Chapter 2 - THE WHISPERThe bridal suite door was locked.
That should have been impossible.
No one had left the room after Vanessa got dressed.
At least, that was what everyone believed.
I ran down the corridor with Daniel behind me and Margaret supported between two cousins.
Guests filled the hallway.
Someone had called security.
Someone else had called 911.
But I barely noticed.
All I could think about was the scream.
“Who screamed?” I asked.
A bridesmaid pointed toward the door.
“Anna.”
“Who is Anna?”
“The housekeeper.”
I knocked.
“Anna!”
Nothing.
Daniel stepped beside me.
“Move.”
He hit the door with his shoulder.
Once.
Twice.
On the third attempt, the lock cracked.
The door swung inward.
Anna was on the floor beside the vanity.
She was crying.
A jewelry box lay overturned beside her.
“Where is Vanessa's necklace?” she asked.
“What?”
“The necklace.”
She pointed toward the empty velvet slot.
“The diamond necklace.”
Vanessa appeared behind us.
“What happened?”
Anna looked at her.
Then at Richard.
Then back at me.
“I saw someone take it.”
Vanessa rushed forward.
“Who?”
Anna's mouth opened.
Then closed.
“Who?” Vanessa demanded.
Anna started shaking.
“I couldn't see his face.”
Richard immediately stepped in.
“Everyone calm down.”
Daniel laughed once.
It was a strange sound.
Not amusement.
Disbelief.
“Dad,” he said, “look at the floor.”
I followed his finger.
There were muddy footprints.
Small.
Distinct.
They began near the balcony door.
They crossed the carpet.
And stopped beside the jewelry box.
I looked at Margaret's dress.
Then at the footprints.
Then at Vanessa.
Vanessa stared at the floor.
“That's impossible.”
Daniel crouched down.
He touched the mud with one finger.
“Same soil.”
My stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?”
“This estate uses a specific imported soil blend near the lake because of the landscaping contract.”
He looked at me.
“The mud on Mom's dress is the same.”
Nobody spoke.
Then Daniel stood.
“The footprints came from outside.”
Richard crossed his arms.
“This proves nothing.”
Daniel smiled without humor.
“It proves someone came through that balcony after the ceremony.”
Vanessa's face changed.
“Daniel.”
He turned to her.
“Where's your phone?”
“What?”
“Your phone.”
She reached for her clutch.
He stopped her.
“Don't.”
Richard stepped between them.
“You're interrogating your bride at her wedding.”
“No.”
Daniel's voice hardened.
“I'm interrogating a crime scene.”
A police siren sounded outside.
For the first time, I saw something I had never seen in my son.
Not anger.
Resolve.
He pulled a small memory card from his tuxedo pocket.
I stared at it.
“What is that?”
“The recording.”
“What recording?”
He looked toward the hallway.
Then lowered his voice.
“The one I made after I found out someone was trying to steal from you.”
My heart stopped.
“From me?”
“Not just you.”
He glanced at Margaret.
“Mom too.”
Margaret looked confused.
“Daniel, what are you talking about?”
Before he could answer, Vanessa spoke.
“Thomas.”
I turned.
She was standing in the doorway.
Her expression was suddenly calm.
Too calm.
“You don't know your son's whole story.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Neither do you.”
Vanessa took one step forward.
“You promised me.”
Daniel's face tightened.
“I promised you I'd marry you.”
“You promised you'd keep them out of it.”
Silence.
I looked at Daniel.
“What does that mean?”
He didn't answer.
Vanessa realized her mistake too late.
Richard grabbed her arm.
“Enough.”
But she pulled free.
“You're going to ruin everything.”
Daniel stared at her.
“No.”
His voice was almost a whisper.
“You already did.”
A police officer entered the suite.
“Everyone back.”
As the officer began photographing the room, Daniel leaned close to me.
“There is a folder in my car.”
“What folder?”
“Red.”
“What is inside?”
He looked toward Richard.
“Everything I couldn't prove.”
He paused.
“And Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Don't let Mom open it alone.”
“Why?”
His eyes moved to Margaret.
“Because there is a letter in there that was addressed to her.”
May you like
He swallowed.
“And I don't think she knows who wrote it.”
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