# Chapter 7: Plunge Into Darkness
The penthouse was silent except for the rustling of ancient paper.
Evelyn spent hours reading through the ledger.
Adrian sat at the desk across the room, reviewing hotel security footage.
They were operating in a fragile truce.
The anger of their separation had been temporarily paused by mutual danger.
“Room 412,” Evelyn said aloud.
Adrian looked up from his laptop.
“That was a permanent suite leased by the Vale family,” he noted.
“My mother wrote that she was assigned to room service that night,” Evelyn said.
She ran her finger over the faded ink.
“She delivered a bottle of scotch and two glasses.”
Evelyn swallowed hard.
“She wrote that the door was cracked open when she returned to collect the tray.”
“She saw Charles Vale pour a white powder into one of the glasses.”
Adrian stood up and walked over to the bed.
“Who was the unregistered guest?” he asked.
Evelyn turned the page carefully.
The paper was brittle.
“She didn’t write a name,” Evelyn said.
“But she wrote a description.”
She looked up at Adrian.
“Tall, blonde hair, wearing a custom emerald necklace.”
Adrian’s face drained of color.
He staggered backward slightly.
“My mother,” he whispered.
“She wore an emerald necklace that night.”
Evelyn felt a chill run down her spine.
“The official report said she died in a car crash,” Evelyn reminded him.
“She did,” Adrian said.
His voice was hollow.
“But the autopsy noted she was severely disoriented.”
He looked at Evelyn with burning eyes.
“They blamed it on alcohol.”
“Charles drugged her,” Evelyn realized.
“He drugged her, and then she got into her car.”
Adrian clenched his fists.
“I am going to kill him,” Adrian said.
He turned toward the door.
“Adrian, wait!” Evelyn called out.
May you like
Before he could reach the handle, the penthouse power abruptly cut out.
The room plunged into absolute darkness.
