Chapter 3
The access records created the first crack in Celeste’s story.
Lena’s room required a coded staff key.
Lena entered at 7:12 that morning.
She left at 7:43.
She did not return.
At 3:18 p.m., approximately forty minutes before the confrontation, Celeste’s personal assistant entered.
The assistant remained inside for six minutes.
Adrian read the line again.
Then called the woman.
Her name was Brooke Ellis.
Twenty-nine.
Normally confident.
Now terrified.
“Why were you in Lena’s room?”
Brooke hesitated.
“Ms. Wynn asked me to bring her something.”
“What?”
“A garment bag.”
“From Lena’s room?”
“She said Lena had taken one by mistake.”
“Did you see a bracelet?”
“No.”
“Did you put one there?”
Brooke went silent.
Adrian’s voice changed.
“Brooke.”
“I didn’t know what was in the jewelry pouch.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“What jewelry pouch?”
“Ms. Wynn gave me a small velvet pouch and said it belonged in the garment bag.”
That was enough.
Adrian ended the call and contacted Rebecca Hale, his personal attorney.
Not Miriam.
Adrian did not yet know Miriam was already involved.
Rebecca listened.
Then said:
“Do not confront Celeste.”
“She planted evidence.”
“We need Brooke’s statement preserved.”
“She framed Lena.”
“We need the statement.”
Adrian hated lawyers when they were correct.
Brooke provided a written account that afternoon.
She had not known the bracelet was inside the pouch.
She had assumed Celeste was returning something.
The timeline now showed that the allegedly stolen jewelry had been placed in Lena’s room at Celeste’s direction before the confrontation.
Adrian felt sick.
He called Lena.
No answer.
He called again.
Nothing.
He texted:
I know about the bracelet. I need to speak with you.
No response.
At 6:10, Miriam Shaw called him.
Adrian knew her by reputation.
“Mr. Cole.”
“Where is Lena?”
“Safe.”
“I need to speak with her.”
“No.”
He stood.
“Excuse me?”
“You removed her from your home while she had a fractured wrist and a theft accusation hanging over her.”
“I know what I did.”
“Good. Then you understand why access to her is not automatic.”
Adrian gripped the desk.
“What does Lena want?”
“For you not to contact her directly until I say otherwise.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting tonight.”
Before he could respond, Miriam added:
“And preserve every financial communication involving Grant Wynn from the past six months.”
Adrian stopped breathing for half a second.
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“I don’t take financial instructions from people who won’t explain them.”
Miriam almost laughed.
“Then consider this professional courtesy rather than instruction.”
The call ended.
Adrian stared at the phone.
Grant.
The name felt wrong in a different way now.
Grant had joined the Cole Trust advisory team because Celeste recommended him.
He came with excellent credentials.
Private banking.
Nonprofit structuring.
High-net-worth advisory work.
Adrian had approved the appointment personally.
Another decision suddenly demanding scrutiny.
He opened the trust portal.
Three expedited charitable disbursement requests appeared at the top of the pending queue.
Total:
May you like
$22 million.
All recommended by Grant Wynn.
