Chapter 12 - The Woman in Silver

The clue at Lorraine's house led police back to the wedding-night security footage. They found a second woman dressed in silver moving through a restricted service corridor while Serena was clearly visible on another floor. Before detectives could identify her, my phone rang from an unknown number.

It was Lorraine.

Her message said my father had been taken and that if I wanted him alive, I had to come to the old Harbor Ridge sales office at six in the morning. The attached photograph showed Dad tied to a chair with Victor Lang standing behind him.

Police wanted me nowhere near the building. I went anyway.

For a moment, nobody understood why that mattered.

Then Serena did.

"The security cameras."

The detective turned to her.

"What about them?"

"Lorraine knew I was wearing silver. She chose it for me. She sent the dress to my room this afternoon with a note that said it was more appropriate for the reception."

Marcus stared at her.

"My mother dressed you?"

"Apparently."

Tasha, who had insisted on coming in a second car, folded her arms. "Your family has officially exceeded my weekly tolerance for rich-people insanity."

The detective asked the hotel to send security footage from the service corridors.

Within twenty minutes, we had it.

At 10:52 p.m., a woman in a silver dress entered an employee hallway near the finance office used by wedding vendors.

Her face was hidden by her hair.

At 10:58, the same woman left carrying a black folder.

At 11:04, Serena appeared on a different camera entering the elevator from the eighteenth floor.

Two women.

Same dress.

Different places.

"Lorraine wanted the cameras to place me near the financial records," Serena said.

"In case the transfer was investigated," the detective replied.

Marcus sank into a chair.

"She was going to blame Serena for everything."

Serena's mouth tightened. "She already started."

My phone rang.

Unknown number.

I almost ignored it.

Then a text arrived.

DANIELLE, THIS IS LORRAINE. DO NOT TRUST SERENA. DO NOT TRUST VICTOR. IF YOU WANT YOUR FATHER SAFE, COME TO THE OLD HARBOR RIDGE SALES OFFICE AT 6 A.M.

My blood turned cold.

I showed the detective.

"My father is at the hotel."

He called the officer assigned to Dad.

No answer.

Again.

Nothing.

I called Tasha's phone even though she was standing beside me.

"Try my dad."

She did.

Voicemail.

The detective called hotel security.

His face tightened as he listened.

"The officer outside your father's room was found unconscious in the stairwell."

My knees went weak.

"And my father?"

He ended the call.

"Gone."

Marcus grabbed his coat.

"We're going to Harbor Ridge."

The detective blocked the door.

"No. Police are going."

I looked at the message again.

If you want your father safe.

Then another text came.

COME ALONE.

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Attached was a photograph of Dad sitting in a chair.

Behind him stood Victor Lang.