Chapter 10 - The Bullet That Never Came
“Someone was supposed to kill you at the wedding,” Elena said.
Adrian stared at the photograph.
“Apparently.”
Mara studied the floor plan. “Not necessarily at the wedding. The marks show movement after guests left.”
Elena remembered something.
“Victor kept asking what time your security rotation changed.”
Adrian looked at her. “When?”
“During the reception. He pretended he wanted to know when his driver could use the west entrance.”
Dante swore under his breath.
Mara’s phone rang. She walked away to answer.
Elena turned to Adrian. “Why didn’t they do it?”
“Maybe they tried.”
Dante checked his tablet.
Then his face changed.
“What?” Adrian asked.
“West roof camera. Eleven thirty-eight.”
Footage showed a dark figure entering a neighboring construction site with a long case. At eleven forty-six, the figure left quickly.
Eight minutes.
Dante zoomed in.
At eleven forty-two, Adrian and Elena were supposed to have crossed the glass skybridge from the ballroom to the private wing.
They had not.
Because Elena’s wedding veil tore on a chair, and one of the older housekeepers insisted on fixing it before Elena went upstairs.
A ninety-second delay.
It may have saved Adrian’s life.
Elena stared at the screen.
“So the sniper left because you missed the window.”
“Or because the shot became too risky.”
Mara returned. “We have a bigger problem. Bell knows about the warehouse search. He just filed an emergency complaint accusing the FBI and Vale Security of stealing protected municipal records.”
“That was fast,” Adrian said.
“Too fast.”
Mara lowered her voice. “There is a leak.”
An agent at the far end of the room called her name.
They had found a live laptop hidden behind the shelving.
Its screen showed a remote deletion in progress.
“Cut the network!” Mara shouted.
An agent ripped the cable.
The deletion froze at sixty-three percent.
One folder remained open.
Mara clicked it.
A list of payments appeared.
Police officers. Inspectors. Union officials. A judge.
Then Elena saw a familiar name.
DANTE RUIZ.
She looked up slowly.
May you like
Adrian’s security chief stood ten feet away.
His hand moved toward his jacket.
