Chapter 3
Harlan lied for twenty minutes.
Then he made the mistake of insulting Caleb.
“He’s covering his incompetence.”
Caleb looked at him.
“Your cuff tore on the rigging ladder.”
Harlan froze.
There.
The right sleeve of his tuxedo had a small triangular tear near the wrist.
I had noticed it earlier and dismissed it.
Now I didn’t.
Caleb continued.
“I saw you upstairs before guests arrived. You said Vera wanted the chairs checked.”
Vera slowly turned toward her husband.
“Harlan?”
He stood.
One of my guards immediately stepped behind him.
Good.
Harlan looked at his wife.
“You wanted Luca frightened.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“You said fear was the only thing he still respected.”
Vera’s face drained.
I stared at both of them.
Interesting.
Same scheme.
Different destination.
Vera wanted a demonstration.
Harlan wanted consequences.
I stepped closer.
“What did you change?”
He looked at me.
Nothing.
I waited.
Silence works well on men who expect shouting.
Finally:
“One catch.”
Nina’s.
My hands tightened.
“Why?”
His jaw hardened.
“Because nobody listens when nothing actually happens.”
There.
No apology.
No confusion.
He had converted a cruel family spectacle into attempted killing because terror alone seemed insufficient.
Vera slapped him.
Not me.
Her own husband.
“Are you insane?”
Harlan laughed bitterly.
“You strapped the child into the chair.”
That stopped her.
Correct.
He had crossed farther.
She had still built the road.
I looked at Vera.
“What was the demonstration supposed to prove?”
Her face became unreadable again.
Then Grace answered from behind me.
“Which woman he values more.”
I turned.
My mother had been quiet too long.
She stood beside Nina now, one hand resting protectively on the little girl’s shoulder.
Vera looked at her.
Old hatred surfaced instantly.
Grace continued.
“This was never about Luca.”
Silence.
“It was about me.”
I stared.
“What do you know?”
My mother looked toward the two empty chairs beneath the suspended sculptures.
May you like
Then at Vera.
“She’s been waiting thirty years to put me in one.”
