Chapter 6 - The Signature of a Killer
Daniel let out a loud, mocking laugh, projecting his voice for the crowd.
"Me? Are you completely insane?"
Daniel sneered, looking around at the guests as if Elena had lost her mind.
"I saw you standing on the balcony holding the crossbow,"
Elena insisted, her voice ringing clear and steady over the murmuring crowd.
"You are a disgruntled, psychotic employee trying to blame me for your own violent actions,"
Daniel countered aggressively, standing up to assert his dominance over the room.
Several guests exchanged doubtful, nervous glances. They had absolutely seen Elena push Valeria down the stairs. But the darkness of the balcony obscured the shooter, leaving the true identity of the assassin in terrifying doubt.
Daniel knelt back down, gently taking Valeria’s hand, playing the role of the devoted protector.
"Darling, do not listen to a word she says,"
Daniel whispered soothingly.
"She is trying to confuse you to save herself."
Valeria looked directly into her husband’s eyes. She did not see concern. She saw a frantic, desperate fear hiding just beneath the surface of his polished facade. He was terrified of being caught.
Elena did not argue further. She stood up, walked purposefully over to the oak paneled wall, and grabbed the shaft of the embedded crossbow bolt with both hands.
With a fierce yank, she pulled the heavy steel arrow from the wood.
She turned around and held it high in the air for everyone in the room to see.
"Look closely,"
Elena instructed the silent crowd.
Carved into the silver metal just below the fletching was a tiny, intricate crest. A wolf surrounded by a crown.
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"This crest belongs exclusively to his private collection,"
Elena announced, turning the bolt so the light caught the silver engraving.
