Chapter 6 - WHY HE RAN
Daniel reconstructed Ryan’s last fifteen minutes.
12:41 p.m.
Ryan was near the reception bar.
12:43.
He received a call from an unknown number.
12:46.
He opened a PDF on his phone.
12:47.
He asked Daniel:
“Where’s the service exit?”
Daniel thought Ryan felt sick.
12:49.
Ryan handed Daniel his phone.
“Give this to Claire if I don’t come back.”
Daniel laughed.
Ryan did not.
12:50.
Ryan left.
That was before Vanessa slapped Claire.
Vanessa had no idea Ryan was already gone.
Claire asked Daniel:
“Why didn’t you stop him?”
Daniel looked miserable.
“I thought he needed air.”
“What did he say?”
“Something about a signature.”
Claire remembered the text:
DON'T SIGN ANYTHING. WE FOUND THE ORIGINAL.
Original what?
Grace traced the unknown number.
It belonged to attorney Nora Fields.
Corporate-litigation specialist.
She represented Ryan.
Privately.
Claire had never heard her name.
Nora agreed to speak only after receiving Ryan’s permission.
Problem:
Nobody knew where Ryan was.
Then Ryan finally called.
Not Claire.
Daniel.
One sentence:
May you like
“Tell Claire not to file the marriage license.”
Then he hung up.
