Chapter 5 - The Man Who Paid for the Party
I didn't answer the text. Whoever sent it wanted fear faster than facts.
"Stay with Evelyn," I told June. "She can put you in the staff office, with witnesses. No dark closets and no shortcuts."
I found Graham Vale near a glass staircase, surrounded by donors whose smiles had the polished patience of expensive dental work. He was forty, broad-shouldered, wearing a navy suit that fit like the building had been designed around him.
"Mr. Vale. I need two minutes. It's about Oak Point."
"Not tonight," said Vanessa, appearing at his side. She had changed shoes. The silver stiletto was gone, replaced by low black heels. "Security should have escorted this woman out."
"You kicked me," I said, loud enough for the closest donor to hear. "Let's not pretend otherwise."
Graham's eyes flicked toward the nearest phone. "Vanessa. Please. Naomi, come with me."
We stepped behind a velvet curtain near the stage. I showed him June's photograph. He studied the line with his name and went perfectly still.
"Where did you get this?"
"Doesn't matter. Did you authorize the sale?"
"I authorized a bridge loan for repairs. Never a sale."
"Then somebody used your signature."
"Or somebody used an old page." His voice lowered. "Three weeks ago, I raised concerns about a revised budget. Vanessa told me not to embarrass her in front of the board."
"And you dropped it?"
His silence answered.
Outside the curtain, Vanessa was saying into a microphone, "Some people mistake generosity for weakness. Tonight I won't let one disgruntled employee ruin our mission."
The curtain shifted. Pike stepped into the narrow space behind us.
"Mr. Vale," he said, "your fiancee wants to show you something."
May you like
On the ballroom's enormous screen appeared a still photo of me gripping Vanessa's ankle. The frame started a split second after her kick.
Below it, in enormous letters, were the words: HOTEL EMPLOYEE ASSAULTS CHARITY FOUNDER.
