Chapter 5 - The Black Veil and the Champagne Toast
On the eve of the memorial service, inside the luxury penthouse of the Four Seasons Denver, Michael Carter was pouring two glasses of Dom Pérignon.
Dressed in a bespoke black Italian suit with a silk mourning tie, Michael stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the city lights, smiling with triumphant, predatory satisfaction.
Ashley Cole walked out of the dressing room wearing an expensive black velvet designer gown, adjusting her diamond drop earrings.
“Are you sure the insurance adjusters won’t investigate the weather reports, Michael?” Ashley asked, taking the flute from his hand.
Michael laughed, clinking his glass against hers.
“The park rangers confirmed that an active blizzard hit the pass at four o’clock,” Michael replied smoothly. “A pregnant woman slipping on black ice during a storm is an open-and-shut accidental demise. The Sterling family has been too quiet to suspect anything.”
“And her brother, Gabriel?”
“Gabriel is in Europe managing container ports,” Michael sneered. “By the time he flies back, the probate court will have validated the policy, the funds will be in Cayman, and we’ll be on a private jet to Saint-Tropez.”
Ashley wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his jaw. “To fifty million dollars, darling.”
May you like
“To fifty million dollars,” Michael toasted, draining his glass.
Neither of them noticed the microscopic surveillance lens embedded inside the smoke detector above the bar, transmitting every word, every clink of glass, and every kiss directly to the federal prosecutorial server.
