Chapter 7 - The Garage
Vincent stepped outside the bank.
“How do you know about the box?”
“Grant called me.”
“You’re working with him.”
“I’m trying to survive him.”
“Did he kill Grace?”
Celeste began to cry.
“I don’t know.”
“That answer is useless.”
“I swear.”
“Then come to the police.”
“He’ll kill me.”
Vincent heard traffic behind her.
“Where are you?”
“Grant just found me.”
The line went dead.
Marcus traced the call to a hotel on Park Avenue.
By the time security arrived, Celeste’s room was empty.
Her handbag sat on the bed.
The hallway camera showed Grant entering her floor twenty minutes before she disappeared.
He left alone.
Vincent called retired Detective Owen Price, the man who had handled Grace’s crash.
When Vincent mentioned the flash drive, Price said, “We need to meet.”
“Why?”
“There was something I never liked about the car.”
Vincent’s blood chilled.
“What?”
“The brake line looked cut.”
Vincent said nothing.
Price continued. “An outside expert called it impact damage. Your company lawyer backed him.”
At that time, the lawyer worked for Grant’s brother.
Marcus opened another file from Grace’s flash drive.
A scanned invoice.
A specialty garage in Queens.
Vehicle: Grace Hale’s Range Rover.
Service date: two days before her death.
Customer: Keller Consulting.
Vincent stared.
The invoice carried one handwritten note.
AUTHORIZED BY C.A.
Celeste Arden.
Then Marcus’s phone rang.
He looked at Vincent.
“They found Celeste.”
“Where?”
“Hospital.”
“Is she hurt?”
“Minor injuries.”
Vincent’s jaw tightened.
“What is she saying?”
May you like
Marcus answered quietly.
“That Grant tried to kill her.”
