Chapter 10 - The Garage
Claire did not think about the dress.
She ran.
The stained skirt gathered in her fists as she raced down the service corridor with Ethan and Daniel behind her.
“Claire, slow down!” Ethan shouted.
“No.”
Her overnight bag contained her passport, laptop, backup phone, and a folder of personal financial records she had brought for the honeymoon.
If Noah had that bag, this was bigger than sabotage.
They reached the garage just as a black SUV pulled away from the curb.
Daniel pointed. “That’s him.”
Ethan ran into the lane, forcing the driver to brake.
The SUV stopped inches from him.
The driver-side door opened.
Noah stepped out.
“What the hell are you doing?” he shouted.
Ethan pointed at the passenger seat. “Give Claire her bag.”
Noah’s eyes flicked toward Claire.
“I was bringing it to the front desk.”
“From the bridal suite?” Claire asked.
“It was in the hall.”
“Liar.”
His expression hardened.
Daniel moved closer. “We have video of you disabling a camera.”
Noah laughed nervously. “Then you know Margaret asked me to help with a privacy issue.”
“A privacy issue that required cash?” Claire asked.
He stopped smiling.
Ethan opened the passenger door and took the bag.
Claire unzipped it immediately.
Passport.
Laptop.
Clothes.
Financial folder.
But the backup phone was missing.
She looked at Noah.
“Where is it?”
“What?”
“My second phone.”
“I didn’t take anything.”
Daniel said, “Empty your pockets.”
Noah took a step back. “You’re not police.”
“No,” Claire said. “But they’re next.”
At that, Noah’s bravado cracked.
He reached into his jacket and pulled out the phone.
Ethan stared at him. “Why?”
Noah swallowed.
“Because your mother said Claire had photos of the trust documents.”
Margaret’s footsteps echoed from the garage entrance.
Claire turned.
Margaret stopped when she saw the phone in Noah’s hand.
Noah looked at her.
“You said nobody would get hurt.”
Margaret’s voice turned sharp. “Be quiet.”
“No. I’m done being quiet.”
He looked at Claire.
“The drink wasn’t supposed to ruin your dress.”
Claire’s eyes narrowed.
“What was it supposed to do?”
May you like
Noah’s face went pale.
“Get you out of the room long enough for Vanessa to take something from your purse.”
