Chapter 4: The Name Nobody Expected to Hear
"Jonathan Brooks?""
My father's voice was barely above a whisper.
Emily nodded.
"Yes, sir. Mr. Jonathan Brooks.""
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The fireplace continued crackling behind us. Somewhere near the reception desk, a telephone rang twice before someone answered it.
My father stared at Emily as though he were trying to decide whether he had heard her correctly.
"Tell me exactly what you know.""
Emily looked down at her shoes.
"About four months ago, I was working the evening shift when a guest complained about being treated differently at check-in. She asked to speak with someone from corporate.""
"What happened?"" my father asked.
"Victoria told Mark to contact Mr. Jonathan. They went into the office together. I was bringing documents to the printer when I heard them talking.""
"What did you hear?""
Emily hesitated.
Then she looked directly at my father.
"Mr. Jonathan said, 'Richard doesn't need to know about every little complaint. Keep the numbers clean, and I'll handle him.''"
My father's jaw tightened.
Emily continued.
"After that, the complaint disappeared from the system.""
My father slowly turned toward James.
"Do we have access to the regional director's communications?""
"Not without authorization, sir.""
"Then get legal involved.""
"Immediately?""
"Immediately.""
I watched my father carefully.
I had seen him angry before.
I had seen him furious when a contractor cheated his company and when a business partner tried to steal money.
But this was different.
Jonathan wasn't just another executive.
He was my father's older brother.
He had been at our wedding.
He had held Amara in the hospital.
He had brought flowers when I gave birth.
He had called me his favorite niece.
And according to Emily, he had been helping people cover up what happened at Silvercrest.
"Dad," I whispered.
He turned.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Are you sure she isn't mistaken?""
He looked at Emily.
Then at me.
"I don't know yet.""
He gently touched my shoulder.
"But we're going to find out.""
Thomas Reed, the property director, stepped closer.
"Mr. Brooks, perhaps we should move this discussion to the executive conference room.""
My father nodded.
"Good idea.""
He turned toward James.
"Have the original footage transferred to a secure drive. Make two copies. One for legal, one for the independent investigator.""
James nodded.
"Understood.""
"Also, nobody who works under Victoria or Jonathan should be responsible for handling the evidence.""
Thomas looked uncomfortable.
"That may be difficult. Most of the security staff report through the regional office.""
My father gave him a cold look.
"Then appoint someone who doesn't.""
Thomas lowered his head.
"Yes, sir.""
I adjusted Amara's blanket.
"Dad, I want to be there.""
He frowned.
"Danielle, you've had a terrible afternoon. Your cheek needs attention.""
"I know.""
"You're exhausted.""
"I know that too.""
He looked at me for a long moment.
Then I continued.
"But if this is happening to other people, I don't want them to disappear behind another closed office door.""
His expression softened.
"You sound like your mother.""
I smiled sadly.
"She would have been furious.""
"She would have been.""
He looked toward the conference room.
"All right. But we'll have a nurse check your cheek first.""
A few minutes later, a nurse arrived with a small medical bag.
She examined the red mark on my face and gently pressed an ice pack against it.
"Does it hurt when I touch here?""
"A little.""
"Any dizziness?""
"No.""
"Good. I'd still recommend a medical evaluation, especially after a fall.""
My father immediately nodded.
"Arrange it.""
The nurse checked Amara as well.
"She's perfectly fine. Just startled.""
I kissed my daughter's forehead.
"That's my brave girl.""
The nurse smiled.
"She's lucky to have you.""
Those words nearly brought me to tears again.
Because for the first time that afternoon, someone had treated me like a mother instead of an inconvenience.
We entered the executive conference room.
It had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the snow-covered mountains.
A long walnut table occupied the center.
On the wall hung photographs of the lodge's opening ceremony, including one of my father and Jonathan standing together beneath a silver ribbon.
My father stopped in front of it.
He stared at the photograph.
"Twenty-seven years," he murmured.
I sat beside him with Amara in my arms.
"That's a long time to work with someone.""
"He was there when I had nothing. We borrowed money to open our first hotel. Your grandfather thought we were crazy.""
He smiled faintly.
"Jonathan sold his car to help us pay the first month's rent.""
I looked at the photograph.
"So you trust him.""
My father didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, "I trusted him.""
The distinction mattered.
Thomas entered carrying a laptop.
"Mr. Brooks, I've contacted corporate legal. They're assembling an independent review team.""
"Good.""
He placed the laptop on the table.
"We've also located the camera footage from the lobby.""
My father leaned forward.
"Show us.""
Thomas pressed play.
The video began with me entering the lobby.
There was no sound, but the camera clearly showed Victoria approaching me.
It showed her pointing at my clothing.
It showed me attempting to walk around her.
Then it happened.
Victoria raised her hand and slapped me.
The video captured my body falling backward.
It captured my arms tightening around Amara.
It captured Mark standing beside Victoria.
And it captured the guests laughing.
My stomach turned.
I looked away.
My father paused the video.
Nobody spoke.
Then he said, "Save that recording.""
Thomas nodded.
"Already done.""
"Now show me the original file information.""
Thomas opened another screen.
His expression changed.
"That's strange.""
"What?""
"The footage was accessed yesterday evening.""
My father leaned closer.
"By whom?""
Thomas scrolled through the access log.
The screen displayed a user account.
JONATHAN.BROOKS.
My father sat back.
For a moment, he looked older than I had ever seen him.
"Yesterday?""
"Yes, sir. At 8:43 p.m.""
"Why would he access a lobby camera recording from yesterday?""
Thomas shook his head.
"I don't know.""
My father looked toward James.
"Has he been notified that I'm here?""
James checked his phone.
"His assistant called about twenty minutes ago. Mr. Jonathan wants to know why you've arrived without informing him.""
My father gave a humorless laugh.
"Of course he does.""
Then his phone rang.
The name on the screen was unmistakable.
JONATHAN.
My father stared at it.
I could see the conflict in his eyes.
Then he answered.
"Jonathan.""
My uncle's familiar voice filled the room.
"Richard! What on earth is going on at Silvercrest?""
My father looked at me.
"That depends. Why did you access the lobby security footage last night?""
Silence.
Then Jonathan laughed.
"Are you seriously questioning me about a security report?""
"Yes.""
"Richard, I oversee regional operations. Accessing security footage is part of my job.""
"Why did you access it?""
"Because Victoria reported an incident.""
My father leaned forward.
"What incident?""
Another pause.
"An employee was involved in a disagreement with a guest.""
My father looked at the frozen image of Victoria's hand striking me.
"A disagreement?""
"That's what the report said.""
"Did the report mention a woman holding a newborn being slapped?""
The silence lasted several seconds.
Then Jonathan spoke more quietly.
"Richard, we need to discuss this in person.""
My father looked at the conference room door.
"You're welcome to come here.""
"I'll be there in thirty minutes.""
"Make it twenty.""
Jonathan sighed.
"You're making this unnecessarily dramatic.""
My father ended the call.
I stared at him.
"Dad, he already knew something happened.""
"Yes.""
"And he didn't ask whether I was okay.""
My father looked at the phone in his hand.
"No. He didn't.""
Then Thomas received an email.
He opened it.
His face went pale.
"Mr. Brooks?""
"What now?""
Thomas turned the laptop toward him.
It was a message from the regional operations office.
The subject line read:
*URGENT — SILVERCREST INCIDENT RESPONSE.*
The message instructed local management to classify the incident as a guest disturbance and remove all references to physical contact from the preliminary report.
At the bottom was an electronic approval.
Jonathan Brooks.
My father slowly closed the laptop.
"Twenty-seven years," he whispered again.
Then he stood.
"Let's see what my brother has to say for himself.""
But just before we left the conference room, Emily appeared in the doorway.
She was holding a small envelope.
"Mr. Brooks?""
He turned.
"What is it?""
Emily swallowed.
"I found something in Victoria's office. I think you need to see it before Mr. Jonathan arrives.""
She placed the envelope on the table.
Inside was a printed photograph.
It showed Jonathan standing beside Victoria at a private restaurant.
But it wasn't the photograph that made my father freeze.
It was the date written underneath.
May you like
Because the photograph had been taken two days before my mother died.
And my father knew exactly why that date mattered.