Chapter 5
The officer turned to James. "Why did you let her in?"
James swallowed hard. "I thought she was a friend of Mr. Ford's."
"Did you register her?" the officer pressed.
"No," James replied.
"Why not?"
James was at a loss for words.
Nina, who had been waiting outside, couldn't stand still any longer.
She said, "I was the one who asked him to let me in. Honestly, I just wanted to see Charles get married. I wasn't trying to cause any trouble."
I looked at Nina, who was standing by the door.
"You said you just wanted to see Charles get married. The party hall and the stage are both on the first floor, so what were you doing upstairs?" I asked.
Nina's fingers tightened around the back of the chair.
"I..." she stammered.
I didn't rush her.
The officer was waiting for her answer, too.
Finally, she spoke in a low voice. "I saw you in your wedding dress, and honestly, it just broke my heart. I couldn't keep my balance and ended up falling.
"That's why I fell."
I looked at her. "So, you're saying I didn't push you? You just slipped?"
Nina's head snapped up.
Charles looked at her, too.
She scrambled to clarify, "It was all so chaotic. I honestly can't say if you ran into me or not."
I turned to the officer. "Officer, please make a note—her story keeps changing."
I turned to the hotel manager. "Nina said she just got off the plane and lost her luggage, so she had to wear clothes a friend sent over.
"But this dress doesn't look like something you'd just borrow in a rush.
"Your hotel has custom dress storage and concierge receipt services, right? Could you check if there's any record of her picking up a delivery?
"That would help clarify whether she really just showed up to offer her congratulations, or if she planned this appearance in advance."
Nina's head shot up.
Charles gave me a frown.
The hotel manager exchanged a look with the officer.
The officer nodded. "Yeah, you can help with that."
Nina's fingers clenched tightly.
The hotel manager went to check.
A few minutes later, the manager came back with the delivery record, giving Nina a quick look.
"Yeah, there is. Last night at 8:40, the concierge signed for a designer dress box.
"The recipient was listed as Ms. Nina Hayes," he replied.
I asked, "Who was the contact person?"
The manager paused. "James Benz."
I turned to Charles. "Your luggage was lost this morning, but the dress arrived at the hotel last night—and the contact was your assistant.
"And the contact was your assistant.
"So tell me, Charles, are you still claiming this was just a spur-of-the-moment visit?"
Charles finally spoke in a low voice. "Tara, that's enough."
I looked at him. "Not yet."
"Not yet."
Just then, another legal assistant of Charles's walked in with a laptop. When he saw the officer, he froze and tried to turn back.
Seeing him, Charles instinctively took a step forward.
I noticed the guy was holding a black folder.
"Charles, what's your guy bringing in now?" I asked.
The assistant froze.