Chapter 12 - The Bait
Setting the trap required precision. I needed to lure Daniel out of his fortress and into a controlled environment where his guard would be down. The private recovery clinic, with its serene gardens and strict security protocols, was the perfect stage. He already believed I was broken and heavily medicated here.
I took back my cell phone from the nurse's station and typed out a single, calculated text message to my husband.
Daniel. The doctors lowered my medication today. I remember something from that night at the lake house. Something about the alarms. I want to talk to you privately. Just us. Please.
I hit send and waited.
The response came less than ten minutes later. He couldn't resist the threat. If I remembered something, I was a loose end that needed to be managed or eliminated.
I'll be there tomorrow at 2 PM. Don't talk to the doctors.
The next afternoon, the weather was beautiful, completely at odds with the darkness of the day. I sat on a wrought-iron bench in the clinic's quiet, walled garden. The black mourning brooch was pinned securely to the collar of my oversized sweater, its hidden camera lens aimed perfectly at the empty chair across from me.
May you like
Behind the thick ivy of the garden wall, hidden from sight, two seasoned homicide detectives sat in an unmarked van, wearing headphones. They were patched directly into the brooch’s live audio feed, holding their breath.
Daniel arrived right on time. He strolled through the garden gates wearing expensive sunglasses, a casual tailored jacket, and an aura of absolute confidence. He looked completely unbothered by the tragedy he had caused.
