Chapter 15 - The Woman With the Red Folder
Security moved first.
Helen pulled out a red folder, not a weapon, and held it above her head.
“Don’t touch me,” she said. “You’ll want what’s inside.”
Daniel’s security chief stopped six feet away.
Margaret stared at Helen. “You worked for Richard.”
“For twenty-one years.”
Daniel recognized her now, not as an event host, but as the former executive secretary who had retired after his father died.
“What are you doing at my wedding?”
Helen smiled sadly. “Making sure tonight happened.”
Vanessa’s skin prickled. “You hired yourself as our emcee?”
“Celeste’s office received an anonymous recommendation.”
Celeste muttered, “You manipulated the vendor list.”
“Yes.”
Margaret’s voice turned hard. “You said on that recording you could handle Emily.”
“I meant I could get her out of the building. Richard meant something else.”
“Prove it.”
Helen opened the red folder.
Inside were photocopies of police records, insurance documents, and one photograph of a black sedan.
“The night Emily died, her car did not simply lose control in the rain,” Helen said. “Someone loosened a brake line.”
Daniel’s face went blank.
Vanessa felt him sway.
“Who?”
Helen looked at Celeste.
Celeste’s lips parted.
“No.”
Helen slid a mechanic’s invoice onto the table.
ROWAN MOTOR & RESTORATION.
Celeste shook her head violently. “My father restored vintage cars. That proves nothing.”
“The invoice is for Emily’s vehicle.”
“My father loved Emily.”
“He did,” Helen said. “That’s why he tried to fix what Richard ordered someone else to damage.”
Daniel slammed his palm against the table. “Stop speaking in riddles. Who touched the brakes?”
Helen looked toward Renee.
Renee’s eyes widened.
Then Helen said, “Aaron Vale.”
Margaret gasped.
Vanessa stared.
Renee shook her head. “No. Aaron would never hurt her.”
Helen’s expression did not change.
May you like
“He didn’t mean to.”
Then the ballroom lights went out.
