The Voices from the Library
The chapel doors opened again.
Reed walked in with Monica Ellery, two financial investigators, and a technician carrying a portable speaker.
Celeste rose from her seat.
“What is the meaning of this?”
I turned to her.
“You asked me to sign an agreement without questions. I decided everyone deserved clarity first.”
The first recording started.
Warren’s voice filled the chapel.
“She won’t refuse tomorrow. There’ll be nearly two hundred guests waiting. She cares too much about her reputation to stop the ceremony.”
Gasps rippled through the room.
Warren’s face drained of color.
The recording continued.
“The agreement gives me enough control to approve the emergency transfer.”
Celeste gripped the back of the chair in front of her.
Then Warren’s next line played.
“Adeline steps away from the company for personal reasons. We limit her contact with the board, let everyone believe it was her decision.”
The chapel went completely silent.
Warren turned to me.
“That conversation’s been taken out of context.”
I stayed calm.
“Then give me the context.”
He opened his mouth. Nothing came out.
