Chapter 7 - Margaret's Eight Minutes.
When Jennifer and Richard returned to the ballroom, Margaret was no longer at the table.
Daniel was seated alone beneath the chandelier.
He looked almost calm again.
That calm frightened Jennifer more than his panic had.
“Where is your mother?” Richard asked.
“Did Mrs. Hale leave the ballroom?”
“You knew she took the red case,” Jennifer said.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Your mother was in the elevator when someone took it from you.”
“You have a picture of a wrist.”
“Where is she?”
“You've spent tonight letting Jennifer turn this family into a spectacle.”
“You forged my resignation.”
Daniel's expression changed only slightly.
“You don't know that.”
“I heard your voice.”
For the first time, Daniel seemed unsettled by something other than the folder.
“Elaine?”
“Yes.”
Daniel looked toward the ballroom doors.
That was when Margaret returned.
So did Richard.
“Where is your bracelet?” he asked.
“What?”
“The bracelet Caroline gave you.”
Margaret looked at her bare wrist.
“I must have taken it off upstairs.”
“You were upstairs?”
“Dad, leave her alone.”
Jennifer placed the video still in front of Margaret.
Richard whispered, “You took Owen's box.”
“I took a box.”
“Where is it?”
She looked at Daniel.
“The truth before Daniel writes it for you.”
“Daniel called me before the ceremony.”
“He said Owen was trying to destroy the family.”
“He said Owen had stolen private documents and was bringing them here to blackmail us.”
Jennifer asked, “Did you meet Owen?”
“Then how did you get the box?”
“Daniel told me to take the service elevator to B2.”
“When the doors opened, Daniel was standing there with the red box.”
“He handed it to me.”
“Where did you take it?”
“To room 1522.”
“That room is unoccupied.”
“I hid the case beneath the bed.”
“You helped him hide evidence.”
“I thought I was protecting us.”
“From what?”
“Scandal.”
Richard looked around the ballroom, where relatives were pretending not to listen.
“Look at what protecting scandal bought us.”
“Mom, you do not have to answer them.”
“Please secure room 1522.”
“You can't just take property that isn't yours.”
“You told your mother it was stolen family property.”
“Why did you sign the transfer authorization?”
“Daniel said Noah needed to be protected before Claire's former boyfriend tried to claim custody.”
Jennifer asked, “What did the transfer have to do with custody?”
“He said money had to be moved into a temporary account so Claire could show stable resources.”
“You moved family money for a custody story you never verified?”
“I thought Daniel was finally becoming responsible.”
Payments linked Jennifer's company, Caroline's reserve, North Birch, Stonewake, and multiple smaller entities.
The christening bill itself had been entered before Daniel ever slid it toward her.
He had expected Jennifer to pay because the payment trail needed her money attached to the event.
Jennifer whispered, “The invoice was part of it.”
“If you paid, he could say you approved the christening arrangement.”
“And maybe the trust packet.”
There, beside a transfer of $75,000, were the initials MH.
“I didn't receive that.”
The date was the morning after Margaret had delivered Richard's signature card.
“Seventy-five thousand dollars was paid in your name.”
“I never saw it.”
Jennifer checked the account number against the folder.
Then the duty manager handed Jennifer a small item found beneath the bed with the case.
Margaret looked confused.
“I did not put that there.”
Jennifer unfolded it.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
It contained an address and a time.
11:30 PM.
May you like
Beneath that were three words.
Ask for Caroline.
