Chapter 5 - Two Thirteen in the Morning.
Elena ran to Ruby's suite before anyone could stop her.
The child was with a female security officer in Elena's room, but the thought of someone entering Ruby's bedroom at night made Elena's hands shake with anger.
Marcus followed close behind.
They found nothing disturbed at first.
The bed had been made by housekeeping.
Ruby's stuffed rabbit sat against the pillows.
Her little suitcase was closed beside the wardrobe.
Then Elena noticed the framed photograph on the bedside table.
It showed Ruby in her mother's arms.
The frame was facing the wall.
Elena turned it around.
Something had been taped to the back.
A small white envelope.
Marcus opened it.
Inside was a typed note.
SEND THE CHILD HOME BEFORE THE WEDDING OR SHE WILL RUIN EVERYTHING.
Marcus read it twice.
"Why didn't she tell us?"
Elena stared at the message.
"Because she didn't know it was here."
"Then who was it for?"
"Me."
Elena felt the answer before she said it.
"Someone expected me to find it after something happened."
Marcus looked toward the balcony.
"To make it look like you were warned?"
"Or to make it look like I wrote it."
The envelope had no fingerprints visible to the eye.
Security bagged it.
Tomas returned with another problem.
A resort employee named Lila Grant had vanished from her assigned station.
Lila was one of the three bridesmaids wearing silver shoes.
She was also Celeste's personal assistant.
Marcus immediately ordered a search of the property.
Celeste protested from the hallway.
"Lila probably left because Elena's security team is treating everyone like suspects."
Elena stepped toward her.
"Ruby said the woman who led her down the pier wore silver shoes."
Celeste's eyes narrowed.
"Half the wedding party wore silver shoes."
"Three women did."
"Then interrogate all three."
"We are."
Celeste looked at Marcus.
"You are really letting her run this?"
Marcus did not answer the way she expected.
"She pulled Ruby out of the ocean while you complained about the ceremony."
Celeste's face hardened.
"You think I wanted that child hurt?"
Elena watched her closely.
"I think you wanted something."
A security guard appeared at the end of the corridor.
"Ms. Ward, we found Ms. Grant's shoes."
They were in a laundry cart behind the spa.
Both silver heels were wet.
One heel had a dark scratch along the side.
Ruby's torn piece of white satin was not from the dress at all.
When Elena compared it to a photo from the rehearsal, she realized the material matched a satin ribbon tied around each bridesmaid's ankle.
Lila had worn white ribbon with her silver shoes.
The evidence seemed perfect.
Too perfect.
"Where is she?" Marcus asked.
"Still missing."
Tomas entered with a second guard.
"We also found cash in her staff locker."
"How much?"
"Twenty thousand dollars."
Celeste covered her mouth.
"Oh my God."
Elena looked at her.
The reaction was convincing.
That made Elena trust it even less.
Tomas handed Marcus a printed bank slip found beneath the cash.
The deposit had been made that morning.
The sender field was blank.
But the transfer reference contained four letters.
DC-HOLD.
Marcus looked at Damian.
Damian had followed them into the suite.
"That could mean anything," he said.
Elena stepped closer.
"It means enough that you're staying where security can see you."
Damian's eyes became cold.
"You don't own me."
"No."
Elena smiled without warmth.
"I own the resort."
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At that exact moment, all the lights in the hallway went out.
Ruby screamed from the room next door.
