Chapter 2 - THE ONE-WAY TICKET IN THE SILVER CLUTCH
The dining room was so quiet I could hear the hum of the chandeliers.
Luca’s dark eyes were locked onto Vanessa.
“I asked you a question,” he said, his voice dangerously soft. “What were you planning to do to Olivia tomorrow night?”
Vanessa took a step back, her hands trembling as she gripped her silver clutch.
“Luca, you’re being paranoid,” she stammered, attempting a laugh that sounded like breaking glass. “It’s a security measure! I hired a private investigator to monitor the staff. I was going to fire her tomorrow. ‘Final night’ just meant her last shift!”
“You put a listening device in a young woman’s bedroom to fire her?” Luca asked.
“We have valuables in this house!”
“And you hid the transmitter in my engagement flowers?”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened. She looked around at the forty guests, who were now staring at her in absolute horror.
“The florist must have made a mistake with the placement,” she lied.
Luca didn’t blink.
He turned to his security chief. “Daniel. Take her bag.”
Vanessa gasped, clutching the silver purse to her chest. “You will not search my things in front of our guests!”
“Daniel,” Luca repeated.
Daniel stepped forward. He didn’t ask. He simply reached out and pulled the purse from her hands.
Vanessa’s face went completely pale.
Daniel opened the clutch. He pulled out a compact mirror, a lipstick, and then stopped.
He reached into a zippered pocket and pulled out a heavy paper envelope.
He handed it to Luca.
Luca opened the flap.
He slid out a ticket.
First class.
Chicago to Buenos Aires.
Departing tomorrow night at 11:30 PM.
“A one-way ticket,” Luca read aloud. The temperature in the room plummeted. “Departing exactly two hours after Olivia’s shift ends.”
My heart hammered against my ribs.
She wasn’t going to fire me. She was going to flee the country.
“It’s a surprise trip!” Vanessa cried, desperation making her voice shrill. “For our honeymoon! I was planning it early!”
“A honeymoon with one ticket?” Luca asked.
He looked at me. Then at the ticket.
“Answer one,” Luca said quietly, almost to himself. “We know why you disabled the security cameras in the garage yesterday. You were planting the microphone.”
He stepped closer to Vanessa.
“But that opens two new questions.”
Vanessa swallowed hard.
“Who is picking you up in Buenos Aires?” Luca demanded. “And what were you planning to leave in Olivia’s room to frame her for whatever you’re about to steal?”
Vanessa’s eyes darted toward the hallway.
She wasn’t looking at the front door. She was looking at the stairs leading to Luca’s private office.
Before anyone could stop her, she kicked off her heels and bolted.
“Get her!” Daniel shouted.
But as security rushed forward, a massive explosion rocked the west wing of the estate.
The chandeliers swung violently. Plaster rained down from the ceiling. Guests screamed, diving under the heavy oak tables.
The explosion didn't come from the dining room.
It came from the garage.
My room.
Luca grabbed my arm, pulling me behind him as the smoke alarms began to shriek.
“Daniel!” Luca roared over the chaos. “Lock the perimeter! No one leaves!”
I looked at the hallway.
Vanessa was gone.
May you like
And my home was burning.
TITLE: THE PHOTOGRAPH BURIED IN THE ASHES
