Beneath it, partly hidden by spilled liquor and broken glass, lay a sealed red folder.
The torn paper in Thomas’s hand matched the corner.
Rachel reached into the pocket of her torn dress with shaking fingers and pulled out a small recording device.
She held it toward Thomas.
Lucy clung tighter to her mother.
Thunder shook the windows.
Ethan’s face lost color when Thomas compared the torn red fragment with the sealed folder under the chair.
Thomas stepped off Ethan’s forearm as the tactical officers moved into position around him.
No handcuffs yet.
No explanation.
Just control.
Thomas looked from the recording device to Rachel, then to Ethan.
His voice dropped.
Low.
Controlled.
Terrible.
“Rachel sent the code before you touched her.”
Ethan’s eyes flickered.