Chapter 2 – No One Leaves
Chapter 2 – No One Leaves
The last steel lock echoed through the museum.
CLICK.
Silence followed.
Grant Holloway looked toward the nearest security officer.
"Open these doors."
No one moved.
The officer calmly adjusted the body camera on his chest.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Only the museum director can authorize a release."
Grant pointed at Mara.
"Then arrest her!"
Instead of answering, the officer placed a finger against his earpiece.
"Director, the internal response team is in position."
A familiar voice came over the speakers.
"Thank you."
Every guest looked upward.
Mara slowly stepped onto the center platform beneath the museum's enormous glass dome.
"My name is Mara Vale."
"I am the Chairwoman of the Vale Heritage Trust."
"Six months ago, my family became the majority owner of the Hawthorne Museum."
Gasps rippled across the room.
Several board members exchanged stunned looks.
They had never met the mysterious investor behind the acquisition.
Grant swallowed hard.
"You..."
Mara nodded.
"Yes."
"And every public gallery, hallway, auction room, and entrance inside this building is protected by continuous security recording."
She pressed a button on her phone.
The giant display screen used for auction bidding flickered to life.
Instead of artwork...
It showed video footage from ten minutes earlier.
Grant grabbing Mara's wrist.
Dragging her behind a marble pillar.
Striking her across the face.
The impact echoed through the silent ballroom.
Then came something even worse.
Several guests appeared clearly on camera.
Watching.
Turning away.
Pretending not to notice.
May you like
No one could deny what they had seen.
Not anymore.
