Chapter 2 - The White Cord
Daniel did not shout.
That was what frightened Grant most.
He crossed the ballroom, bent beside the ruined cake, and lifted the thin white cord between two fingers. It ran beneath a tablecloth, behind a floral display, and ended near the column where Grant had been standing.
Grant raised both hands. “You’re making this into something it isn’t.”
Rachel crouched beside Daniel. “This wasn’t part of the cake setup.”
The event manager hurried forward. “Absolutely not. The pedestal was locked before the reception.”
Vanessa finally moved.
“Daniel, please.” Her voice trembled. “Not tonight.”
He looked at her.
“Not tonight?”
“Our wedding reception just got destroyed.”
“My daughter says your brother tried to scare her out of my house.”
“That is not what she said.”
Daniel stared at her for a beat.
“She said exactly that.”
Emma buried her face against Rachel’s side.
Noah whispered, “Dad… she’s shaking.”
Daniel’s anger cooled into something sharper.
“Rachel, take them to the bridal suite. Lock the door. Nobody comes in unless I say so.”
Grant scoffed. “This is insane.”
Daniel turned to him. “Give me your phone.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Grant laughed once. “You’re not a cop.”
“No. I’m the man whose kid you threatened.”
Vanessa stepped between them. “Daniel, stop.”
Before he could answer, Rachel called from the edge of the ballroom.
“Mr. Mercer.”
She was holding something small in her palm.
A black wireless trigger.
The event manager’s face changed. “That’s not ours.”
Grant’s jaw tightened.
Daniel reached for it.
Rachel pulled her hand back.
“There’s more.”
She turned the trigger over.
A strip of white tape had been stuck to the back.
Written in black marker were three words.
EMMA - 8:15 PM.
Daniel checked the giant clock above the ballroom doors.
The cake had fallen at exactly 8:15.
Then Noah’s voice came from the hallway.
“Dad!”
Daniel spun around.
May you like
Noah stood outside the bridal suite, pale and breathing hard.
“Emma’s gone.”
