Chapter 16 - Friday Night
We moved Elena to a secure medical facility.
Claire never realized we found her.
Rebecca replaced several cameras inside the house with feeds controlled by federal agents.
Mara wore a hidden microphone.
I wore one too.
At seven Friday evening, Claire came downstairs in a white dress.
It was the same dress she wore during our engagement dinner.
“You remember this?”
“Yes.”
“I thought tonight should feel special.”
“It does.”
Candles covered the dining room.
Music played softly.
The twins slept upstairs under the supervision of Rebecca’s team hidden nearby.
Claire believed they were alone with Mara.
Marcus arrived at eight.
He carried champagne.
Of course he did.
At 8:27, Claire poured my glass.
At 8:30, she added three drops from a tiny bottle.
She believed I did not see.
I drank.
Or appeared to.
A concealed tube inside my sleeve diverted most of the liquid.
Enough touched my mouth to explain traces later.
Not enough to incapacitate me.
By 8:45, I began acting confused.
Claire watched every movement.
“Daniel?”
“What?”
“You look pale.”
“I’m fine.”
Marcus moved closer.
“Any dizziness?”
I laughed.
“You really love that question.”
Claire’s expression tightened.
At 8:53, I knocked over my glass.
At 8:57, I stood and pretended to stumble.
Claire grabbed my arm.
“Daniel, stop.”
I pushed her hand away.
Not violently.
Just enough.
She stepped backward dramatically.
“Don’t touch me!”
Marcus immediately lifted his phone.
Recording.
The performance had begun.
Claire screamed.
“You’re scaring me!”
I stared at her.
“You drugged me.”
Perfect silence.
Claire’s expression changed for half a second.
Then she cried.
“He’s delusional.”
Marcus approached.
“Daniel, calm down.”
I turned toward him.
“You’re not a doctor.”
His face hardened.
Claire whispered.
“Now.”
Two men entered through the kitchen.
Neither was federal law enforcement.
Both wore medical uniforms.
One carried restraints.
The other carried a syringe.
Rebecca’s voice sounded through my earpiece.
“Hold.”
I hated that word.
The man with the syringe stepped toward me.
Claire backed away.
“Please help him.”
I looked at my wife.
She smiled behind her tears.
Then the front door opened.
A woman entered carrying an infant transport bag.
Claire’s expression changed completely.
“You’re early.”
The woman answered.
“The buyers moved the window.”
Rebecca’s voice came through my earpiece again.
“We have the transaction.”
Then Claire said the sentence we needed.
“Take Daniel first.”
“And when he stops breathing, take the twins.”
May you like
Rebecca whispered.
“Move.”
