Chapter 1 - THE CAMERA ABOVE THE DOOR
For the first time that night, Preston looked afraid.
His eyes flicked toward the small red light above the ballroom entrance.
Then he looked at the oak board lying beside Sophie’s bloodstained ribbon.
The confidence disappeared from his face.
“Turn that camera off,” he ordered.
No one moved.
He turned toward the hotel manager.
“I said turn it off.”
The manager’s name was Nathan Cole.
He had been standing near the ballroom doors when Preston accused Sophie of theft.
Nathan stepped forward slowly.
“The system is controlled from the security office.”
“Then call them.”
“The footage has already been preserved.”
Preston’s bride, Cassandra, grabbed his sleeve.
“What does he mean?”
Preston ignored her.
Sirens grew louder outside the hotel.
Two guests began walking toward the elevators.
Nathan raised his hand.
“No one who witnessed the incident should leave before speaking with police.”
My mother’s face tightened.
“You cannot detain wedding guests.”
“I can request their cooperation.”
“And I can preserve the hotel’s evidence.”
Sophie’s fingers weakened around my sleeve.
I pressed the cleanest part of a napkin against the side of her head.
“Stay with me, baby.”
“I’m tired,” she whispered.
My fear returned with such force that I nearly screamed.
A woman in a red evening gown hurried from the crowd.
“I’m a pediatric nurse.”
She knelt beside us.
Her name was Dr. Rachel Bennett, although I would not learn that until later.
She checked Sophie’s eyes and pulse.
“Do not let her fall asleep.”
“Keep speaking to her.”
Preston stepped closer.
“She is exaggerating.”
Rachel looked up at him.
“You struck a child in the head with a solid object.”
“Stay away from her.”
My father finally moved.
He placed himself between Preston and the approaching police officers.
“This family will handle the misunderstanding privately.”
Detective Aaron Miles entered the ballroom with three uniformed officers.
His gaze moved from Sophie to the board.
Then to Preston.
“What happened?”
Preston spoke before anyone else.
“The child stole my phone.”
“Her mother became hysterical.”
“I tried to stop them from leaving.”
Detective Miles looked at the blood on my dress.
“You stopped an eight-year-old with an oak board?”
Preston’s mouth opened.
My mother stepped forward.
“My son lost control for one moment.”
“She had stolen from him.”
I looked at the detective.
“My daughter never touched the phone.”
“He planted it in her jacket.”
Preston laughed.
“That is insane.”
Nathan raised a tablet.
“The hotel cameras recorded the head table, the family table, the aisle, and the ballroom entrance.”
“We can determine who touched the jacket.”
Preston’s bride went completely still.
“What exactly will the cameras show?”
No one answered her.
The paramedics rushed through the ballroom doors.
They lifted Sophie from my arms and placed her on a stretcher.
As they moved her away, Detective Miles picked up the bloodstained menu board with gloved hands.
Then Nathan’s phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
When he ended the call, he looked directly at Preston.
May you like
“Security found the missing phone.”
“It was never inside Sophie’s jacket until you put it there.”
