Chapter 9 - The Fire Alarm

The fire alarm screamed thirty seconds later.

Red lights began flashing in the hallway.

Serena grabbed the recorder and files.

"That's not a coincidence."

I agreed.

We stepped into the corridor with other guests pouring from their rooms. An announcement ordered everyone toward the stairs.

I called Tasha.

No answer.

Again.

Nothing.

I called the detective.

He answered immediately.

"Stay where you are. We have smoke reported near the eighteenth-floor service corridor."

Serena looked toward the far end.

A thin gray cloud drifted from beneath a utility door.

Then a man came through the stairwell.

Gavin.

He saw Serena.

Saw the folder.

And rushed us.

"Give me that."

Serena backed away. "Stay away from me."

I stepped between them without thinking.

Gavin reached for the folder.

I shoved his arm aside.

"Don't touch me."

Guests screamed. Someone pulled out a phone.

Good.

Let them record.

Gavin lowered his voice. "Danielle, you don't understand what you're destroying."

"My wedding? You were late."

He lunged for Serena again.

A hand caught his shoulder and slammed him into the wall.

Marcus.

"Back off."

Gavin twisted free. "You idiot. Do you know what your mother did to save your company?"

Marcus's face changed.

"Where is she?"

Gavin smiled without humor. "Fixing your mess. Like always."

Hotel security arrived with the detective behind them.

Gavin tried to run.

He didn't make it three steps.

As they restrained him, Marcus looked at me.

"Are you okay?"

I hated how automatic my answer wanted to be.

I hated that part of me still knew the exact crease between his eyebrows when he was afraid.

"No," I said. "I'm not."

The alarm stopped.

The smoke had come from a trash bin full of burning paper.

The detective carried the half-burned stack into the hall inside an evidence bag.

One page was still readable.

It was a draft email from Lorraine to an insurance broker.

Subject: Key Person Coverage - Marcus Hale.

Another line showed the beneficiary.

Hale Hospitality Group.

Coverage amount: $12 million.

Marcus stared at it.

"Why would my mother take out twelve million dollars of life insurance on me?"

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Gavin, pinned against the wall, laughed once.

"Because Harbor Ridge was never supposed to survive."