They were dressed nicely in suits and ties like they were guests at the party.
But something about them made Marcus pay very close attention. “She’ll be at the entrance in about 10 minutes,” the first man said.
He spoke quietly but clearly. He didn’t sound nervous at all. He sounded calm like he was talking about what to eat for dinner.
“The dress makes her easy to spot,” the second man said. “Everyone will be looking at it.
All the cameras, too.” Marcus felt his heart start beating faster. “When the crowd gets tight at the door, that’s when we move,” the first man continued.
“Fast and clean. Nobody will know until it’s over. Abigail Carter won’t see it coming,” the second man said.
Marcus felt like ice cold water had been poured down his back. These weren’t party guests.
These were bad men. Very bad men. And they were planning to hurt Abigail Carter, the woman in the beautiful blue dress.
Marcus looked at Abigail Carter standing in the entrance, surrounded by flashing cameras and admiring guests.
He looked at the two men moving through the crowd toward her. He looked at the security guards who had pushed him away.
He had to try one more time. Marcus ran toward the security guards at the entrance.
His heart was pounding. His hands were shaking. “Please,” he shouted, grabbing the arm of the nearest guard.
“You have to listen to me. There are two men in suits. They’re going to hurt Miss Carter.
They said when the crowd gets tight.” The security guard yanked his arm away from Marcus like he was dirty.
“I already told you to leave.” “But they’re right there.” Marcus pointed frantically at the two men who were now just steps away from Abigail.
“Please, just look at them. Stop them.” A second security guard grabbed Marcus roughly by both shoulders.
“That’s it. You’re done here.” He shoved Marcus backward. Mark Marcus stumbled and fell onto the sidewalk.
Pain shot through his hands where they scraped the concrete. “If you come near this entrance again, we’re calling the cops,” the first guard warned.
“Now get out of here before we make you leave.” Marcus looked up from the ground.
Through the legs of the guards, through the crowd of people, he could see Abigail Carter.
She was smiling at someone completely unaware. The cameras were all pointing at her beautiful dress.
And the two dangerous men were almost at her side now. Their hands were moving toward their pockets.
Marcus looked at the security guards. They had turned their backs on him. They were watching the crowd, but they weren’t watching the right people.
They weren’t seeing what Marcus could see. Nobody was going to help. Nobody was going to listen.
