Chapter 7 - THE MISSING ENVELOPE

Daniel ran.

Howard followed him down the service stairs.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s not reassuring.”

They reached the basement corridor.

Employees turned as Daniel passed.

“Where’s Miguel?”

A cook pointed toward the loading dock.

“Outside.”

Daniel pushed through a steel door.

Miguel was sitting on a concrete step with an older man in a chef’s coat.

His cheek was still red.

When Daniel approached, Miguel stood.

“Sir.”

“Did anyone call the police?”

Miguel looked confused.

“What?”

“Claire said—”

The loading door opened behind them.

A security supervisor walked out.

“Mr. Carter?”

Daniel turned.

“We have a problem.”

“What problem?”

The supervisor held up a clear plastic evidence bag.

Inside was a cream-colored envelope.

The words VENDOR GRATUITIES had been written across the front.

It was empty.

“We found this in Miguel’s locker.”

Miguel’s face went white.

“What?”

The supervisor continued.

“It was supposed to contain twelve thousand dollars in cash tips for staff.”

Miguel stepped forward.

“No. No, I have never seen that.”

The chef put a hand on his shoulder.

“Easy.”

Daniel stared at the envelope.

“When did the money disappear?”

Howard answered.

“About twenty minutes before the spill.”

“Who knew about it?”

“Management. Your wedding planner. Ms. Whitmore.”

Daniel looked at Miguel.

“Did you go near the office?”

“No.”

“Your locker was locked?”

“Yes.”

“Who has access?”

“Me. Supervisors can open it with a master key.”

Daniel looked at Howard.

Howard shook his head.

“Not me. Security.”

The supervisor frowned.

“Three supervisors have keys.”

Miguel’s breathing had gotten faster.

“I didn’t take anything.”

Daniel believed him.

He didn’t know why yet.

Maybe instinct.

Maybe because Miguel looked terrified instead of calculating.

Or maybe because Claire had known about the police before Daniel did.

“How did Claire know?”

The supervisor blinked.

“Know what?”

“That the envelope was found.”

“She called us.”

Daniel stared.

“When?”

“About ten minutes ago.”

“What did she say?”

“That she believed an employee had stolen money and that we should check Miguel’s locker.”

Miguel closed his eyes.

Daniel’s blood went cold.

“How did she know which locker?”

Nobody answered.

Daniel turned to Miguel.

“What happened before you spilled the water?”

Miguel looked at him.

“I was asked to take champagne to the bride’s room.”

“By who?”

“Ms. Whitmore.”

“Claire?”

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“She wasn’t there.”

Daniel frowned.

“Who was?”

“Her wedding planner. And another woman. Older. Blonde.”

“Patricia.”

“Maybe.”

“What did they say?”

Miguel hesitated.

“They told me to leave the tray.”

“And?”

“That’s it.”

“Think.”

Miguel rubbed his forehead.

“When I walked out, Ms. Whitmore stopped me in the hall.”

“Claire?”

“Yes. She asked my name.”

Daniel’s stomach tightened.

“Why?”

“She said she wanted to make sure I was assigned to her table.”

“Did that seem strange?”

“I thought maybe she was giving me a tip.”

“And then?”

Miguel looked embarrassed.

“She gave me fifty dollars.”

Daniel frowned.

“For what?”

“She said, ‘Take care of us tonight.’”

“Where’s the fifty?”

“My wallet.”

“Where’s your wallet?”

Miguel pointed inside.

“In my locker.”

Daniel turned to the security supervisor.

“Open it again.”

They went inside.

The supervisor unlocked Miguel’s locker.

Wallet.

Phone.

Black jacket.

Shoes.

Nothing else.

Miguel opened the wallet.

He pulled out a fifty-dollar bill.

Daniel looked at it.

Then he noticed something.

A small blue ink mark in the corner.

Howard leaned closer.

“What is that?”

Miguel shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

The security supervisor’s face changed.

Daniel looked at him.

“What?”

The man didn’t answer.

“Tell me.”

The supervisor reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo on his phone.

A photo of bundled cash taken that morning.

Every bill had a small blue mark on the upper corner.

Daniel stared at Miguel’s fifty.

The same mark.

Miguel whispered, “Oh my God.”

Daniel looked toward the elevator.

Claire hadn’t just humiliated Miguel.

She had put stolen money in his hands.

And if Daniel was right, someone had planted the envelope too.

He turned to Howard.

“Lock the ballroom doors.”

Howard blinked.

“What?”

“Nobody leaves.”

“Daniel—”

“Nobody.”

Because suddenly this wasn’t only about a wedding.

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And Daniel knew exactly where he wanted to start looking.