The Voice in the Dark Ballroom
Chapter 03 - The Voice in the Dark Ballroom
Emergency lights came on, bathing the ballroom in red. Sarah held Lily close while Adrian searched for Blake.
A crash sounded near the stage.
When the lights returned, the drive and Blake were gone. Victoria lay beside the table, conscious but injured, and her phone was missing.
Adrian called the police. Sarah knelt beside Victoria while Lily picked up something near the fallen chair.
It was the small black transmitter from her basket.
A green light blinked on its side.
Sarah recognized the manufacturer’s logo. The device was a miniature audio recorder.
Lily pressed the only button.
Blake’s voice filled the ballroom.
He was speaking to the waiter before the gala.
“Put the necklace in the child’s basket. Once Sarah is arrested, no one will believe her financial records. Then take the drive and meet me at the river warehouse.”
The waiter asked what would happen to Lily.
“Nothing,” Blake replied. “A frightened child makes the story more convincing.”
Blake also admitted owning the fake companies, copying Adrian’s signature, and planning to empty the remaining accounts before leaving the country.
Lily looked at Sarah. “He knew they would blame me because I’m little.”
Sarah held her tighter. “He chose you because he thought no one would listen. He was wrong.”
Police found the waiter in the hotel kitchen. He revealed that Blake had escaped through a service tunnel.
The tunnel led to the parking garage, where Blake had taken Victoria’s car.
Adrian’s phone rang.
Blake was calling from Victoria’s number.
“I have the original financial ledger,” he said. “If the police follow me, I burn it. If Sarah wants the truth saved, she brings me the necklace.”
Victoria touched her bare throat. “The police have it now.”
“No,” Lily whispered.
She reached into the ribbon at her waist and removed a glittering diamond necklace.
Everyone stared.
Lily explained that Victoria had quietly exchanged the real necklace for a replica before the gala. The necklace found in the basket was fake.
Victoria had hidden the real necklace with Lily after suspecting someone was entering her suite. She never expected Blake to target the child.
Now the only object he needed was in Lily’s hand.
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Sarah looked toward the dark service tunnel.
“If Blake wants the necklace,” she said, “we can use it to bring him back.”
