Chapter 5: The Empty Chair
Marcus counted the guests twice.
Twenty-three.
He looked around the patio again.
Twenty-two.
“Someone's missing,” he said.
Maya hugged the tuxedo jacket tighter around herself.
“Who?””
Marcus didn't answer immediately.
He scanned the tables.
White flowers.
Half-empty champagne glasses.
Dessert plates.
A silver serving tray.
Then he noticed an empty chair near the mansion doors.
A black tuxedo jacket was draped over it.
Marcus walked over.
He touched the sleeve.
Still warm.
“Who was sitting here?””
Nobody answered.
Vanessa stood motionless near the pool.
Maya looked at her.
“Vanessa.””
Her sister didn't respond.
“Who was sitting there?””
Vanessa's eyes remained fixed on the empty chair.
“Daniel.””
Marcus turned.
“Daniel who?””
Vanessa finally looked at him.
“My fiancé.””
Maya's face changed.
“Your fiancé?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He was here when I arrived.””
“When did he leave?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus stared at the chair.
“That's convenient.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“He wouldn't do this.””
Maya's voice was quiet.
“Wouldn't he?””
Vanessa looked at her sharply.
“You don't know him.””
“I know he disappeared right after you tried to drown me.””
“He didn't.””
“Then where is he?””
Vanessa looked toward the mansion.
“I don't know.””
Marcus pulled out his own phone.
“I'm calling the police.””
Vanessa grabbed his wrist.
“Wait.””
Marcus looked down at her hand.
“Let go.””
“Please.””
“You've had enough chances.””
Vanessa released him.
Her eyes were wet.
“I need to tell you something before you call.””
Maya stepped closer.
“What?””
Vanessa took a shaky breath.
“Daniel knew.””
“About what?””
“About you.””
Maya frowned.
“Me?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He knew about the money.””
Maya stared.
“What money?””
Marcus lowered his phone.
Vanessa looked between them.
“The inheritance.””
Silence.
Maya's stomach tightened.
“My inheritance?””
Vanessa nodded.
“When Dad died, the trust was supposed to be split between us.””
“I know.””
“You don't know everything.””
Vanessa's voice became smaller.
“Your share was never transferred.””
Maya stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
“Because Dad changed the documents.””
Marcus stepped in.
“Changed them how?””
Vanessa looked toward Maya.
“He left you control of the entire estate if you reached thirty.””
Maya went still.
“I turn thirty next month.””
“Yes.””
Marcus's expression hardened.
“And Vanessa?””
Vanessa looked down.
“I get nothing.””
Maya shook her head.
“You could have told me.””
“I tried.””
“No, you didn't.””
“You wouldn't have listened!””
“You never asked.””
Vanessa wiped her cheek.
“Because I was ashamed.””
Maya laughed bitterly.
“You tried to kill me because you were ashamed?””
“No.””
Vanessa looked directly at her.
“I didn't do it for the inheritance.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Then what did you do it for?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“I was threatened.””
“By Daniel?””
Vanessa's eyes flicked toward the empty chair.
Before she could answer, a voice came from behind them.
“Don't say my name.””
Everyone turned.
Daniel stood in the mansion doorway.
Black tuxedo.
Calm expression.
Not a drop of sweat on him.
Vanessa's face went white.
“Daniel?””
He smiled faintly.
“You weren't supposed to tell them.””
Marcus moved in front of Maya.
Daniel raised both hands.
“Relax.””
Marcus didn't move.
“You're the one who sent those messages.””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“You really are terrible at following instructions.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I couldn't do it.””
Daniel sighed.
“That's why I had to come back.””
Maya's voice shook.
“What did you want from me?””
Daniel looked at her.
“Your signature.””
“My signature?””
“On the trust transfer.””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“You planned to make her death look accidental so you could take her inheritance.””
Daniel smiled.
“No.””
He looked at Vanessa.
“She was supposed to sign it first.””
Vanessa whispered, “You said nobody would get hurt.””
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“I said nobody would get hurt if you did exactly what I told you.””
Maya stared at Vanessa.
Then she noticed something.
Daniel wasn't looking at her.
He was looking at the table.
At Vanessa's phone.
Marcus noticed too.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
“Give me the phone.””
Marcus smiled coldly.
“No.””
May you like
Daniel's hand slowly disappeared inside his jacket.
And Maya heard the unmistakable metallic click of something being unlocked.
