Chapter 7 - The Secret Directive
Maria grabbed the iron bars, her hands trembling violently.
"She knew?!" Maria gasped, her breath catching in her throat.
"She knew her husband was poisoning her?!"
"She suspected it for months," Julian Ross said, keeping his voice down so the guard couldn't hear.
"She hired me to set up a hidden contingency plan in case she fell ill mysteriously."
"Then you have to save her right now!" Maria pleaded desperately.
"Arthur has her locked in the basement of the estate!"
"He's going to kill her tonight!"
Julian pulled a small leather ledger from inside his coat and flipped it open.
"I just posted your bail, Maria," Julian said calmly.
"The judge released you into my custody thirty minutes ago."
"We don't have time to celebrate," Maria urged, stepping out of the cell.
"He lied to the police!"
"He told everyone she died at the funeral chapel!"
"The police won't help us without hard evidence, Maria," Julian said, his eyes narrowing with icy resolve.
"Arthur has paid off the police chief, the medical examiner, and the hospital board."
"If we go through official channels, Emily will be dead before we finish filing the paperwork."
Maria looked at the lawyer with sudden, sharp realization.
"Then what are we going to do?" Maria asked.
"We go back to the estate ourselves," Julian replied grimly.
"And we break into Arthur's vault before he finishes her off."
Back in the dark estate basement, Dr. Vance stepped back into the spotlight carrying a dark blue tray.
On the tray rested a heavy glass syringe with a thick, ominous needle.
"Is the solution mixed?" Arthur asked without turning around.
"Yes," Dr. Vance said, his hand shaking slightly as he picked up the syringe.
"This dosage is irreversible, Arthur."
"Once I push this plunger, her lungs will stop moving in less than sixty seconds."
"Do it," Arthur commanded coldly.
May you like
"And don't hesitate."
Dr. Vance stepped up to Emily's paralyzed form and grabbed her limp arm.
