Margaret immediately contacted the company’s owner and requested that the relevant records be preserved. The venue manager also retained the security footage, the attempted login records, and the printed email draft.
Ethan called the police non-emergency line to ask how to document the threats and suspected account misuse. We were advised to preserve the original messages, avoid altering the files, and provide the evidence through the appropriate channels.
For the first time all day, I felt that we were doing something more constructive than reacting to the next surprise.
Then Ryan arrived carrying his phone.
“Vanessa’s car is still in the parking lot,” he said. “But she’s not answering anyone.”
I looked toward the garden entrance.
“Find out whether she left the property.”
Ryan nodded and walked away.
Five minutes later, he returned.
“She went to the hotel.”
My heart tightened.
“Why?”
“We don’t know. But the hotel manager says she asked for access to your original room.”
