CLAIRE: Good. Go home and rest. We’ll handle everything tomorrow.
I locked the screen.
Daniel whispered, “What are they planning?”
I looked toward the rain beyond the windows and remembered the power-of-attorney papers Evan had slid across my breakfast table that morning.
“They think tomorrow belongs to them,” I said. “Let’s make sure it doesn’t.”
“And make sure they never forget tonight.”
PART 2
The laboratory confirmed that the drink had been tampered with. Because of my medical condition, the results suggested it could have caused serious complications while appearing to be only an unfortunate medical incident.
That was his first mistake.
His second was assuming I did not know how to preserve evidence properly.
By dawn, Detective Ortiz had the sealed sample, restaurant surveillance, witness statements, and a warrant request already moving forward. She told me to behave normally.
So I did.
At ten, Claire and Evan arrived carrying coffee, pastries, and a private nurse I had never seen before.
Claire hurried toward me with rehearsed concern.
“Mom, you look exhausted.”
“I slept deeply,” I said.
Evan glanced at Claire, satisfied.
“That proves you need help. Last night was frightening. You were confused at dinner.”
“I was?”
“You repeated yourself. You nearly wandered into traffic.”
The lie came easily.
Practiced.
Claire took my hand.
“We found a memory-care residence. Just temporarily.”
Then Evan set documents on the table: durable power of attorney, asset-management authority, and consent for residential placement.
He tapped the signature line.
“We’ll protect everything,” he said.
