Chapter 4 - BOX 317
Chaos spread through Pinecrest.
Guests demanded the gates be opened.
Some began filming security.
Others called police.
Emmett could control employees.
He could control doctors.
He could control frightened relatives.
He could not quietly control two hundred wealthy guests with cameras.
Maya used the confusion.
She entered Pinecrest through the catering entrance wearing a borrowed server’s jacket.
When she reached Lorelei’s room, she carried a laptop and a black canvas bag.
Rosalie stared at her.
“You actually came.”
“You’re paying me.”
Rosalie almost smiled.
It was the first hint of one Manuel had seen all night.
Maya placed the laptop on Lorelei’s desk.
“Box 317 is registered at Landon Depository.”
“L.D.”
Manuel held up the key.
“Exactly.”
Maya turned the screen.
“Private facility.”
“Closed eleven years ago.”
Rosalie frowned.
“Then the box is gone.”
“No.”
Maya enlarged a legal document.
“When Landon dissolved, sealed assets were transferred to Hawthorne Trust.”
“Where?”
“Downtown.”
Manuel checked the time.
“Closed.”
Maya shook her head.
“Not for you.”
She looked at Rosalie.
“Your mother created an access instruction.”
Rosalie leaned closer.
The document required the presence of Lorelei Durham’s biological daughter.
Identity verification.
Original key.
And one witness unrelated to the Durham family.
Manuel pointed to himself.
“That’s me now.”
Maya nodded.
“Marriage certificate was filed this afternoon.”
Catherine looked toward the hallway.
“Emmett will know where you’re going.”
“Then we don’t tell him.”
A voice suddenly came from the doorway.
“You won’t have to.”
Dr. Voss stood there.
He held a syringe.
Two security guards were behind him.
Manuel stepped in front of Rosalie.
Voss sighed.
“Please don’t make this theatrical.”
Maya quietly closed her laptop.
“You brought a syringe to a wedding.”
Voss ignored her.
“Rosalie is experiencing a severe dissociative episode.”
Rosalie laughed.
It was cold and unexpected.
“Still using that one?”
Voss’s face tightened.
“Your history is well documented.”
“By you.”
“You are unwell.”
“You drugged me.”
“For your safety.”
“You strapped me to beds.”
“For your safety.”
“You signed papers saying scars caused by restraints were self-inflicted.”
Voss hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Maya’s phone was recording.
Voss noticed.
“Give me that.”
He stepped forward.
Manuel blocked him.
One guard reached for Manuel.
Then Catherine screamed.
Not from fear.
She screamed as loudly as she could.
“HELP!”
Footsteps thundered from the ballroom corridor.
Wedding guests appeared.
Nathan came first.
Then Manuel’s mother.
Then photographers.
Phones were already recording.
Dr. Voss lowered the syringe.
Too late.
Everyone had seen it.
Manuel’s mother looked from the syringe to Rosalie’s scars.
Her expression changed.
“Doctor.”
Voss said nothing.
“Why are you holding that?”
Emmett appeared behind the crowd.
His composure was gone.
“Everyone back to the ballroom.”
Nobody moved.
Emmett looked at Rosalie.
“Give me the key.”
She stepped beside Manuel.
“No.”
“Rosalie.”
“No.”
For the first time, she said it without shaking.
Emmett stared at his daughter.
Then he smiled.
It was the smile that frightened her most.
“All right.”
He stepped aside.
“Go open the box.”
Rosalie frowned.
Emmett’s smile widened.
May you like
“Your mother wanted you to find it.”
“Maybe it’s finally time you learned why.”
