Chapter 7
We brought Elias to a private suite below the ballroom.
Not hidden.
Protected.
Nerelle stayed with him.
Rosamonde was brought down alone.
The moment she saw Elias, her knees nearly failed.
No acting.
Real shock.
“You’re alive.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Disappointing?”
She shook her head violently.
“No.”
Then cried.
Interesting.
Elias did not move toward her.
Neither did I.
Rosamonde whispered:
“Merrick said—”
“I know what he said.”
Her face changed.
“You knew?”
“For months.”
That wounded her.
Good.
Maybe necessary.
She had spent half a year carrying guilt for a death that never happened while the supposed dead man carried consequences from her original choice.
I asked Elias:
“What did Merrick tell you about Rosamonde?”
He looked at her.
Then me.
“That she wanted me gone forever.”
Rosamonde recoiled.
“No.”
Elias nodded.
“He said you told him I would destroy your marriage.”
“I said scare you.”
He laughed.
“Better.”
No.
But different.
Important.
She looked at me.
“I never told him to kill Elias.”
“I believe you.”
Her eyes filled with relief.
“Don’t.”
I continued.
“You told a man like Merrick to make a witness disappear from your life.”
Relief died.
Correct.
Motive does not erase predictable consequences.
Elias then revealed something else.
Merrick showed him messages allegedly from Rosamonde after the disappearance.
Cruel.
Calling him parasite.
Calling Nerelle expendable.
Promising money if he stayed gone.
Rosamonde denied writing them.
I believed her too.
Merrick had manipulated both sides.
Again.
Not to absolve her.
To isolate them from each other.
I asked:
“Why?”
Elias answered.
“Because if we ever compared stories, Merrick lost everything.”
Simple.
He needed Rosamonde ashamed.
Elias afraid.
Nerelle uninformed.
Me distant.
Four people separated by assumptions.
That was his whole defense.
Then Rafe entered.
“Merrick’s back.”
Rosamonde turned toward the door.
“Where?”
“Ballroom.”
I almost smiled.
He had returned to his own engagement party trap, unaware the dead man was sitting downstairs.
May you like
Good.
For once, I enjoyed timing.
