Chapter 7 - The House Has Ears.
By noon, Marcus’s security team had found six listening devices.
One was in the library.
Two were in the study.
One was hidden behind a light fixture in Adrian’s bedroom.
The final two were in rooms used for private business meetings.
Adrian looked at the devices lined up on his desk.
“This was not done in one night.”
Marcus nodded.
“Some are older than others.”
“How old?”
“Months.”
Gavin stood near the fireplace with his arms crossed.
“This house was renovated after the accident.”
Adrian looked at him.
“By a contractor you selected.”
Gavin’s eyes hardened.
“I selected twenty contractors while you were in rehabilitation.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is the truth.”
Emma sat on the far end of the couch, wrapped in the same wool blanket Adrian had placed over her the night before.
She had finally agreed to stop working.
She had not agreed to relax.
Every sound in the hallway made her look toward the door.
Adrian noticed.
He also noticed that she kept rubbing her scraped knuckles against the blanket.
A soft knock came from outside.
Marcus opened the door.
Celeste stood there carrying a tray of coffee.
Her face showed polite concern.
“I heard the staff were being questioned.”
“They are being interviewed,” Adrian said.
Celeste set the tray down.
“May I ask why?”
Adrian pointed to the microphones.
Her eyes moved over them without visible surprise.
That was the surprise.
Most innocent people would have asked what they were.
Celeste only said, “How troubling.”
Emma looked at Adrian.
He had seen it too.
“Celeste,” he said, “who has access to staff phone numbers?”
“The management office.”
“Specifically?”
“Myself, payroll, security, and Mr. Gavin Vale.”
Gavin gave a short laugh.
“Of course you mention me.”
Celeste ignored him.
Adrian leaned back.
“Where were you at five this morning?”
“At home.”
“Can anyone confirm that?”
“My husband.”
Emma looked surprised.
Adrian was too.
Celeste had always described herself as widowed.
“You remarried?”
Celeste paused.
For the first time, genuine uncertainty appeared in her eyes.
“I misspoke.”
Adrian’s voice went quiet.
“You do not misspeak.”
Celeste picked up the empty tray.
“I meant my brother.”
Gavin turned from the fireplace.
“You don’t have a brother.”
Celeste looked at him.
A beat passed.
Then she smiled.
“I believe this interrogation has gone far enough.”
She walked toward the door.
Marcus stepped into her path.
Adrian spoke before either of them moved.
“Let her go.”
Marcus looked back, surprised.
Celeste left without another word.
Emma stared at Adrian.
“Why did you let her leave?”
“Because people who think they are cornered stop making mistakes.”
Adrian turned to Marcus.
“Follow her.”
Marcus nodded and disappeared into the hall.
Gavin frowned.
“What are you expecting her to do?”
Adrian looked at the microphones.
“Lead us to whoever installed these.”
Thirty-eight minutes later, Marcus called.
Adrian put the phone on speaker.
“I’m behind Celeste’s car.”
“Where is she going?”
“That’s the problem.”
“What problem?”
“She isn’t going home.”
A pause.
“She just entered the private rehabilitation clinic you stayed at after the crash.”
Adrian’s face changed.
Emma saw it immediately.
May you like
Then Marcus added one more sentence.
“And Gavin’s missing ring is on her hand.”
