Chapter 2: The Waitress Who Disappeared
Raymond reached the service exit before the waitress did.
He caught the door with one hand, blocking her path, while two security guards approached from behind.
“Miss, please stay where you are,” he said.
The waitress spun around.
“I didn’t do anything!””
“Then you have nothing to worry about.””
Her eyes darted toward the garden.
Victoria was standing beneath the white rose arch, gripping Marcus’s arm with both hands.
“Marcus, tell them to release her,” she demanded.
“This is becoming a circus.””
Marcus gently pulled himself free.
“Why are you afraid of a waitress?””
“I’m not afraid of her.””
“Then let her speak.””
Victoria stared at him.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then the elderly guest collapsed.
His wife screamed again, and the entire reception dissolved into panic.
Raymond abandoned the exit long enough to help the medical team clear a path. Guests moved away from the drinks table, some carrying untouched glasses, others desperately trying to remember whether they had already taken a sip.
Marcus knelt beside the fallen man.
“Sir? Can you hear me?””
The man’s eyelids fluttered.
His wife clutched his hand.
“His name is Harold. Please, somebody help him!””
A paramedic pushed through the crowd and checked Harold’s breathing.
“Everyone give us room.””
Another medic approached with a portable medical kit.
Marcus rose and turned toward Raymond.
“Get the emergency services here immediately. Tell them we may have a contaminated drink. No one touches that pitcher.””
Raymond nodded and hurried away.
Victoria approached Marcus, lowering her voice.
“You need to stop this before it becomes public.””
He looked at her in disbelief.
“A man just collapsed.””
“And the paramedics are treating him. You don't know that it has anything to do with the drink.””
“Then why are you more concerned about the headlines than the people standing here?””
Her expression hardened.
“Because I know how these things work. One accusation becomes a scandal. The scandal becomes a lawsuit. Suddenly every person in this garden believes your family is dangerous.””
“My family?””
Marcus glanced toward Ethan, who stood beside Daniel with his arms wrapped around himself.
“You mean my son?””
Victoria's cheeks reddened.
“I mean us.””
Marcus turned away.
“I don’t know who you are anymore.””
She caught his sleeve.
“Don't you dare say that to me.””
He looked down at her fingers.
“Let go of my jacket, Victoria.””
She released him, but not before straightening his lapel as though they were posing for a photograph.
“Fine,” she whispered.
“But when you realize you've made a terrible mistake, remember that I tried to protect you.””
Across the garden, the waitress was shaking so badly that Raymond had to guide her toward a chair.
Marcus approached her.
“What’s your name?””
“Lena,” she replied.
“Lena Ortiz.””
“Lena, my son says he saw my wife tampering with the drinks. You were working near that table. Did you see anything?””
Lena stared at her hands.
“I saw Mrs. Hale.””
“What did you see her do?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus crouched slightly to meet her eyes.
“Lena, someone may have been hurt. I’m not asking you to accuse anyone. I’m asking you to tell me what happened.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“She told me to leave the drinks table alone.””
“When?””
“About half an hour ago. I was replacing the empty glasses, and she came over. She said the pitcher was for you and your important guests. She told me not to touch it.””
“Did she say why?””
Lena hesitated.
“She said she had added something special.””
Marcus felt the blood drain from his face.
“What exactly were her words?””
Lena pressed her lips together.
“She said, ‘This is a private celebration. Nobody needs to know what goes into it.’”
Behind Marcus, Victoria laughed.
It was a small, brittle sound.
“That's ridiculous,” she called.
“I told her the drink was a special recipe. Orange, ginger, and sparkling water. The same thing I've served at every event this year.””
Lena flinched at the sound of her voice.
Marcus noticed.
“Lena,” he said gently, “has Victoria threatened you?””
The waitress looked up.
“No.””
Then, after a long pause, she whispered, “Not exactly.””
Marcus waited.
“She told me that if I wanted to keep working in this city, I should learn when to mind my own business.””
Victoria stepped forward.
“That is a lie!””
Raymond moved between them.
“Mrs. Hale, please stay back.””
Victoria looked around as though she could not believe anyone would dare obstruct her.
“Do you know who I am?””
“Yes, ma'am,” Raymond replied.
“That's why I'm asking you to remain where you are.””
A few guests lowered their phones.
Others continued recording.
Marcus turned back to Lena.
“Did you see her put anything in the pitcher?””
Lena nodded once.
The garden seemed to go silent around them.
“What did she use?””
“I couldn't see clearly. She had something in her hand, like a little bottle. She poured it in, stirred the drink, and put the bottle inside her handbag.””
Victoria's face changed.
Only for a second.
But Marcus saw it.
So did Daniel.
“Which handbag?”” Marcus asked.
Lena pointed toward the table.
“The silver one she left by the roses.””
Victoria immediately moved toward it.
Raymond intercepted her.
“Please don't touch anything.””
“That's my personal property!””
“And it will remain your personal property,” Marcus said.
“Until the police arrive.””
She stared at him with naked hatred.
“You're choosing strangers over your wife.””
“I'm choosing to find out what happened.””
A siren sounded beyond the garden walls.
Lena suddenly stood.
“I need to go.””
“Not yet,” Raymond said.
“The police will need your statement.””
“No, you don't understand.”” Her voice cracked.
“I can't stay here.””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“Why?””
She glanced at Victoria.
“Because she wasn't the only person involved.””
Marcus felt a chill crawl down his spine.
“What do you mean?””
Lena reached into the pocket of her uniform and pulled out a folded receipt. On the back, someone had written a phone number and a short message in blue ink.
She handed it to Marcus.
“I found this near the kitchen entrance. I recognized the number because I heard Mrs. Hale repeating it during a phone call.””
Marcus unfolded the paper.
The message read:
*AFTER THE RECEPTION, MAKE SURE THE BOY IS GONE.*
His fingers went numb.
“The boy?”” he whispered.
Lena nodded.
“I think they meant Ethan.””
Marcus looked toward his son.
Ethan was standing near the rose arch, watching them with frightened eyes.
“Who wrote this?”” Marcus demanded.
“I don't know,” Lena said.
“But when Mrs. Hale saw me pick it up, she told me to throw it away.””
Victoria's voice cut through the air.
“That paper could have been written by anyone!””
Marcus turned.
“Then the police can determine who wrote it.””
She took a step toward him.
“Marcus, listen to me. You have known me for eighteen months. You know what kind of person I am.””
He studied her face.
“I thought I did.””
Her eyes glistened.
For one dangerous moment, she looked almost wounded.
Then she leaned closer and whispered something only he could hear.
“If you let them take me away, you will never see your son again.””
Marcus went still.
“What did you just say?””
Victoria straightened and raised her voice.
“I said this is a family matter!””
The first police officers entered the garden.
Behind them, paramedics wheeled Harold toward the ambulance while his wife followed, crying.
An officer approached Marcus and asked him to explain what had happened.
Before Marcus could answer, Ethan ran toward him.
“Dad!””
Marcus caught his son by the shoulders.
“What is it?””
Ethan pointed at the house.
“The person who called Victoria is inside.””
Marcus followed his gaze to the upstairs windows.
A curtain moved behind the glass.
Someone was watching them.
May you like
Then Ethan whispered the words that made Marcus's heart stop.
“I know who it is.””
