Chapter 6 - Room 314
Police arrived within minutes, but Daniel chose not to mention Victor’s call in front of the entire restaurant.
The guests were told that a power failure and possible burglary were being investigated. Many wanted to leave, but Daniel asked everyone who had witnessed the incident to remain long enough to provide their names.
Eleanor sat near the fireplace while Samuel brought her warm tea.
“You should rest,” he told her.
“I rested for too many years,” she replied.
Across the room, Melissa sat between two security officers.
Daniel placed the coffee receipt in front of her.
“What is Room 314?”
Melissa’s eyes widened.
“I don’t know.”
“You wrote the number.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Daniel studied her face.
Melissa had lied earlier, but now her confusion appeared genuine.
Eleanor joined them.
“Who had access to your handwriting?”
Melissa looked toward the office level.
“My assistant. Accounting staff. Anyone who handled the complaint files.”
“And Victor?” Daniel asked.
“He signed reports beside me many times.”
Daniel stepped away and called the number Victor had used.
No answer.
A detective approached.
“We checked the camera system. Every recording from the last two hours has been erased.”
Daniel looked toward Melissa.
She shook her head quickly.
“I don’t control the cameras.”
“Who does?”
“Head of operations.”
Daniel froze.
The position belonged to Adrian Vale, a polished executive who had helped expand Bellarose into three additional cities. Adrian had arrived earlier for the anniversary but had disappeared shortly before Eleanor entered the building.
Daniel checked his phone.
There were no messages from him.
“Find Mr. Vale,” Daniel ordered.
A waiter hurried toward them.
“Sir, his car is gone.”
Daniel turned to Eleanor.
“I trusted Adrian with everything.”
“That may be why he had access to everything,” she replied.
The police traced the room number to the Carlton Hotel across downtown.
Room 314 had been reserved under a false name.
Daniel insisted on going with the detectives.
Eleanor refused to remain behind.
At the hotel, they found the door unlocked.
Inside were photographs of Bellarose employees, copies of property maps, and detailed schedules showing when Daniel entered and left the restaurant.
A laptop sat open on the desk.
The screen displayed a scanned image of the missing deed.
Daniel moved closer.
“They copied it before tonight.”
One detective examined the documents.
“This operation has been running for months.”
Eleanor noticed a small wooden box near the bed.
Inside was a silver necklace she recognized immediately.
It had belonged to her late husband.
She had not seen it since her home was burglarized two years earlier.
Her hand trembled as she lifted it.
“This is mine.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Whoever planned this knew about you before tonight.”
The bathroom door suddenly moved.
An officer drew his weapon.
“Come out with your hands visible.”
A frightened young man stepped forward wearing a hotel uniform.
He claimed he had been paid to deliver packages without asking questions.
“Who paid you?” Daniel demanded.
The young man pointed toward the laptop.
“I never knew his real name, but he said the old woman would bring the final document.”
The laptop screen changed by itself.
A live video appeared.
Victor was tied to a chair inside an unknown room.
Behind him stood a masked figure.
A distorted voice filled the hotel room.
May you like
“Mr. Cole, the original deed is only the beginning.”
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