Chapter 3
The Camera Inside Her Bedroom
Mercer swore and snatched up the wet phone.
The screen flickered once.
Then died.
Evelyn stared at it with an expression Chloe would remember for years.
Relief.
Not confusion.
Not embarrassment.
Relief.
Mercer turned toward her so quickly his chair toppled over.
“You did that on purpose.”
Evelyn’s chin trembled.
Chloe stepped in again.
“Back off.”
“Get out of my way.”
“No.”
One of the guests finally stood.
The silver-haired man near the window.
“I think we should all calm down.”
Mercer swung toward him.
“Sit down, Arthur.”
The man hesitated.
Then sat.
Chloe saw Evelyn close her eyes.
That was when she understood how Mercer controlled rooms.
Not with volume.
With knowledge.
He knew exactly where everyone’s fear lived.
Marcus appeared at the doorway with two building security officers.
“Mr. Mercer,” he said, “we need to speak outside.”
Mercer straightened his jacket.
“This is a private family dinner.”
“Your server has reported unwanted physical contact.”
Mercer laughed.
“Fine.”
He pulled out his wallet.
“Charge whatever you need to charge. And fire her.”
Marcus’s face hardened.
“That’s not your decision.”
Chloe almost looked at him.
But she kept her attention on Evelyn.
Mercer stepped close to the elderly woman.
“We’re leaving.”
Evelyn did not move.
He leaned down.
Her entire body tightened.
Chloe could not hear what he whispered.
But Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears.
Then she stood.
That frightened Chloe more than anything.
Whatever Mercer said had worked.
Evelyn reached for her cane.
Chloe signed quickly.
Do you want to leave with him?
Evelyn looked at her.
No.
Then why?
Evelyn’s hands shook.
Girl.
Chloe frowned.
What girl?
Mercer turned.
“Enough.”
He grabbed Evelyn’s coat from the chair.
Chloe blocked him.
“She says she doesn’t want to go with you.”
“She is under guardianship.”
“Show me the paperwork.”
Mercer’s eyes narrowed.
“You think I carry court orders to dinner?”
“If you’re using them to force someone out of a room, maybe.”
The security officers exchanged a glance.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Mr. Mercer, until we understand the situation, Mrs. Ward can remain here.”
Mercer smiled.
The calmness of it was worse than shouting.
“You want to bet the restaurant on that?”
Marcus said nothing.
Mercer looked at Chloe.
Then he pulled a second phone from his inside pocket.
He had another one.
Of course he did.
He tapped the screen.
A video appeared.
He held it where Evelyn could see.
Chloe saw only a flash.
A young woman.
Dark hair.
A hospital bed.
Evelyn made a sound.
Not a word.
A broken breath.
Mercer lowered the phone.
“We are leaving.”
Chloe felt rage rise behind her ribs.
“What is that?”
“Family.”
Evelyn signed one word to Chloe.
Granddaughter.
Now Chloe understood the terror.
Mercer was not only controlling Evelyn.
He had leverage.
A person.
The security officers were watching, but none of them understood the signs.
Chloe did.
She signed:
Is she in danger?
Evelyn nodded.
Mercer noticed.
He grabbed Evelyn’s arm.
This time, one security officer stepped in.
“Sir.”
Mercer released her.
Then he looked at Chloe.
“If anything happens to that girl because you decided to play hero, remember this moment.”
It was a threat.
But it was also information.
He had just admitted the granddaughter mattered.
Chloe’s phone buzzed in her apron.
One bar of service.
Then a text.
Unknown number.
STOP TRANSLATING.
Chloe froze.
Another message arrived.
YOU ARE BEING WATCHED TOO.
She looked around the private room.
No visible camera.
No one holding a phone.
Her eyes moved to the smoke detector above the wine cabinet.
A tiny black point stared back at her.
Chloe felt her skin go cold.
She took one slow breath.
Then she looked at Marcus.
“Call the police now.”
His face changed.
“What?”
“Now.”
Mercer smiled.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Chloe held up her phone.
“Someone just texted me from inside this room.”
For the first time, Mercer’s confidence cracked.
Not much.
But enough.
May you like
He looked toward the ceiling.
And that tiny glance told Chloe exactly where the camera was.
