Chapter 2 - The Woman Who Thought She Had Won
Victoria left the hospital at 9:15 p.m.
She didn't drive home.
She drove to a restaurant overlooking the Chicago River.
A man was waiting for her.
Raymond Price.
He was forty-three, handsome, confident, and completely comfortable with other people's money.
He stood when Victoria approached.
“You look happy.”
“I am.”
She sat down.
“How long?”
“Five days.”
Raymond's smile widened.
“You're certain?”
“The doctor said five days.”
“And Jonathan?”
“He knows he's dying.”
Raymond poured her wine.
“Does he suspect?”
Victoria laughed.
“Jonathan suspects nothing.”
She leaned back.
“He thinks I'm devastated.”
Raymond shook his head.
“You're good.”
“I had four years of practice.”
They clinked glasses.
“To us.”
“To $82 million.”
Meanwhile, back at the hospital, Jonathan was awake.
Marcus Hale sat beside the window.
Daniel stood near the door.
Lucas entered quietly.
“Mr. Mercer.”
Jonathan looked at him.
“Did you do what I asked?”
Lucas nodded.
“Your attorney's instructions are in place.”
“Good.”
Lucas hesitated.
“There is something else.”
“What?”
“I found something strange.”
Jonathan sat up slightly.
“What?”
Lucas lowered his voice.
“Your wife asked a nurse about your medication schedule.”
Marcus looked at Daniel.
“When?”
“Several times.”
Jonathan's expression hardened.
“Did she ask what you gave me?”
“No.”
“She asked what time the medication was administered.”
Marcus wrote something down.
“Anything else?”
Lucas nodded.
“She also asked how long certain medications remain detectable.”
The room went silent.
Marcus stood.
“Now we have something.”
Jonathan's heart began racing.
Marcus immediately noticed.
“Relax.”
Jonathan took a slow breath.
“I've spent months thinking my heart was failing.”
Marcus replied, “Maybe it wasn't.”
The next morning, Marcus arranged for an independent medical review.
Jonathan's blood samples were secured.
The hospital's pharmacy records were obtained.
Everything was handled quietly.
No one informed Victoria.
At 10:30, she arrived carrying a small bag.
She smiled at the nurses.
“I'm just here to see my husband.”
The nurse smiled.
“She'll be fine.”
Victoria entered.
Jonathan was lying still.
She approached him.
“Good morning.”
He opened his eyes.
“Victoria.”
She sat beside him.
“How are you feeling?”
“Not good.”
She smiled.
“I'm sorry.”
Then she leaned close.
“Only a few more days.”
Jonathan stared at her.
“You seem… happy.”
Victoria froze.
Then she laughed.
“Happy?”
“Yes.”
“I'm just trying to stay positive.”
Jonathan closed his eyes.
“Of course.”
She held his hand.
“You should rest.”
After several minutes, she left.
The moment the door closed, Marcus stepped inside.
“You heard her.”
Jonathan nodded.
“I heard.”
“She's confident.”
“Too confident.”
Marcus looked at the surveillance report.
“She made three calls from the hospital.”
“To Raymond?”
“One to him.”
Jonathan's jaw tightened.
“What did they discuss?”
“Nothing we can prove yet.”
Jonathan looked at Daniel.
“Is the new trust active?”
“Yes.”
“And Victoria?”
“She has no idea.”
“Good.”
That evening, Jonathan received another medical update.
The doctors were confused.
His condition had not improved.
But it hadn't deteriorated as rapidly as expected either.
One specialist requested additional testing.
Another questioned the original diagnosis.
Jonathan listened carefully.
Then he looked at Marcus.
“Something's wrong.”
Marcus nodded.
“That's what we're trying to find out.”
For the first time, the possibility entered Jonathan's mind.
Maybe he wasn't dying.
Maybe someone had been making him sick.
May you like
And if that was true, then five days wasn't a deadline.
It was a countdown to the moment the person responsible realized her victim was still alive.
