Chapter 1 - DON'T OPEN THAT DOOR
"Don't open it!"
Adrian Vance's shout cut through the wedding reception and stopped the string quartet mid-note.
Seven-year-old Lily Mercer ran across the ballroom in her flower-girl dress, clutching a brass key.
"I am going to save my mommy!"
"Get away from that door, you little brat!"
Two hundred guests turned as Lily reached the old archive door. Her hands shook, but the key finally turned.
The door opened.
Claire Mercer fell out of the darkness, barefoot, her wedding gown torn, one wrist bruised purple.
"Mommy!"
Lily threw herself into her arms.
Adrian stopped ten feet away.
"This is a misunderstanding."
Claire looked up at him. "You locked me in there."
Adrian laughed too quickly. "Claire had a panic attack. I was protecting her."
"You lied!" Lily shouted. "I heard you tell Mr. Sloan Mommy would be in the hospital before midnight."
Claire pulled Lily close.
"You locked me up because I found the transfer papers," she said. "You married me to steal my father's estate."
A guest named James Porter pointed at Adrian's coat.
"The key."
A second brass key hung from Adrian's pocket.
Officer Elena Brooks, working security for the event, stepped forward.
"Mr. Vance, don't move."
Adrian backed away. Brooks removed the key, then found a small unlabeled vial in the same pocket.
Claire went still.
"That's what he put in my champagne."
Two officers blocked the exit.
"You are under arrest, Mr. Vance."
Adrian stared at Claire. "This will destroy you."
"No," she said. "This is the first time in three years I can see clearly."
Lily tugged her sleeve.
"Mommy, I found something else."
From her tiny purse she pulled a folded document stolen from Adrian's office.
Claire opened it.
EMERGENCY PETITION FOR INCAPACITY OF CLAIRE MERCER VANCE.
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It had been filed three hours before the wedding.
And at the bottom was the signature of Robert Sloan—the lawyer who had handled her father's estate.
