Chapter 1 - The Silver Tray
Maddie watched the young waiter walk away toward the swinging kitchen doors.
The heavy wooden panels swung shut behind him with a soft thud.
She looked down at her trembling hands resting on the ivory tablecloth.
Her beautiful diamond engagement ring felt like a heavy weight pulling her finger toward the floor.
She twisted the expensive stone and slid it off her hand completely.
She gently placed it inside the empty crystal champagne flute.
It made a sharp clinking sound that echoed loudly in the quiet room.
Her father hurried over to the head table with panic in his eyes.
Frank looked significantly paler than he had upstairs in the bridal suite.
"Maddie, you cannot stay sitting here like this."
"I am waiting for my appetizers, Dad."
"This is absolute madness."
"This is a seventy-dollar plate of food that you already paid for."
Frank wiped his sweating forehead with a shaking hand.
"It actually gets much worse, sweetheart."
Maddie did not think that was mathematically or emotionally possible.
"How could it possibly get worse?"
"The wooden gift table in the lobby is completely empty."
Maddie frowned deeply and looked across the massive ballroom.
The large decorative birdcage meant for cash envelopes was tipped over on the floor.
The tall stacks of beautifully wrapped boxes were simply gone.
"Did the venue staff move them to our car for safekeeping?"
Frank shook his head slowly, his eyes filling with fresh tears.
"Connor saw Tyler loading them into his truck an hour ago."
Maddie felt all the oxygen leave her lungs in one painful rush.
Tyler had not just abandoned her at the altar out of fear.
He had systematically robbed them blind on his way out the door.
Eli returned through the kitchen doors holding a polished silver tray.
He approached the table and set down a steaming bowl of lobster bisque.
"Course one is served, ma'am."
Maddie picked up her silver soup spoon with a newfound sense of cold determination.
"Eli, exactly how fast can you bring the rest of the courses?"
May you like
He looked at the devastated father, then at the empty gift table, and finally back to her.
"As fast as you need, but you might want to see what I just found in the groom's suite first."
