Chapter 2 - The Locked Ballroom
The Grandeur Hotel became a cage within four minutes.
Security guards covered every exit. Elevators froze between floors. Side doors locked electronically. Guests shouted into phones while attorneys threatened lawsuits and politicians demanded private cars.
Victor Romano ignored all of them.
His attention remained on the broken champagne glass.
A hotel medic arrived with gloves and sample containers. Dmitri ordered the spilled liquid secured until police could collect it.
“You’re calling the police?” Leon asked.
Victor looked at him.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Leon hesitated.
“Because your name attracts questions.”
“Tonight someone tried to kill me.”
Victor glanced at Lena.
“And I dislike unanswered questions.”
Lena stood beside the service station with an ice pack pressed against her bruised throat.
She wanted to leave.
She also understood she probably could not.
Clara approached Victor.
“Are you hurt?”
“Apparently less than intended.”
She touched his cheek.
Victor gently removed her hand.
“Where were you twenty minutes ago?”
Clara stared at him.
“Victor.”
“It is a question.”
“I was at table one.”
“All twenty minutes?”
Her eyes flicked toward Leon.
So quickly Lena nearly missed it.
Victor did not.
Clara lowered her voice.
“Not here.”
“That answer means no.”
Leon stepped forward.
“This is exactly what whoever did this wants. Confusion. Suspicion.”
Victor turned on him.
“Then help me remove it. Did you bring champagne through the service corridor?”
Leon smiled faintly.
“Yes.”
Lena’s pulse jumped.
Leon continued before anyone could react.
“You asked me to make certain the 1996 Cristal reached your table.”
“I asked you to check the shipment.”
“And I did.”
“You carried a glass?”
“I carried a glass because Rafael said the service was delayed.”
Rafael Valdez was dragged closer by another guard.
“I never said that.”
Leon looked genuinely surprised.
“Be careful.”
Rafael swallowed.
“I filled the glasses in the pantry. Mr. Mercer came in and said Mr. Romano wanted one early. He took one.”
“That is a lie.”
Victor raised one hand.
Both men stopped.
“Where did the glass go after you took it, Leon?”
“To your table.”
“No.”
Lena’s voice escaped before she could stop herself.
Every head turned.
Leon’s stare cut into her.
Victor said, “Continue.”
Lena swallowed.
“He went toward the east service hall first.”
Leon laughed.
“You were carrying dirty plates. You barely looked up.”
“That’s why you didn’t notice me.”
Silence.
Lena set down the ice pack.
“You stood beside the linen closet for maybe thirty seconds. You had the glass under a napkin when you came out.”
Leon’s face hardened.
“You expect us to believe a maid timed me?”
“No. I expect you to believe people like you never notice people like me.”
Victor’s gaze sharpened.
Something almost approving appeared in it.
Dmitri returned from the service corridor carrying a clear evidence bag.
Inside it was a folded white linen cocktail napkin.
There was a small brown stain near one edge.
“Found behind the linen hamper.”
Leon shrugged.
“A hotel has napkins.”
Dmitri turned the bag.
Embroidered in one corner were two letters.
L.M.
Lena stared.
Leon did not.
That frightened her.
Victor noticed.
“You’re very calm.”
“I didn’t poison you.”
“You understand why I must verify that.”
“Of course.”
Leon spread his hands.
“Search my room. Search my car. Search my office.”
Victor stared at him for another second.
“Dmitri.”
“Yes?”
“Do all three.”
For the first time Leon’s eyes changed.
Not fear.
Calculation.
He nodded.
“You’ll owe me an apology.”
“If you’re innocent.”
“I am.”
Victor turned toward Lena.
“You’re coming upstairs.”
Her mouth went dry.
“Why?”
“Because whoever poisoned that glass may know you saw him.”
“I need to go home.”
“You need to remain alive.”
“That sounds less comforting when you say it.”
For the first time, Victor almost smiled.
Then the doors opened.
Two NYPD detectives entered with hotel security.
Victor’s expression became unreadable.
Detective Elena Ruiz approached the shattered glass.
“Mr. Romano?”
Victor nodded.
Ruiz looked at Lena’s bruised throat and then at Victor’s bleeding lip.
“Looks like we have two assaults and a possible poisoning.”
Victor glanced at Lena.
“She saved my life.”
Ruiz studied him.
“Then someone may want hers.”
Across the ballroom, Leon Mercer took out his phone.
Dmitri immediately seized it.
Too late.
One message had already been sent.
Victor looked at the screen.
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Three words.
SHE SAW EVERYTHING.
