Chapter 3 - The Bride Who Knew Too Much.
Emergency lights flickered on along the ballroom walls.
The sudden red glow transformed the elegant reception into something unreal.
Claire still had one hand around Julian's wrist.
Her other arm was wrapped around Evelyn.
Serena stood six feet away, breathing hard.
Julian stared at his bride.
"What did you just say?"
Serena's face lost what little color remained.
"I said leave her alone."
"No."
"You said not to let me get the key."
The guests had gone completely quiet again.
Serena looked toward Eleanor.
Eleanor gave the smallest shake of her head.
Claire saw it.
"You know what B-17 is."
Serena swallowed.
Julian pulled his wrist free.
"She does not know anything."
Claire laughed once.
"Then why are you answering for her?"
Eleanor snapped at the lighting technician across the room.
"Restore the power."
The man raised both hands.
"The main breaker was manually shut off."
A new murmur swept through the guests.
Julian's eyes flicked toward a service corridor.
Claire noticed that too.
Evelyn leaned close to her mother's ear.
"Mommy, that is where he came from before he pushed me."
Claire followed her daughter's gaze.
The corridor led toward private offices used by the Vale Foundation during gala events.
Serena suddenly stepped forward.
"Claire, take Evelyn home."
"I will call you tomorrow."
Julian turned on her.
"You will do no such thing."
Serena's expression finally changed from fear to anger.
"You do not get to tell me what I can say."
Eleanor moved between them.
"Not tonight."
Serena looked at the woman who would have become her mother-in-law by midnight.
"Especially tonight."
Claire felt Evelyn shiver.
Whatever secret sat behind B-17 was not worth keeping her daughter in the middle of this room.
She took Evelyn's hand.
"We are going."
This time Julian did not stop them.
That frightened Claire more than if he had.
They crossed the lobby and entered the private elevator to the parking level.
Claire pressed the button for B2.
The doors started to close.
At the last second, Serena slipped inside.
She had removed her heels.
Her wedding train was gathered in both hands.
"Do not go home," Serena said.
Claire stared at her.
"Why?"
Serena looked at Evelyn, then lowered her voice.
"Because Julian knows the address."
Claire's stomach tightened.
"He is my brother."
"That is exactly why I am telling you."
The elevator began moving downward.
Serena reached beneath the layers of her gown and pulled out a slim black envelope.
"I found this three weeks ago."
Claire opened it.
Inside was a photocopy of a bank transfer dated the week before her father's death.
The amount was eight million dollars.
The recipient line was partially blacked out.
But the authorization signature was not.
It belonged to Eleanor Vale.
Claire looked up.
"Where did you get this?"
Serena's eyes filled with tears she refused to let fall.
"From a safe Julian thinks I never opened."
The elevator stopped.
Before the doors opened, Serena grabbed Claire's hand.
"B-17 is not a storage unit."
Claire felt the brass key through the fabric of her pocket.
"What is it?"
May you like
Serena whispered the answer.
"It is a deposit box your father opened two days before he died."
