Chapter 3 - THE WEDDING GUESTS
Deputy Aaron Bell had reached Pinecrest’s front gate at 10:42 p.m.
He never entered.
According to Maya, security told him the emergency call had been made by an intoxicated wedding guest.
Then Dr. Voss personally spoke to dispatch.
He claimed Rosalie was experiencing a psychiatric episode.
Worse, he had records to support it.
“What records?”
Rosalie already knew.
She sat very still.
“Mine.”
Manuel stared at her.
“What do you mean?”
“My father has been building them since I was twelve.”
Hospitalizations.
Sedatives.
Evaluations.
Episodes of alleged paranoia.
Every time Rosalie had accused Emmett of hurting her, another doctor had written that she was unstable.
Dr. Voss had signed most of the reports.
Manuel felt sick.
“This is how he controls you.”
“It’s how he controls what everyone believes about me.”
A knock sounded against Lorelei’s door.
Not security.
Three quick knocks.
A pause.
Then two.
Rosalie looked up.
“Who knows that signal?”
“My aunt.”
Manuel approached cautiously.
“Name?”
“Catherine Durham.”
He opened the door two inches.
A silver-haired woman stood outside in an emerald evening gown.
Manuel recognized her from the ceremony.
Emmett’s younger sister.
“Move,” Catherine whispered.
Manuel let her inside.
She locked the door behind herself.
Then she slapped Rosalie.
Manuel caught Catherine’s wrist before she could do it again.
Rosalie didn’t react.
Catherine stared at Manuel.
“You idiot.”
Manuel tightened his grip.
“Try that again.”
“I wasn’t hitting her.”
Rosalie touched her cheek.
“You definitely were.”
Catherine pulled free.
“I needed your face red.”
She reached into her handbag and removed a small bottle of whiskey.
Then poured some over Rosalie’s dress.
Manuel understood.
Catherine looked at him.
“Emmett has forty people searching this house.”
She pointed toward Rosalie.
“If they catch us, she’s drunk and hysterical.”
“Why help us?”
Catherine’s expression changed.
“Because I helped him once.”
Rosalie went still.
Catherine looked at her niece.
“The night your mother died.”
Silence.
Rosalie’s voice was barely audible.
“What did you do?”
“I lied.”
Catherine’s eyes filled.
“I told the police Lorelei left the house alone.”
Rosalie stared at her.
“She didn’t?”
“No.”
“Who was with her?”
Catherine looked toward the door.
Then back at Rosalie.
“Your father.”
Rosalie stopped breathing.
Catherine continued.
“I saw them leave together.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“Because Emmett showed me photographs of you sleeping.”
Rosalie’s face drained.
“He said if I destroyed him, you would disappear too.”
Manuel felt rage rise in his chest.
Catherine reached for Rosalie.
Rosalie stepped back.
“No.”
The single word stopped her.
Catherine lowered her hand.
“You have every right to hate me.”
“I don’t have time to hate you.”
Rosalie wiped her eyes.
“Tell me how we get out.”
Catherine shook her head.
“You don’t.”
Manuel frowned.
“What?”
“The gates are locked.”
“Then we get the guests involved.”
Catherine almost laughed.
“These people worship Emmett.”
“Not all two hundred.”
Manuel pulled out his phone.
He called his best man.
Nathan answered instantly.
“Where the hell are you?”
“Ballroom?”
“Yes.”
“Put me on the sound system.”
“Manuel—”
“Now.”
Thirty seconds later, the quartet stopped.
Nathan connected Manuel’s call to the ballroom speakers.
Every guest heard his voice.
“This is Manuel Nelson.”
Conversation died.
“If anyone tells you Rosalie is sick, drunk, unstable, or dangerous, do not believe them.”
Rosalie stared at him.
Manuel continued.
“We are locked inside Pinecrest Estate against our will.”
Someone shouted downstairs.
Then Emmett’s voice exploded faintly through the ballroom.
“Cut that connection!”
Manuel spoke faster.
“Call 911.”
“Call the county sheriff.”
“Call reporters.”
“Call anyone outside this property.”
“And do not let security take your phones.”
The line went dead.
Catherine stared at him.
“You just declared war on Emmett Durham.”
Manuel put his phone away.
“No.”
May you like
He looked at Rosalie.
“I just gave him two hundred witnesses.”
