Chapter 10 - 1:17 A.M.Preston watched the footage three times.
The first time, he said nothing.
The second time, he leaned closer.
The third time, he asked security to rewind.
Celia opened the side door.
Julian entered.
She touched his arm.
Preston stared.
Everett stood behind him.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
Preston turned.
“I said no.”
Everett believed the emotion.
That did not mean he trusted the man.
“Why would he come here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why would your wife let him in?”
“I said I don’t know!”
His voice echoed through the room.
The security manager looked away.
Everett said quietly, “Then find out.”
Preston pushed past him.
“Where is she?”
“Probably upstairs.”
Preston left.
Everett followed more slowly.
By the time he reached the main hall, Preston was calling Celia’s name.
She appeared at the top of the staircase.
“What happened?”
Preston held up his phone.
“Come down.”
She saw the expression on his face.
Her steps slowed.
“What?”
“Come down.”
She descended.
Onyx watched from his perch.
Preston stopped five feet from her.
“Why was Julian here?”
Celia froze.
Everett watched her eyes.
First Preston.
Then Everett.
Then the camera mounted high above the hall.
She understood.
“You were spying on me?”
Preston laughed bitterly.
“In my father’s house?”
“I can explain.”
“Please.”
She looked toward Everett.
He said nothing.
Celia turned back to her husband.
“Julian was helping with Blue Heron.”
“At one-thirty in the morning?”
“He had documents.”
“Where are they?”
“What?”
“The documents.”
“He took them.”
Preston stared.
Celia’s voice rose.
“You know the project was collapsing.”
“So you secretly brought him into Dad’s house?”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
“From this!”
She gestured toward Everett.
Everett’s expression did not change.
Preston looked stunned.
Celia continued.
“You knew what would happen if your father discovered the losses. You knew he would humiliate you.”
Preston stared at her.
“So you brought Julian here.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you were falling apart.”
“Did you go upstairs first?”
She froze again.
Everett spoke.
“At 1:17.”
Celia looked at him.
“You’ve already decided what you think.”
“Where did you go?”
“To the guest room.”
“The footage shows you passing it.”
“I don’t remember.”
Everett almost smiled.
Interesting choice of words.
“You don’t remember.”
Celia’s face hardened.
“No.”
Preston looked between them.
Everett took the pharmacy report from his pocket and handed it to his son.
Preston turned to Celia.
“Dad found pills in his organizer.”
She frowned.
“What pills?”
“Not his.”
Celia’s face drained.
Everett watched.
She looked frightened.
But frightened people could be innocent.
Or caught.
“I didn’t do that.”
No one had accused her.
Again.
Preston stared.
“What did you do upstairs?”
“Nothing.”
“Celia.”
“Nothing.”
Onyx shifted behind them.
The parrot clicked his beak.
Then in a soft voice:
“Put it in his drink.”
Celia spun toward the bird.
Her reaction was faster than anyone else’s.
Preston saw it.
Everett saw him see it.
Onyx repeated:
“He won’t remember by morning.”
Celia stepped backward.
“This is insane.”
Preston’s voice was almost a whisper.
“Why are you scared?”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m scared because your father is turning a bird into evidence.”
Everett spoke calmly.
“The bird is not evidence.”
She looked at him.
“The lab is.”
Silence.
Preston’s shoulders dropped.
He looked suddenly older.
“Did you touch his medication?”
“No.”
“Did Julian?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
Celia hesitated.
That was enough.
Preston whispered, “Oh my God.”
“No. Listen to me.”
“How do you know what Julian did or didn’t touch?”
“He didn’t go upstairs.”
“You did.”
Celia’s eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to save us.”
Preston stared.
“Us from what?”
She said nothing.
Everett’s phone buzzed.
Samuel.
He answered.
“I found something,” the accountant said.
“What?”
“Celia and Julian have been in direct contact for at least four months.”
Everett looked at her.
“How direct?”
“Very.”
Samuel paused.
“There are hotel charges.”
Everett’s stomach tightened.
“What kind?”
“Same dates. Same property.”
Across the hall, Preston watched him.
Everett ended the call.
His son knew from his face.
“What?”
Everett did not want to say it.
Not there.
Not in front of Celia.
But Preston asked again.
“What?”
Everett looked at him.
“You and I need to talk privately.”
Celia’s voice sharpened.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
She stepped forward.
“If this is about me, say it in front of me.”
Everett held her gaze.
“Fine.”
He turned to Preston.
“Your wife and Julian appear to have been using the same hotel.”
Preston stopped moving.
Celia’s face went white.
May you like
And Onyx, as if the room were not already ruined enough, quietly imitated a man’s laugh Everett had not heard in years.
Julian Mercer’s.
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