Chapter 4 - SHE STOPPED ACTING AFRAID
Julian approached with the syringe.
Emma stood.
Slowly.
“Put that down.”
He actually laughed.
It was the first time she had ever given him a direct order.
“Excuse me?”
“I said put it down.”
Julian stared at her as if the furniture had started talking.
Then anger replaced surprise.
“You spent two years pretending.”
Emma didn’t answer.
He moved closer.
“What are you?”
“Your wife.”
“Don’t.”
“Legally, I am.”
“Who sent you?”
“No one sent me.”
He lifted the syringe.
“I can make you very cooperative.”
Emma’s eyes went to the needle.
“What’s in it?”
“Enough.”
“Enough for what?”
“To calm you down.”
“Like Sarah?”
The room went silent.
Julian’s face emptied.
Emma realized she had crossed the line.
There was no going back.
Julian whispered, “What did you say?”
She stepped out of her heels.
His eyes dropped to her bare feet.
Then came back up.
“My name is Emma Reeves.”
Julian stopped breathing.
“Sarah was my sister.”
For the first time since she had known him, genuine fear entered his eyes.
Only for a second.
Then rage swallowed it.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“You planned this?”
“For a long time.”
Julian rushed her.
He expected a frightened bride.
He met a trained fighter.
Emma pivoted.
Caught his wrist.
Redirected his momentum.
Julian slammed shoulder-first into the side of the bed.
The syringe flew across the carpet.
He shouted in shock more than pain.
Emma stepped back immediately.
Hands raised.
She didn’t chase him.
Didn’t strike him.
“Stay down.”
Julian looked up.
His expression was almost comical.
“You…”
He pushed himself up.
“You touched me.”
Emma stared at him.
“You came at me with a needle.”
“You think you can fight me?”
“I don’t want to.”
He charged again.
This time harder.
Emma trapped his arm, turned her hips and dropped him onto the carpet with controlled force.
Julian gasped.
She released him instantly.
“Stop.”
He rolled onto one knee.
“How long?”
“What?”
“How long have you known how to do that?”
“Most of my life.”
He stared at the shy country bride he believed he had created.
She was gone.
Emma reached behind her neck and unclasped the diamond necklace.
Julian’s eyes locked onto it.
She held up the tiny transmitter.
“This is why I needed you to talk.”
His face changed.
“Police?”
Emma said nothing.
Julian lunged for the necklace.
She moved back.
Too late.
His hand caught the chain.
Diamonds snapped across the floor.
The transmitter bounced under the dresser.
A sharp burst of static filled Ortiz’s surveillance headphones.
Then silence.
“Emma?”
Ortiz grabbed the radio.
“Emma, respond.”
Nothing.
Bell looked at her.
“Do we move?”
“We lost audio.”
“You don’t have the distress phrase.”
Ortiz stared at the silent waveform.
Upstairs, Julian realized the same thing.
He looked at the broken necklace.
Then at Emma.
And smiled.
“They can’t hear you anymore.”
Emma’s stomach dropped.
Julian pressed a button on the wall.
Metal security shutters began sliding over the penthouse windows.
Another button.
The elevator shut down.
Another.
The phone lines died.
Julian walked toward a hidden control panel.
“You trained for two years?”
Emma backed toward the bedroom.
He smiled.
“I built this place for twenty.”
May you like
Then the penthouse lights went red.
And every electronic door locked at once.
