Chapter 2 - Room 317
Avery stared at the message until the letters blurred.
Her father had been dead for eleven years.
She had identified his body.
She had stood beside his coffin.
She had watched dirt fall onto it.
Yet somebody inside this building wanted her to believe Edward Bennett was waiting upstairs.
"Avery."
Luca's voice pulled her back.
She locked her phone.
"What?"
"Show me."
"No."
"Whoever sent that photograph can see you."
"I noticed."
"And they're close."
"So are you."
His expression barely changed.
"Fair."
That irritated her more than defensiveness would have.
Claire approached, gathering her wedding skirt.
"Avery, please tell me what's going on."
Avery looked at her sister.
For years, Claire had been the person everyone protected.
Tonight, for the first time, she looked completely unprotected.
"Did Dad ever mention Room 317?"
Claire frowned.
"No."
Diane appeared behind her.
Avery saw the answer before asking.
"Mom?"
Diane turned away.
Avery caught her wrist.
"Room 317."
Diane whispered, "Forget it."
"Why?"
"Because your father is dead."
"I know that."
"Then stop chasing ghosts."
Avery released her.
Luca watched the exchange.
"You know the room."
Diane glared at him.
"I know nothing about you."
"But you know 317."
Diane walked away.
That was answer enough.
Avery headed for the ballroom exit.
Luca followed.
"Where are you going?"
"Bathroom."
"No, you're not."
She stopped.
"You don't get to tell me where I can go."
"No. But I can recognize a bad lie."
Avery turned.
"Then recognize this. Leave me alone."
She walked away.
He didn't follow.
At least not visibly.
Room 317 was on the hotel's third floor.
Avery took the service stairs rather than the elevator.
Her heels hurt before she reached the second landing.
She removed them and continued barefoot.
The brass key felt impossibly heavy in her pocket.
At the third floor, she found Room 317 at the end of an empty corridor.
The door was different from the others.
No electronic lock.
An old brass keyhole.
Avery's mouth went dry.
She removed the key.
It fit.
Before turning it, she remembered Luca's warning.
Whoever gave you that key wanted you to use it tonight.
Maybe that was true.
But somebody had spent eleven years making sure Avery never knew the key existed.
That frightened her more.
She turned it.
Click.
The door opened.
The room beyond wasn't a hotel suite.
It was an office.
Old desk.
Shelves.
A steel safe.
And photographs.
Dozens.
Avery entered.
Her father was in nearly every one.
Edward beside businessmen.
Edward beside politicians.
Edward beside Luca Moretti's father—Avery recognized him from an old newspaper photograph framed on the wall.
One picture showed Edward and a much younger Luca.
Avery stared.
Luca couldn't have been older than twenty-five.
Her father had his arm around his shoulder.
They were smiling.
"You should have listened to me."
Avery spun.
Luca stood in the doorway.
"You followed me."
"Yes."
"I told you not to."
"Also yes."
She held up the photograph.
"You knew my father."
Luca looked at it.
"He saved my life."
Avery went still.
"When?"
"Twelve years ago."
"How?"
"That's a longer conversation."
"We've got a room."
Luca almost smiled.
Then he noticed the safe.
His expression changed.
Avery followed his gaze.
"You know that too?"
"I know what should be inside."
"What?"
"Proof."
"Of what?"
"Why your father died."
The words landed harder than Avery expected.
"My father died in a car accident."
"No."
"You don't know that."
"I was there."
Avery stopped breathing.
Luca walked toward the desk.
"Your father's car didn't lose control. Someone forced him off the road."
Avery shook her head.
"No."
"I pulled him from the vehicle."
"No."
"He was alive for six minutes."
Avery backed into the desk.
"Stop."
"He gave me instructions."
"Stop."
"I failed to follow them."
She slapped him.
The sound cracked through the room.
Luca didn't move.
Avery's hand trembled.
"You let me believe he died alone."
"I didn't know you."
"You knew my father."
"Yes."
"You knew my name."
"Yes."
"Then you knew me."
"No."
His voice softened.
"I knew of you."
Avery hated that distinction.
"What did he tell you?"
Luca looked at the safe.
"He said, 'Keep Avery away from the key until she's ready.'"
Avery laughed once.
It sounded broken.
"Apparently somebody decided I'm ready."
Luca looked toward the door.
"Or somebody needs you to open that safe."
Avery examined it.
No keypad.
Only another brass keyhole.
She held the key.
Luca caught her wrist.
"Don't."
"You said proof is inside."
"If it's still there."
"And if it isn't?"
"Then we're standing exactly where whoever planned this wants us."
Avery pulled free.
"That has been my entire night."
She inserted the key.
Turned.
The safe opened.
Inside was a single envelope.
AVERY.
Her father's handwriting.
She opened it.
One page.
Avery,
If you are reading this, then the promise I asked Luca Moretti to keep has ended.
Do not blame him.
I made him swear.
The Bennett family business was never what your mother told you.
And Daniel Mercer did not meet Claire by accident.
Avery stopped.
Luca read over her shoulder.
"Mercer."
Avery continued.
There is a ledger.
It proves everything.
I divided the path to it into three pieces.
You have the first.
Luca has the second.
The third belongs to the person who betrayed me.
Avery looked at Luca.
"What's your piece?"
He removed his watch.
Beneath the leather strap was a tiny engraved number.
Avery looked at the key.
Under the teeth:
"19 and 47."
Luca nodded.
"What does that mean?"
"I don't know."
Avery returned to the letter.
If Claire marries Daniel before you discover the truth, you are already in danger.
Avery's stomach dropped.
Footsteps sounded outside.
Luca killed the lamp.
Someone stopped at the door.
Avery held her breath.
The handle moved.
Locked.
Then Daniel's voice came through the wood.
"Avery?"
Luca put a finger to his lips.
Daniel tried again.
"I know you're inside."
Silence.
Then another voice spoke behind Daniel.
Diane.
"Avery, don't open the safe."
Avery looked at the open steel door.
Too late.
Her phone vibrated.
A new message.
HE LIED ABOUT YOUR FATHER'S LAST SIX MINUTES.
Avery slowly looked at Luca.
The hallway went silent.
May you like
Then a key entered the lock from the other side.
Someone was coming in.
