Chapter 4 - THE NAME ON THE SECURITY FOOTAGE
Ravi watched the footage three times.
The man in the silver tie entered the hotel through the service corridor at 9:42 p.m. He wore a staff badge that belonged to a catering contractor. At 10:03, he reached the private office hallway. At 10:07, the cameras went dark.
At 10:11, he emerged carrying a slim black case.
His face was visible for less than two seconds.
Ravi recognized him.
“Elliot Crane,” he said.
His security director, Marcus, stood beside the screen. “Former employee. He left six months ago.”
“He didn't leave. He was removed.”
“Do you think Catherine hired him?”
“Catherine doesn't know how to plan something like this alone.”
Marcus nodded toward the footage. “And the waitress?”
Ravi turned. “Her name is Diane.”
“I know. We checked her background.”
“Don't call her the waitress.”
Marcus raised his hands. “Understood.”
“Someone photographed her building. I want to know who sent them.”
Marcus hesitated. “Sir, should we move her?”
“No. She has a ten-year-old sister and a life she doesn't want disrupted. We protect the entrance and keep our distance.”
“And if the men return?”
“Then we stop them before they reach the apartment.”
***
The next morning, Diane received a call from her landlord.
“Miss Harper, I need to speak with you about the rent.”
She closed her eyes. “I know. I'm trying to arrange something.”
“You have until Friday. After that, I have to proceed.”
“I understand.”
She hung up and looked at the kitchen table.
Sadi was doing homework. Her front teeth were slightly crowded, and she had begun smiling with her lips closed.
Diane hated that she had promised to fix them and still had no idea how.
“Is it the landlord?” Sadi asked.
“Just a reminder.”
“Can I get a job?”
Diane looked up sharply. “No.”
“I could walk dogs.”
“You're ten.”
“I can feed them.”
“Your job is school.”
Sadi lowered her head. “I don't want you to lose our home.”
Diane sat beside her. “We're not losing it.”
It was a promise she had no idea how to keep.
Her phone rang again. This time, the number was unfamiliar.
“Hello?”
“Miss Harper, this is Marcus Hale. I work for Mr. Greedy.”
Diane stiffened. “What do you want?”
“We have information about the men who came to your building. Mr. Greedy would like to meet with you.”
“I don't want to meet him.”
“I understand. But the men were connected to the theft at the hotel.”
Diane looked at Sadi. “What does that have to do with me?”
“They may believe you saw something.”
“I didn't.”
“That's what we'd like to establish.”
Diane almost hung up.
Then Marcus added, “There is also a question about the security footage. We can show you exactly what happened.”
She hesitated. “Where?”
“A public café. Middle of the day. You can bring someone.”
Diane agreed only because she wanted the men to leave her apartment alone.
***
Ravi was already seated when she arrived.
He wore a dark sweater instead of a suit. Without the tuxedo, he looked less like a man from a newspaper photograph and more like someone who had chosen to be dangerous.
Diane sat opposite him. “I brought Mrs. Alvarez. She's outside.”
“Good.”
He slid a tablet across the table.
The footage showed the man with the silver tie entering the service corridor. Diane recognized him immediately.
“That's him.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. He was standing near the service door when Catherine spoke to me.”
Ravi nodded. “His name is Elliot Crane. He used to work for me.”
“Why would he steal from you?”
“Because someone paid him.”
“Catherine?”
“Possibly. But I don't think she had the resources to organize the entire operation.”
Diane leaned back. “What do you want from me?”
“Tell me everything you remember about the party. Every conversation. Every person you noticed.”
She described Catherine's offer, the envelope, the man near the door, and the way Catherine's friends had watched from the other side of the ballroom.
Ravi listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he said, “You did more than you realize.”
“I did something stupid.”
“Those are not mutually exclusive.”
Diane looked at him. “Are you always this difficult?”
“Yes.”
The answer surprised a laugh out of her.
Ravi's expression changed, almost imperceptibly. Then he returned to business.
“I want you to look at a photograph.”
He turned the tablet.
It showed a man in a grey coat standing outside Diane's apartment building.
Diane's smile disappeared. “That was one of them.”
“Do you recognize him?”
“No.”
“He has been seen with Elliot Crane.”
“Why are they interested in me?”
“Because you were close to me when the case disappeared. They may think you saw something, or that I told you something.”
“I didn't.”
“I know.”
She studied his face. “Then why am I still in danger?”
“Because they don't know what you know.”
Diane's hands tightened around her cup.
Ravi leaned forward. “I can have you and your sister moved somewhere safe.”
“No.”
“Diane—”
“No. Sadi has school. She has friends. She has a routine. I'm not going to uproot her because someone decided to use me.”
Ravi considered her. “Then we'll make the building safer.”
“You don't get to decide that.”
“You're right. I should have asked.”
He paused.
“Will you allow me to arrange extra security for the entrance?”
Diane looked toward Mrs. Alvarez, waiting outside.
Finally, she nodded. “For the entrance. Nothing more.”
“Agreed.”
May you like
It was the first time he had asked instead of ordered.
And Diane noticed.
