For the first time since I met him, genuine shock crossed his face without any attempt to hide it.
“Where did you get that?”
“That was delivered downstairs.”
He looked at Daniel.
Daniel explained in a few sentences.
No drama.
No speculation.
Adrian listened until he reached the part about the message.
Then he held out his hand.
“May I?”
I hesitated.
Not because I feared losing the photograph.
Because giving it to him felt strangely like giving away control.
But I handed it over.
Adrian turned it over.
He read the sentence.
His face went still.
“Who was supposed to be in fourteen B?” I asked.
He looked at me.
“You were.”
My anger arrived so fast that it almost steadied me.
“That is not an answer.”
“It is.”
“The note says otherwise.”
“The note is wrong.”
“Then explain the picture.”
“I can.”
“Good.”
“Elena.”
“No.”
I stepped into the hallway and pulled the door almost closed behind me.
Lily was still visible through the opening.
“I’m tired of everyone saying my name before giving me half an answer.”
Adrian absorbed that.
Then nodded.
“Fair.”
Daniel looked between us.
“I’ll be at the elevator.”
He walked away.
Adrian remained where he was.
I pointed to the photograph.
“You knew Ethan.”
“No.”
“You were in the same place.”
“Yes.”
“With your sister.”
“Yes.”
“With Sam Baines.”
“Yes.”
“And my husband.”
“Yes.”
“But you expect me to believe none of you knew one another?”
Adrian looked down at the photograph.
“This was taken at a charity event.”
“What charity event?”
“A donor reception at St. Catherine’s Medical Center.”
His voice changed when he said the hospital’s name.
“Caroline was being treated there.”
“And Sam?”
“Northbridge sponsored part of the event.”
My mouth went dry.
“So you knew Northbridge.”
“I knew the company existed.”
“Did you do business with them?”
“Prescott Health did.”
“Did you approve it?”
“No. Procurement did.”
“Who ran procurement?”
