Chapter 3 - THE NAME CARTER

Back in the ballroom, Vanessa was still on the floor.

I released her the second security approached.

She scrambled up, furious.

“Arrest her!”

No one moved.

Dominic’s head of security, Luca Bianchi, looked at him.

Dominic said, “Nobody touches Ms. Carter.”

Vanessa stared. “She attacked me!”

A gray-haired woman near the champagne table spoke.

“You slapped her first.”

Another guest added, “Twice, if she hadn’t stopped you.”

Phones were everywhere, and fear entered Vanessa’s face.

I grabbed my delivery bag.

“I’m leaving.”

Dominic blocked the hallway.

“Please.”

“I don’t work for you.”

“I know.”

“Then move.”

He did.

But he said, “Daniel Carter worked for Moretti Consolidated.”

“My father worked for Halcyon Steel.”

“We owned Halcyon through a subsidiary.”

I stopped.

Mom had never mentioned that.

Dominic lowered his voice.

“The night your father died, he called my office.”

“What did he say?”

“He said he found something inside the safety records.”

Vanessa stepped closer.

“Dominic, stop.”

He looked at her.

“Why?”

Her face changed.

Because whatever he was about to tell me frightened her more than the videos.

Dominic turned back.

“Daniel believed someone had been falsifying equipment inspections.”

“That accident killed three men.”

“I know.”

“My father was blamed for bypassing a lockout.”

“I know.”

My hands curled.

Dominic looked ashamed.

“My family allowed that story to stand.”

“Allowed?”

Vanessa snapped, “This is ridiculous.”

I turned toward her.

“You knew my mother was sick.”

She froze.

“How?”

“I hear things.”

“No. You used her illness to humiliate me in front of strangers.”

“I was angry.”

Dominic’s voice hardened.

“How did you know?”

Vanessa glanced toward the staircase.

That glance was enough.

Luca followed it.

A man in a navy suit began backing toward the foyer.

Dominic pointed.

“Stop him.”

Security caught the man before he reached the door.

Vanessa whispered, “Oh my God.”

Luca searched him.

Inside his jacket was a folder.

On the front:

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AVERY CARTER.

My full address was printed beneath my name.