Chapter 2 - The Waitress Who Knew Too Much
Emergency lights flickered on along the walls.
Guests shouted in confusion.
Security guards ordered everyone to remain still.
When the chandeliers came back, Julian was lying near the elevator railing.
The flash drive was gone.
So was Celeste.
Adrian crossed the ballroom in three long strides.
“Lock the entire estate.”
“No one leaves.”
His security chief, Marcus Dean, touched the radio at his shoulder.
“The ballroom is already sealed.”
“Then how did my bride disappear?”
Marcus looked toward a narrow service corridor behind the orchestra platform.
“Someone opened the staff passage.”
Adrian turned toward Nora.
She was pressing a folded napkin against her bleeding lip.
“Did you know about the passage?”
“I work for the catering company.”
“We were given a floor plan this morning.”
“Where does it lead?”
“To the bridal suites, the private offices, and the west stairwell.”
Julian pushed himself upright.
One guard held each arm.
He had a cut above his eyebrow, but he was still smiling.
“Ask the waitress why she switched the glasses.”
Every face turned toward Nora.
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“You switched them?”
Nora lowered the napkin.
“Yes.”
The answer sent a new wave of whispers through the ballroom.
Celeste’s father, Charles Wynn, pointed at her.
“She admits it.”
Nora shook her head.
“I switched Mr. Vale’s glass because I saw Vivian touch the bottle.”
“I didn’t know what she added.”
“I only knew Mr. Vale shouldn’t drink it.”
“Why didn’t you call security?”
“I tried.”
“The first guard I told took my phone and ordered me back to work.”
Marcus turned toward his officers.
“Which guard?”
Nora scanned the room.
“He isn’t here.”
Adrian looked at Julian.
“If she moved the poisoned glass, who was supposed to drink it?”
Julian’s smile faded slightly.
Before he could answer, someone screamed near the head table.
Vivian had collapsed.
Her body convulsed against the marble.
A champagne flute rolled from her hand.
Dr. Samuel Pierce, a guest and longtime Vale family physician, rushed forward.
He checked her pulse.
“She needs emergency treatment.”
Adrian looked at the glass.
Vivian had drunk from the flute Nora moved away from him.
The poison had found a different victim.
As medics entered, Vivian caught Nora’s wrist.
Her voice was barely audible.
“The poison was never supposed to kill Adrian.”
Nora leaned closer.
“What was it supposed to do?”
Vivian’s eyes shifted toward Dr. Pierce.
May you like
“Make him look dead.”
Then she stopped breathing.
