Chapter 6 – Secrets Behind the Cameras
While surgeons fought to save Khloe, Detective Claire Donovan wasn't finished with the evidence.
Something about Isabella's confidence bothered her.
People rarely committed such a public act of violence unless they believed someone would protect them afterward.
She returned to the surveillance room.
"Replay everything from thirty minutes before the assault."
Hours of footage rolled across the monitors.
Then one clip caught her attention.
Hallway Camera 17-B.
Exactly twenty-two minutes before Khloe entered the suite.
Isabella was speaking with someone.
A man.
Tall.
Silver hair.
Dark navy suit.
The camera had no audio.
But the body language told its own story.
The man handed Isabella a small envelope.
She opened it.
Read something.
Smiled.
Then tucked it into her handbag.
Claire froze the frame.
"Zoom in."
The technician enlarged the image.
The man's face became clear.
David, standing behind Claire, suddenly inhaled sharply.
"I know him."
Claire turned.
"Who is he?"
David's expression darkened.
"Richard Hawthorne."
Marcus looked over.
"The chairman of the Hawthorne Foundation?"
David nodded slowly.
"And one of the largest donors to tonight's charity gala."
Claire frowned.
"What would he be doing with Isabella before the attack?"
No one answered.
Because no one knew.
But Claire had spent twenty years investigating powerful families.
One thing had become painfully clear.
This assault hadn't started inside Suite 1708.
It had started long before Khloe ever walked through that door.
May you like
And somewhere behind Isabella...
Someone else was pulling the strings.
