Chapter 15 - The Poisoned Toast
Three days before the wedding, Vanessa became affectionate again.
She cooked dinner.
She opened Julian’s favorite wine.
She talked about honeymoon plans.
Julian played his role.
Every smile cost him something.
Every kiss felt like touching a stranger.
After dinner, Vanessa poured brandy.
Julian watched her hand.
A tiny bottle disappeared into her palm.
She turned away.
When she turned back, she held two glasses.
She handed one to Julian.
“To second chances.”
Julian lifted the glass.
“To honesty.”
Vanessa smiled.
Julian pretended to drink.
Then he deliberately knocked the glass against the table.
Brandy spilled across the carpet.
Vanessa flinched violently.
“Damn.”
Julian laughed.
“Relax.”
“I’ll get another.”
“No.”
He stood.
“I’ve had enough.”
Vanessa watched him leave.
Twenty minutes later, Marcus entered the mansion through the service corridor.
Julian handed him a towel soaked with the spilled liquor.
“Test it.”
The laboratory result came the next morning.
The drink contained a strong sedative.
Not lethal.
But enough to cause unconsciousness.
Julian stared at the report.
Marcus spoke.
“She may have been testing dosage.”
“Or planning something else.”
Marcus nodded.
“There’s more.”
He handed Julian photographs.
Richard had met Dr. Mercer at a private club.
The doctor had received three payments from a shell company.
Total amount.
Two hundred eighty thousand dollars.
The shell company was controlled by a trust in the Cayman Islands.
The beneficiary was Richard Vale.
Julian leaned back.
“Now we have the doctor.”
Marcus nodded.
“And another problem.”
“What?”
“Someone accessed your company aircraft maintenance records.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
Julian felt his stomach tighten.
“Which aircraft?”
“Your Gulfstream.”
Julian had planned to use it for the honeymoon.
“Who accessed them?”
Marcus turned the laptop.
The login belonged to a Hale employee.
Thomas Reed.
Head of aviation maintenance.
Julian frowned.
“Tom has worked for us fifteen years.”
“He may not know why the records were requested.”
“Find out.”
Marcus closed the laptop.
“You understand what this means.”
“Yes.”
“They may not be planning to poison you.”
Julian looked out the window.
The Gulfstream sat thirty miles away in a private hangar.
The honeymoon destination was the Bahamas.
Open ocean.
A mechanical failure over water could erase a great deal of evidence.
Julian’s phone rang.
Vanessa.
He answered.
“Hi.”
Her voice sounded cheerful.
“I just finalized the flight plan.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“Perfect.”
“We leave immediately after the reception.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
Vanessa laughed.
“I promise you, Julian.”
“This is going to be a wedding nobody forgets.”
Julian looked at Marcus.
“No.”
May you like
He said quietly.
“They definitely won’t.”
