Chapter 5 - The Empty Archive
The wedding stopped being a wedding.
Within ten minutes, the ballroom doors were closed to anyone who had not already left. Daniel asked the venue manager to pause dinner and collect footage from every hallway camera. Margaret refused to sit down.
Vanessa stood near the floral arch, still wearing the dress that had become evidence.
Brooke approached with a shawl.
“Cover the embroidery,” she whispered. “At least until this is sorted out.”
Vanessa stared at her. “Why?”
“Because every phone in here is pointed at you.”
“Let them look.”
“Vanessa.”
“No. I’m not hiding because somebody set me up.”
Margaret heard her.
The older woman’s face softened by one degree. “If you were set up.”
Vanessa turned. “You still think I did this?”
“I think my daughter’s work was stolen. I don’t yet know by whom.”
Daniel returned from the hallway. “The house alarm log was altered.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“When?”
“Eleven days ago.”
Vanessa’s stomach dropped. Eleven days ago was the date of her final dress fitting.
Daniel continued. “Someone entered the archive at 1:14 a.m. using a valid staff code. The camera outside the room went offline for seven minutes.”
Celeste folded her arms. “Then it was staff.”
Daniel looked at her. “Your foundation badge was used that night.”
Celeste’s lips parted.
“That’s impossible.”
“Is it?”
“My badge was in my office.”
“Who had access?” Margaret asked.
Celeste looked around the room.
Then her eyes landed on Brooke.
Brooke’s face changed.
Vanessa noticed.
“Why are you looking at her?”
Celeste spoke slowly. “Because Brooke worked for me last year.”
Vanessa turned to her maid of honor.
“You told me you met Celeste through a charity luncheon.”
Brooke’s voice thinned. “I did.”
Celeste shook her head. “No. She was my assistant for eight months.”
Vanessa stared at Brooke.
May you like
Brooke stepped back.
And from inside her small silver purse came the sharp electronic chirp of an access badge being scanned.
