Chapter 7 - THE GLASS
Sebastian survived.
Barely.
At 2:14 in the morning, a doctor walked into the private hospital waiting room.
“He’s stable.”
Charlotte stood so fast her chair fell backward.
“Can I see him?”
“Not yet.”
Margaret was sitting across the room with three board members.
She crossed her arms.
“What happened?”
The doctor hesitated.
“That’s something law enforcement will discuss with the family.”
Margaret immediately said, “I’m family.”
Charlotte looked at her.
“No, you’re not.”
Margaret turned.
“You’ve been a Valle for six hours.”
“I was a Valle before you learned how to spell it.”
One board member stood.
“Enough.”
Two detectives entered.
Detective Elena Ruiz introduced herself.
“We need to speak with everyone who was near Mr. Valle when he collapsed.”
Margaret pointed toward Charlotte.
“She was closest.”
Ruiz looked at her.
“We know.”
Charlotte sat for questioning.
She explained the invitation.
The slap.
The notebook.
The stolen pages.
The drink.
Ruiz listened without interrupting.
Then she placed a plastic evidence bag on the table.
Inside was the broken champagne glass.
“We found traces of a powerful sedative.”
Charlotte stared at it.
“Someone drugged him?”
“That’s what it looks like.”
“Then check the waiter.”
“We are.”
Margaret stood in the doorway.
“Did you tell her?”
Ruiz turned.
“Ms. Wren, wait outside.”
Margaret ignored her.
“Tell Charlotte whose fingerprints were on the glass.”
Charlotte’s stomach tightened.
Ruiz glared at Margaret.
“How do you know that?”
“I’m the acting foundation president.”
“You don’t get police reports because of your job title.”
Margaret smiled.
“No. But I have friends.”
Charlotte looked at Ruiz.
“Whose fingerprints?”
The detective sighed.
“Yours.”
Charlotte froze.
“That’s impossible.”
“You touched the glass?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Margaret laughed softly.
“Convenient.”
Charlotte stood.
“I did not touch it.”
Margaret stepped closer.
“You arrive with a dramatic story, get Sebastian to announce you to the board, then he collapses.”
“You think I drugged my grandfather in front of four hundred people?”
“I think desperate people do stupid things.”
Charlotte moved toward her.
Ruiz blocked the space between them.
“Both of you. Stop.”
Margaret walked away.
Charlotte stared after her.
“She planted them.”
“That’s a serious accusation.”
“So is poisoning someone.”
Ruiz studied Charlotte.
“Don’t leave the city.”
A nurse came around the corner.
“Charlotte?”
She followed the nurse into Sebastian’s room.
He looked small beneath white blankets.
Machines beeped around him.
His eyes opened.
“Grandpa?”
He squeezed her fingers weakly.
“Blue room.”
“What is it?”
“Hotel.”
“Where?”
“Thirty-eight.”
His eyes closed again.
Charlotte leaned down.
“What am I looking for?”
Sebastian whispered one final word.
May you like
“Olivia.”
Then the heart monitor suddenly screamed.
