Chapter 3: The Bride's Secret
Chapter 3: The Bride's Secret
Richard Carter stood frozen in the hospital hallway as the two Chicago police officers approached.
"Mr. Carter," Detective Marcus Bennett said evenly, "you're not under arrest at this time. However, because this is now an active criminal investigation, I strongly advise you to stop discussing the incident."
Richard swallowed hard, his confident demeanor disappearing.
"I... I want a lawyer."
"That's your right."
Without another word, Richard turned and walked toward the elevator. Just before the doors closed, he looked back at Emily.
There was regret in his eyes.
But there was something else, too.
Fear.
Not fear for himself.
Fear of what was about to be uncovered.
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the blinds of Sophie's hospital room.
Sophie stirred awake slowly, blinking against the light.
Emily smiled and gently brushed a strand of blonde hair away from her daughter's face.
"Good morning, sweetheart."
Sophie's first instinct was to touch the white bandage wrapped around her forehead.
"It still hurts."
"I know."
"Is Uncle Preston in jail?"
Emily hesitated.
"Not yet."
Sophie stared at the blanket.
"I didn't steal his phone."
"I know you didn't."
"Will everyone believe me now?"
Emily took her daughter's small hand.
"They won't have a choice."
A soft knock interrupted them.
Detective Bennett entered carrying a folder thick with documents.
"The hospital says Sophie can go home later today."
Emily nodded gratefully.
"Any updates?"
Bennett placed the folder on the bedside table.
"We interviewed thirty-seven wedding guests overnight."
"And?"
"Most of them admitted they never actually saw Sophie touch the phone."
Emily wasn't surprised.
"They just assumed she was guilty."
"Exactly."
He opened the folder and removed several printed photographs taken from the surveillance footage.
"The video is becoming clearer after enhancement."
Emily leaned closer.
The first image showed Preston planting the phone.
The second showed Diane blocking the guests' view.
The third made Emily's heart skip.
Standing beside Diane...
...was the bride.
Natalie Brooks.
Still wearing her elegant ivory wedding gown.
Still smiling.
Emily frowned.
"Natalie?"
Bennett nodded.
"She looked directly at Preston while he slipped the phone into Sophie's pocket."
Emily studied the photograph.
Natalie's eyes weren't on the dance floor.
They were fixed on Preston.
Almost as if she were waiting for him to finish.
"She saw everything."
"More than that."
Bennett slid another photo across the bed.
This one came from a camera mounted near the ballroom entrance.
Five minutes before the ceremony, Natalie and Preston stood alone in a side hallway.
Preston handed her something.
A folded piece of paper.
"What is that?" Emily asked.
"We don't know yet."
"But she took it."
"Yes."
Another photograph.
Natalie tucked the paper inside the small satin purse hanging from her shoulder.
Emily looked up.
"Have you questioned her?"
Bennett sighed.
"That's where things get interesting."
Three hours earlier...
Natalie Brooks sat alone inside the bridal suite of the Whitmore Hotel.
Her wedding dress was wrinkled.
Her mascara had run from hours of crying.
The untouched wedding cake downstairs had already been boxed away.
A female detective entered quietly.
"I'm Detective Laura Hayes."
Natalie nodded weakly.
"I know why you're here."
"Do you?"
Natalie stared at her hands.
"I didn't hurt that little girl."
"No one says you did."
"But I helped."
The detective remained silent.
After nearly a minute, Natalie finally whispered,
"I told Preston this was a terrible idea."
Hayes leaned forward.
"What idea?"
Natalie closed her eyes.
"He said he needed everyone to believe Emily's daughter was a thief."
"Why?"
"He wouldn't tell me."
"What exactly was your role?"
Natalie began to cry again.
"He asked me to stand beside Diane."
"And?"
"So no one would see him."
Hayes carefully took notes.
"Did you know he planned to hit Sophie?"
Natalie's head snapped up.
"No!"
"He never mentioned violence?"
"I swear he didn't."
She covered her face with trembling hands.
"He only said it would embarrass Emily enough to make her leave the reception."
Hayes studied her carefully.
"Then why agree?"
Natalie looked ashamed.
"Because Preston threatened me."
"Threatened you how?"
She slowly reached into her purse.
From a hidden compartment, she removed the folded paper shown in the surveillance photographs.
She handed it to the detective.
Hayes unfolded it.
Inside was a single page containing copies of several bank transfers.
Large amounts of money.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
If you don't help me tonight, everyone learns where this money came from.
Hayes looked back at Natalie.
"What money?"
Natalie whispered the answer so quietly it was almost impossible to hear.
"My father's company."
Hayes frowned.
"What about it?"
Natalie's shoulders shook.
"Preston discovered someone had been stealing from it for years."
"Who?"
Natalie looked directly into the detective's eyes.
"It wasn't my father."
She paused.
"It was Preston."
Back at the hospital, Detective Bennett finished recounting Natalie's statement.
Emily sat speechless.
"You're telling me Preston stole money from his future father-in-law..."
Bennett nodded.
"...then framed my daughter to distract everyone?"
"We believe so."
Emily couldn't understand it.
"Why would embarrassing Sophie help him hide financial crimes?"
Bennett closed the folder.
"That's exactly what we're trying to figure out."
Before Emily could respond, Bennett's phone rang.
He answered immediately.
His expression changed within seconds.
"What is it?" Emily asked.
He slowly lowered the phone.
"The forensic team just finished searching Preston's hotel suite."
"Did they find something?"
Bennett met her eyes.
"They found over two million dollars in cash."
He paused.
"And a handwritten list."
Emily felt a chill run down her spine.
"My name was on it, wasn't it?"
Bennett didn't answer immediately.
When he finally spoke, his voice was grim.
"Not just yours."
He looked toward the sleeping Sophie.
"Your daughter's name was there too."
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Underneath both names was a single word, written in bold black ink.
REMOVE.
