Chapter 3: The Name on the Papers
The stranger raised both hands as Marcello stepped toward him.
“My name is Thomas Reed.
The woman you know as Celeste is my wife.”
Celeste gave a sharp laugh.
“My former husband.
He has been following me for months.”
Thomas took a folded document from his coat.
“There was no divorce.”
“Put that away,” Celeste said.
Marcello looked at the name on the papers in his hand.
“Vanessa Reed.
Is that you?”
“My legal name used to be Vanessa,” she replied.
“I changed it when I escaped him.”
Thomas placed his marriage certificate beside the pregnancy pad.
“Ask her why she booked a flight under that old name.”
Celeste reached for the envelope, but Marcello pulled it away.
“You told me you had never been married.”
“I was ashamed.”
“You told me you were pregnant.”
“I am.”
Marcello pointed to the pad.
“Then why were you wearing this?”
“Because I lost weight.
My doctor said the baby was small, and I wanted your family to stop whispering about me.”
Thomas stared at her.
“There is no baby.”
“You don’t know anything about my life!”
“I know you used the same story on me.”
Celeste’s face hardened.
“Thomas wanted my inheritance.
When I left, he promised to ruin every relationship I had.”
Marcello glanced at the photograph from the envelope.
It showed Celeste standing beside Thomas outside a courthouse.
A second woman stood behind them, but her face was partly hidden.
“When was this taken?” Marcello asked.
“Six weeks ago,” Thomas replied.
Celeste shook her head.
“It was taken years ago.
He changed the date.”
Footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Victor Hale, Marcello’s security chief, appeared with two guards.
Celeste rushed to him.
“Victor, get this man out.”
Thomas stepped back.
“Check her handbag first.”
“Don’t touch my things,” Celeste snapped.
Marcello faced Victor.
“No one leaves until I understand what happened.”
Victor’s hand remained near his radio.
“Mr.
DeLuca, this man entered through a service door.
We should remove him.”
“You knew he was here?”
“I was alerted moments ago.”
Thomas pointed at Victor.
“He let me in last month when I came to warn you.
Then he took five thousand dollars from her to keep quiet.”
Victor seized Thomas by the arm.
“That is a lie.”
Celeste moved close to Marcello.
“You have a choice.
Trust the woman carrying your child, or humiliate me because a toddler misunderstood what she saw.”
Lily peeked from behind her mother.
“I didn’t misunderstand.”
Her mother rested both hands on Lily’s shoulders.
“She says what she sees.”
“And who are you?” Celeste demanded.
“Sarah Bennett.
I arranged the flowers for tonight.”
Celeste turned to Marcello.
“So now the florist and her child decide whether I’m truthful?”
Marcello placed the pregnancy pad on the table.
“No.
You decide that by answering me.”
Victor pulled Thomas into the hallway.
Thomas twisted around before the guards carried him toward the stairs.
“Look at the woman in the photograph!” he shouted.
“You already know her!”
Marcello lowered his eyes.
The second woman wore dark glasses, but the silver brooch on her coat was unmistakable.
His attorney, Rebecca Shaw, had worn that same brooch at dinner.
“Where is Rebecca?” Marcello asked.
Celeste’s lips parted, but Victor returned before she could answer.
“She left the ballroom,” Victor said.
“We cannot locate her.”
Marcello reached for the envelope.
It was no longer on the table.
“Celeste, where are those papers?”
“I never touched them.”
Sarah pointed toward the open door.
“Victor did.”
Victor pulled his jacket closed.
“Be careful what you accuse me of.”
Marcello lifted his phone.
“I want every security recording from tonight.”
Victor did not move.
“I said every recording.”
May you like
“There aren’t any,” Victor replied.
“The entire upstairs system was disabled forty minutes ago.”
