Chapter 3 - The Ghost Message
Vincent stared at the burner phone on the rug.
His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird.
Lauren froze.
For a fraction of a second, absolute panic flashed across her beautiful face.
She quickly dropped to her knees and scooped everything back into her purse.
"Clumsy," she muttered with a forced laugh.
"I hate this bag."
She stood up, clutching the purse tightly against her side.
Vincent forced his face to remain a blank mask.
"Everything okay, Lauren?"
"Fine," she said smoothly.
"Just a headache."
"I'm going to lie down in the guest room."
She turned and practically fled down the hallway.
Vincent waited until he heard the guest room door click shut.
He looked at Tessa.
Tessa was staring at the empty spot on the rug where the phone had been.
"You saw it," Vincent whispered.
"I saw it," Tessa confirmed.
"I need to know who she is talking to on that phone."
Tessa took a step back.
"No."
"Absolutely not."
"I wash your back, Mr. Corvino."
"I don't play spy games with the mob."
Vincent grabbed the wheels of his chair and rolled closer to her.
"Someone planted that envelope to warn me."
"Someone else planted the bug to listen to me."
"And the woman I am supposed to marry is holding the detonator."
Tessa crossed her arms.
"Call the police."
Vincent let out a dark, bitter laugh.
"The police work for the people who put me in this chair."
"Tessa, you are the only person in this house who is invisible."
She looked offended.
"I'm not invisible."
"To them, you are."
"You're just the help."
"They don't see you."
Tessa hated that he was right.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked softly.
"She always leaves her purse in the downstairs kitchen when she makes her afternoon tea."
"Just look at the last message."
"I will double your salary."
"From my own private account."
Tessa closed her eyes, thinking of her sister's hospital bills.
"Fine."
Two hours later, Lauren went downstairs.
Tessa quietly followed, holding a tray of dirty medical instruments as an excuse.
Vincent waited in his room, his muscles tight with tension.
He stared at the magazine covering the listening device.
He had to play the part of the helpless cripple perfectly.
Ten minutes later, Tessa walked back into his bedroom.
She locked the door behind her.
Her hands were shaking.
She walked over to Vincent and handed him a small piece of paper.
"I couldn't take a picture," she whispered.
"I just wrote down what I saw on the screen."
Vincent unfolded the paper.
May you like
It was a transcript of a single text message Lauren had sent five minutes ago.
It read: "The job is done. But the nurse looks too closely. Deal with her tonight."
