Everybody was lying
776 Words
Chapter 2
The scream came three seconds too late.
By then, the ballroom had already been disorganized into chaos.
Guests rushed toward the exits while security guards pushed reporters back from the staircase. Expensive champagne glasses shattered across the marble floor as people fought to escape the Ashford Grand Hotel.
But Elena couldn’t move.
Her eyes remained fixed on the dead woman lying near the staircase.
Red heels.
Blood spreading slowly beneath her body.
And Jordan Vale standing only a few feet away.
Watching her.
Not panicked.
Not shocked.
Calm.
Like this night had unfolded exactly the way he expected.
“Elena!”
Sofia grabbed her arm so hard it hurt.
“Oh my God, what happened up here?!”
Elena opened her mouth—
But no words came out.
Because Jordan was still staring at her.
Warning her silently.
Then suddenly—
Vanessa Ashford screamed.
The entire hallway turned toward her instantly.
Vanessa dropped to her knees beside the dead woman dramatically while cameras from downstairs flashed wildly.
“Call an ambulance!” she cried.
Too emotional.
Too perfect.
Elena noticed it immediately.
Vanessa didn’t look surprised.
She looked well-prepared.
And somehow…
That terrified Elena more than the body itself.
Within minutes, police officers flooded the hotel.
Guests were forced into the ballroom for questioning while security locked every exit.
Elena sat silently beside Sofia near the back of the room, trying not to shake.
“What’s wrong with you?” Sofia whispered. “You look like you saw a ghost.”
Maybe I did, “Elena whispered”.
A detective stepped into the ballroom moments later.
Tall.
Sharp-eyed.
Dangerous in a different way.
“Good evening,” he announced calmly. “I’m Detective Adrian Cross.”
The room became silent immediately.
“We will be questioning everyone individually,” he continued. “Until then, nobody leaves this hotel.”
Murmurs spread instantly.
Politicians complained.
Celebrities panicked.
Vanessa Ashford stood peacefully near the piano while pretending to comfort crying guests.
Jordan remained near the balcony doors with whiskey in his hand.
Alone.
Always alone.
Detective Cross suddenly looked toward Elena.
And paused.
Noticed.
His gaze sharpened slightly before he walked closer to where Elena sat.
“You,” he said calmly. “You were upstairs during the time the incident occurred.”
Elena’s heartbeat raced.
“I—”
“Answer carefully,” Jordan’s voice suddenly interrupted from across the room.
Every head turned toward him.
Jordan slowly walked toward them, calm as ever.
Detective Cross studied him carefully.
“Mr. Vale.”
Jordan ignored the greeting.
Instead, his eyes settled briefly on Elena.
“She’s frightened,” he said smoothly. “Maybe you don’t interrogate her like a criminal.”
Detective Cross smiled slightly.
Interesting.
Not friendly.
“Protective?” the detective asked
Jordan’s expression didn’t change.
“Observant.”
The tension between them felt sharp enough to cut their skin.
Detective Cross finally turned back toward Elena.
“Miss Hart, did you see anyone near the victim before the shooting?”
Elena’s throat tightened instantly.
Jordan’s bloody sleeve flashed through her mind.
The hidden hallway.
The argument.
The gunshot.
Her silence stretched too long.
Detective Cross noticed immediately.
“You did see something.”
Before Elena could answer—
A hotel employee suddenly rushed into the ballroom nervously.
“Sir… you need to see this.”
Detective Cross frowned.
“What is it?”
The employee whispered something into his ear.
And for the first time that night—
The detective looked shocked.
“What?”
He immediately turned toward Vanessa Ashford.
“Mrs. Ashford… we found a second body.”
Silence exploded across the ballroom.
Sofia gasped.
Elena’s stomach dropped violently.
Vanessa’s expression flickered.
Only for a second.
But Jordan saw it.
Elena saw it too.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Where?” Vanessa asked quietly.
The detective hesitated.
Then answered:
“In your private suite upstairs.”
The room erupted instantly.
Reporters shouted questions.
Guests panicked again.
But Elena could barely hear any of it.
Because Jordan suddenly moved toward her quickly.
Too quickly.
He leaned down beside her chair, his voice low enough for only her to hear.
“Listen carefully.”
“Someone in this room is about to blame everything on me.”
Elena’s pulse fastened.
“What?”
Jordan’s jaw tightened slightly.
“And if they realize you saw me upstairs…”
“You’ll become their next problem.”
Elena was frightened, before Elena could respond—
Vanessa Ashford suddenly pointed across the ballroom.
Directly to Jordan.
Her voice cracked perfectly with emotion.
“He was upstairs before the shooting.”
“Jordan Vale killed her.”
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