Chapter 4 - The Brass Key
Nobody moved.
The brass key lay between Celeste’s heels and Vanessa’s white train.
Margaret crouched first. She picked it up, turned it over, and showed Daniel the tiny letter E stamped into the metal.
Daniel’s face went rigid.
“Where did you get that?”
Celeste shook her head. “That isn’t mine.”
“It fell out of your clutch,” Vanessa said.
“Someone put it there.”
Brooke let out a nervous laugh. “Okay, this is insane. Maybe we should call security.”
Daniel looked past her. “Already did.”
Two venue security officers were moving quietly toward the aisle.
Celeste backed away. “You’re not holding me here.”
“No,” Daniel said. “But you’re not taking that clutch anywhere.”
Margaret closed her fist around the key. “I had this copied once. Nine years ago. One copy for me. One for Daniel.”
Daniel frowned. “Mine is in a safe.”
“Check it.”
He pulled out his phone.
Vanessa stared at Celeste. “Did you copy my dress from a dead woman’s private sketch?”
Celeste’s eyes flashed. “You think I embroidered it myself?”
“I think you lied to me.”
“I gave you the wedding you wanted.”
“You gave me a dress that made my husband’s mother think I robbed her dead daughter.”
For the first time, Celeste’s control cracked.
“You wanted unforgettable,” she snapped. “Congratulations.”
A gasp moved through the guests.
Daniel took one step forward.
“Say that again.”
Celeste’s face changed immediately. “That came out wrong.”
“No. It came out honest.”
Daniel’s phone rang.
He answered and put it on speaker.
A man’s voice said, “Mr. Whitmore, I’m at the house. Your safe is open.”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
Margaret gripped the key harder.
The voice continued.
“The key you keep inside is gone.”
Vanessa looked at Celeste.
May you like
Celeste did not look surprised.
Then Daniel’s security chief added, “There’s something else. The cedar box is missing.”
