Chapter 13 - The Records Room.
The Whitmore records facility occupied a converted bank building on the edge of downtown.
Its stone walls and narrow windows made it look more secure than it was.
When Adrian's car arrived, the front doors were unlocked.
That was the first problem.
The empty security desk was the second.
Reed ordered Eleanor to remain outside with two officers.
She objected loudly.
For once, Adrian won.
Claire entered behind Reed only because she refused to stay in the car and because the investigator had decided arguing with her consumed more time than supervising her.
The archive floor smelled like paper and cold air.
Rows of rolling shelves stretched beneath fluorescent lights.
One aisle stood open near the back.
Adrian found the trust archive drawer pulled halfway out.
Inside, folders had been scattered.
The original amendment was missing.
Claire noticed a small square of blue tape on the floor.
The same blue used on temporary engineering credentials.
"Mercer was here."
Reed raised a hand for silence.
A metal door clicked somewhere behind them.
They turned.
Owen Mercer stepped from a side room.
He looked exhausted rather than dangerous.
His hands were empty.
"I don't want trouble," he said.
Adrian moved forward.
"Then start talking."
Mercer looked toward Reed.
"I was paid to disable a camera and loosen a decorative safety assembly. I was told the chandelier would be lowered for maintenance after the guests moved."
Claire stared at him.
"You were under it. You knew people were there."
His face tightened.
"Not until it was too late."
"Who paid you?"
Mercer hesitated.
Adrian's voice dropped.
"Say the name."
"Graham Vale."
Silence filled the archive.
Mercer explained that Graham had described the plan as a staged equipment incident meant to delay Eleanor's announcement and embarrass the hotel.
Mercer claimed he had never agreed to put anyone at risk.
Claire did not know whether to believe him.
Then Mercer reached into his jacket very slowly.
Reed tensed.
Mercer produced a small memory card.
"I copied the messages because he stopped answering me after the chandelier fell."
Reed took it.
"Where is Graham?"
Mercer looked toward the rear stairwell.
"He was here ten minutes ago. He took the trust amendment and a backup drive from Hale's laptop."
Adrian started for the door.
Mercer stopped him with one sentence.
"He said he was going back to the ballroom."
Claire frowned.
"Why?"
Mercer swallowed.
"Because there's one thing he left behind that can connect him to the rig."
"What?"
"The original inspection tag."
Reed called the hotel immediately.
Paige answered.
She was inside the ballroom preparing it for investigators.
Reed told her to leave.
For several seconds, Paige did not respond.
Then her voice came through the speaker, barely above a whisper.
"I can't."
A man's voice spoke behind her.
Calm.
Familiar.
Graham Vale.
"Tell Eleanor to come back to the ballroom."
The line went dead.
Adrian was already moving before Reed finished the call.
Claire caught the back of his sleeve and forced him to stop.
For the first time since the gala, fear was not making him reckless.
May you like
It was making him listen.
That small change would matter when they reached the ballroom.
