Chapter 2 - THE ENVELOPE
Evelyn cleared the service corridor in less than a minute.
“Everybody back to the ballroom,” she ordered. “Nobody touches the bag.”
Lucas stood beside her, arms wrapped around himself.
“That’s mine,” he said.
“I know.”
“I didn’t put it there.”
“I know that too.”
“You don’t know me.”
Evelyn looked at him. “I know what fear looks like. You’re scared of the bag, not of getting caught.”
The security director, Marcus Reed, crouched near the backpack wearing gloves. A dark smear crossed the canvas strap.
“Could be blood,” he said. “Could be wine. We’re not guessing.”
He pulled the envelope free and held it up.
Lucas’s lips parted.
“What?” Evelyn asked.
“That handwriting.”
“You recognize it?”
Lucas nodded slowly. “My mom’s.”
Marcus looked up. “Where is your mother?”
Lucas stared at the floor.
“She died eight weeks ago.”
The words landed harder than Evelyn expected.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
Lucas shrugged, but his chin shook. “Cancer. She knew she was sick for a long time. She didn’t tell me how bad it was.”
Marcus carefully opened the envelope.
Inside was a single brass key taped to a folded note.
He read it once, then looked at Evelyn.
“What does it say?” she asked.
Marcus handed her the paper.
Evelyn read aloud.
“Lucas, if you are reading this, I ran out of time. The key opens Box 314. Do not give it to Preston Vale. Do not trust anyone on the Cross Foundation board until you know who signed the blue ledger.”
Lucas stared at her.
“Who’s Preston Vale?” he asked.
The corridor went silent.
Evelyn’s skin prickled.
“The man who just hit you.”
Lucas looked toward the ballroom doors.
Before anyone could speak again, a crash sounded from the far end of the corridor.
Marcus spun around.
A man in a catering uniform sprinted past the kitchen entrance.
“Hey!” Marcus shouted.
The man ran.
Marcus chased him around the corner.
Evelyn grabbed Lucas by the shoulder before he could follow.
“Stay with me.”
Three seconds later, the lights in the service hallway went out.
Someone screamed from the kitchen.
May you like
When the emergency lights flickered on, Marcus was gone.
So was the brass key.
