Officer Reyes watched his hand.
Owen slowly removed a black security card and placed it on the table.
Elaine picked it up.
The card was warm.
Officer Reyes took it from her and checked the identification number.
“This is not Owen Shaw’s credential.”
May you like
Marcus looked at the printed name.
The card belonged to him.
