Chapter 17 - The Gala Trap
"There's a camera in the angel."
"What angel?"
"The statue upstairs."
Ortiz pulled the original renovation plans.
A decorative angel stood above the ballroom balcony.
Behind it was a legacy camera Claire had installed after foundation records started disappearing.
Separate power.
Separate storage.
No connection to the main security network.
"Claire really trusted nobody," Ortiz said.
Adrian looked at her.
"She learned not to."
At 11:58 p.m., Adrian entered the dark ballroom carrying a fake ledger.
Thomas stood on the balcony.
Vanessa stood beside him.
Maria sat tied to a chair near the railing.
"Let her go."
Thomas smiled.
"Ledger first."
Adrian held it up.
"You killed Claire."
Vanessa's face tightened.
Thomas laughed.
"Careful."
"I heard Nolan's statement."
"Nolan is a coward."
"Was Claire alive?"
Thomas's eyes flickered.
Adrian pushed.
"Did she call my name?"
Vanessa whispered, "Stop."
He looked at her.
"You were there too?"
Silence.
That was enough.
Adrian stepped forward.
"You watched my wife die."
Vanessa snapped.
"She was supposed to stop!"
Thomas turned on her.
"Shut up."
But Vanessa had broken.
"She had the files. She threatened all of us. Graham changed the car system. Thomas followed her. I only--"
"You only what?"
Vanessa's eyes filled with rage.
"I only wanted the life she wasted!"
Adrian stared.
"My daughter's life too?"
"She was never supposed to find that stupid key!"
Above them, the tiny camera behind the angel recorded every word.
Ortiz listened from a surveillance van.
Thomas reached for the ledger.
Adrian threw it onto the floor.
Thomas opened it.
Blank pages.
His face twisted.
"You think you're clever?"
Police lights exploded through the windows.
Thomas grabbed Maria's chair.
"If anyone comes closer--"
Maria suddenly slammed her heel down on his foot.
He screamed.
She threw herself sideways.
Officers rushed in.
Vanessa ran.
Adrian chased her through the side hall.
She reached the rooftop stairs.
At the top, cold wind tore across the building.
Vanessa turned.
"You took everything from me."
Adrian stopped ten feet away.
"No. You built your life on things that belonged to other people."
She backed toward the ledge.
Sirens screamed below.
Then Sophie's voice came through Adrian's phone.
Detective Ortiz had accidentally left the live channel open.
"Daddy?"
Vanessa froze.
Sophie said:
"Tell her Mommy's bear is safe."
Adrian looked at Vanessa.
"You heard her."
May you like
Vanessa's face collapsed.
For the first time, she had nothing left to destroy.
