Chapter 3: The Man Who Disappeared
The wedding reception ended without a single photograph being taken.
Guests were escorted downstairs.
Security guards sealed the rooftop entrances.
Marcus ordered the hotel's surveillance office to retrieve every recording from the service corridors.
Evelyn was taken to a private medical suite.
And I was left sitting in a chair outside her room with a paper cup of water and a bandage wrapped around each knee.
I should have gone home.
I knew that.
Tasha had probably called me ten times already.
But something about the brown envelope bothered me.
The employee in the recording hadn't simply handed Vanessa a document.
He had looked directly toward the camera.
And for one brief moment, I had seen his face.
Daniel Brooks.
I knew him.
Not well, but enough.
He had worked maintenance at the Grand Meridian for nearly five years.
He was quiet, usually polite, and always carried a small silver key ring attached to his belt.
A few months earlier, he had helped me repair a broken laundry cart.
He had even remembered Tasha's name.
Now he was connected to an attempted murder.
My phone vibrated.
<text> Tasha: Nia, where are you? You said you'd be home by six.
I typed a quick response.
<text> Nia: Something happened at work. I'm okay. I'll explain later.
The reply came immediately.
<text> Tasha: You're scaring me. Please call me.
I was about to answer when Marcus emerged from Evelyn's room.
"Ms. Carter?""
I stood.
"Yes?""
"Can you come with me?""
"Where?""
"The surveillance office.""
I hesitated.
"I've already shown you the video.""
"I know. But there's something else.""
He looked exhausted.
His wedding tie hung loose around his neck.
I followed him through a private hallway.
The surveillance office was located on the hotel's twenty-second floor. Six large monitors covered one wall, displaying elevators, corridors, parking areas, and entrances.
A security director named Paul Reeves stood behind the main console.
"Mr. Whitmore," he said.
"We've found the footage.""
Marcus pointed toward the screens.
"Show us the garage.""
Paul selected a recording.
A black Mercedes appeared near the underground exit.
The driver was Daniel.
Marcus leaned closer.
"That's my father's car.""
Paul nodded.
"It was stored in the private collection garage. The vehicle hasn't been moved in eleven years.""
"Who had access?""
"Only a few senior employees.""
"Names.""
Paul hesitated.
"Your mother. Richard Hayes. Daniel Brooks. And you.""
Marcus stared at him.
"Why would Daniel have access to my father's car?""
Paul didn't answer.
The recording continued.
Daniel drove toward the exit.
Then he stopped.
Another vehicle appeared behind him.
A dark SUV.
The driver lowered the window.
Daniel stepped out.
The two men spoke for approximately thirty seconds.
Then the SUV driver handed him something.
A second envelope.
Daniel opened it.
His expression changed.
He looked around.
Then he returned to the Mercedes and drove away.
Marcus leaned forward.
"Can you identify the SUV?""
Paul enlarged the image.
The license plate was partially visible.
He entered the numbers into the hotel's vehicle registry.
A result appeared.
Paul went completely still.
"What?"" Marcus asked.
Paul swallowed.
"The vehicle belongs to the Whitmore Foundation.""
Marcus turned slowly.
"Who was driving?""
Paul opened another camera angle.
The driver stepped out near the parking entrance.
A woman.
She wore a cream-colored coat and dark sunglasses.
Her face was visible for less than two seconds.
Marcus stared at the screen.
Then he whispered, "No.""
I looked at him.
"Who is she?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Finally, he said, "My wife.""
I blinked.
"Your wife?""
"Olivia.""
His new bride.
The woman whose wedding had been interrupted by an attempted murder.
Marcus took out his phone.
He called her.
No answer.
He called again.
Still nothing.
Then he turned toward Paul.
"Find her.""
Paul immediately contacted security.
I felt uncomfortable standing there.
"Mr. Whitmore, perhaps I should go.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Not yet.""
"Why?""
"Because you recognized Daniel. And because there's something I need to ask you.""
He turned toward the monitor.
"Did you notice anything unusual about the envelope?""
I thought back to the recording.
"Not really.""
"Look again.""
Paul replayed the footage.
Daniel handed Vanessa the envelope.
Vanessa opened it slightly.
A white paper slipped out.
She pushed it back inside.
Then something caught my eye.
"Stop.""
Paul froze the recording.
I stepped closer.
"Can you zoom in on her hand?""
He did.
Vanessa's fingers were wrapped around a small object.
A silver key.
I stared at it.
Then my stomach dropped.
I had seen that key before.
"That's not hers," I whispered.
Marcus turned.
"What?""
"Daniel has a key just like that.""
Paul shook his head.
"Maintenance keys are common.""
"Not this one.""
I pointed toward the screen.
"Look at the shape. It's got a small black stone in the center.""
Marcus stared.
"How do you know?""
I hesitated.
"Because I've seen it on a key ring in the housekeeping storage room.""
Paul frowned.
"Whose?""
"Daniel's.""
Marcus leaned back.
"Why would Vanessa have his key?""
Before I could answer, the surveillance room door opened.
Richard Hayes entered.
He looked pale.
"Mr. Whitmore, we need to speak.""
Marcus didn't turn.
"Not now.""
"It's urgent.""
"Everything seems urgent today.""
Richard approached him.
"I've received a call from the police.""
Marcus finally looked at him.
"Have they found Daniel?""
"No.""
"Then what?""
Richard glanced at me.
"Could we speak privately?""
Marcus's voice hardened.
"She's staying.""
Richard sighed.
"All right. The police found Daniel's vehicle abandoned near the interstate.""
"Was he inside?""
"No.""
"Then where is he?""
Richard placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed a man's body lying beside a concrete drainage channel.
I covered my mouth.
Marcus stepped closer.
The photograph was grainy, but the face was unmistakable.
Daniel Brooks.
He was dead.
Richard continued.
"Police believe he was killed sometime within the last hour.""
Marcus looked sick.
"Who did this?""
Richard didn't answer.
Instead, he reached into his briefcase and removed a second photograph.
This one showed Daniel standing beside a younger woman outside the Grand Meridian.
The woman had dark curly hair.
A small scar above her eyebrow.
And a familiar face.
My face.
I stepped backward.
"What is that?""
Richard looked directly at me.
"Ms. Carter, how well did you know Daniel Brooks?""
"I told you. We worked together.""
He shook his head.
"That's not what I mean.""
Marcus picked up the photograph.
"Why is Nia in this picture?""
Richard lowered his voice.
"Because Daniel was investigating someone before he died.""
"Who?""
Richard looked at me.
Then he said the words that changed everything.
"Your father.""
My mouth went dry.
"My father died when I was twelve.""
"I know.""
"Then why is he in your investigation?""
Richard opened another folder.
Inside was a photograph of a man wearing a dark suit.
I recognized the face immediately.
My father, James Carter.
But the date printed beneath the photograph was impossible.
May you like
It had been taken only six months earlier.
And according to the document attached to it, my father was alive.
