Chapter 2
By morning, the wedding was canceled.
Cassian did not postpone it.
There was nothing to postpone.
Sabine’s engagement ring was collected with her personal property after police became involved.
Cassian made no effort to keep the matter private.
That shocked several senior Rinaldo relatives more than the kidnapping attempt itself.
His uncle called before breakfast.
“You brought police into the hangar?”
“My daughter was inside a suitcase.”
“I understand that.”
“No. You clearly don’t.”
The conversation ended there.
Rebecca handled the legal process.
Sabine claimed she had intended to take Elodie to Canada temporarily because she feared Cassian would prevent her from leaving after she canceled the wedding.
It was an extraordinary explanation.
It also did not explain why Elodie had been hidden inside luggage.
Sabine’s attorney stopped her from saying more.
Adrian offered a different account.
He claimed Sabine had panicked after an argument with Cassian earlier that week and that he had gone to the hangar only to help his sister leave.
He denied knowing Elodie was inside the case until immediately before Cassian arrived.
Rebecca read both statements at Cassian’s kitchen table.
“They already conflict.”
Cassian said nothing.
Elodie was upstairs sleeping.
He had moved her out of the main estate before dawn to a smaller house used by the family for private stays.
Only her nanny, doctor, Rebecca, and two trusted security people knew the address.
Cassian returned his attention to Claire’s photograph.
Rebecca had obtained a high-resolution scan without removing it from the frame.
“Why did Adrian want this?”
“That’s what I want to know.”
They enlarged the image.
Claire occupied most of the foreground.
Behind her stood the Halifax waterfront, a hotel entrance, part of a marina, and the reflection of several people in a glass wall.
Rebecca leaned closer.
“There.”
A man stood in the reflection.
His face was partially obscured.
But the build was familiar.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
Expensive dark coat.
Cassian knew him.
Adrian Vale.
Rebecca did not jump to the conclusion.
“Could be someone who resembles him.”
Cassian pointed toward the wrist.
A watch.
Adrian had worn the same limited-production model for nearly a decade.
“Possible,” Rebecca said.
“Not proof.”
“No.”
Then they enlarged the other side.
A woman appeared near the revolving doors.
Only part of her face could be seen.
Cassian could not identify her.
But he recognized the handbag.
Sabine still owned one identical to it.
Same rare color.
Same gold hardware.
Rebecca sat back.
“Did Sabine ever tell you she knew Claire?”
“No.”
“Did Adrian?”
“No.”
Cassian looked at the photograph again.
Claire had been alive when it was taken.
Sabine claimed she met Cassian for the first time fourteen months after Claire’s death.
Adrian claimed he had introduced them at a charity dinner.
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Now both appeared to have been in the same Canadian hotel as Claire years earlier.
And when Adrian saw the photograph in Elodie’s arms, he tried desperately to take it.
