Chapter 4 - The Waiter Who Saw Too Much
Vanessa realized what she had said a second too late.
She tried to recover.
"Ethan mentioned the financing."
He shook his head.
"No, I didn't."
The room went quiet.
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears so quickly I almost admired the technique.
"Maybe my father told me. I don't remember. Everyone is stressed."
I opened the study door.
"Then go be stressed somewhere else."
She stared at me.
Ethan said, "Vanessa, please leave."
That hurt her more than anything I said.
After she left, the young waiter from the lawn stood at the end of the hall holding a dry towel.
"Ma'am?"
I recognized him.
"What's your name?"
"Daniel Morales."
He handed me the towel.
"Thank you for trying to help me."
He glanced toward the closed study door.
"I need to tell you something."
Ethan let him inside.
Daniel worked events for the Mitchells through a catering company. This was his third party at the estate.
"Mrs. Mitchell tells staff not to speak to guests unless spoken to," he said. "Miss Vanessa has gotten people fired for less."
"Less than helping an old woman off the ground?"
He gave a nervous smile.
Then it disappeared.
"I saw Mr. Mitchell in the library two nights ago with a man from your company."
I sat forward.
"Who?"
"I don't know his name. Tall. Bald. Gray beard."
Ethan and I looked at each other.
He described Carter Meridian's chief credit officer, Martin Sloane.
My oldest senior executive.
The man responsible for rejecting or approving major deals before they reached me.
Daniel continued.
"They were arguing. Mr. Mitchell said, 'Once Ethan signs, Margaret can't stop us.'"
My name.
I asked, "What was Ethan supposed to sign?"
Daniel swallowed.
"I don't know. But Mr. Mitchell said the papers had to be done before the wedding."
Then someone slammed into the study door from the hallway.
Daniel flinched.
The handle turned once.
Then stopped.
When Ethan opened it, nobody was there.
But Daniel's catering badge had been ripped from his jacket pocket and dropped on the floor.
May you like
Across it, someone had written one word in black marker.
LEAVE.
