Catherine, listen to me very carefully. Don’t tell anyone where I am. Not the police.
Not your father. I’ll come soon, but there’s something I need to do first. And please, be careful.
Don’t be alone with your dad. What? Mom, you’re scaring me. Why would I be scared of dad? Just do what I say.
Trust me. I’ll explain everything when I get there. Right now, I need to make sure you’re safe.
I hung up and turned to Chloe. Samantha’s awake. She saw me switch the glasses.
She told the police. Shit, Chloe muttered. That changes everything.
Now they have a witness. You’re in real danger, Em. Not just me, I said.
My voice trembling. Catherine too. If James finds out Samantha told the truth about him, if he realizes his whole plan is unraveling.
He’s desperate. He might do anything. Then we have to move.
Now, Chloe said, resolute. We go straight to the police. Captain Ryan.
We show him the documents. Tell him everything. They have to protect you and Catherine.
I nodded, trying to steal myself. You’re right. There’s no other choice.
We left the house and got into Chloe’s car. I was too shaken to drive myself. On the way to the station, I tried calling Robert, but there was no answer.
Maybe he was at the hospital with Samantha, or worse, maybe James had already found out about his betrayal. The police station greeted us with its usual bustle. The officer at the front desk looked at us with the tired indifference of someone who’d seen it all.
How can I help you? I need to speak with Captain Ryan, I said. It’s urgent. Captain Ryan is busy.
If you’re here to file a report, I can take it. No, it has to be him. It’s about the poisoning case, Samantha Prescott.
He should be familiar with it. At the mention of such a high-profile case, the officer straightened up noticeably. Wait here.
He picked up the internal phone, murmured something into the receiver, then nodded at us. Go ahead. Second floor, Office 206.
We climbed the stairs and found the right door. I knocked, my heart pounding in my chest. Come in, came a voice from inside.
Captain Ryan was a solid man in his 40s, with sharp eyes and streaks of gray at his temples. He was seated behind a desk cluttered with papers, typing quickly on his computer. Have a seat, he said without looking up.
What can I do for you? My name is Emily Prescott, I began, trying to steady my voice. I’m the wife of James Prescott and the sister-in-law of Samantha Prescott, the woman who was poisoned three days ago at the restaurant. That got his attention.
He looked up and studied my face. Emily Prescott. We’ve been trying to locate you.
Where have you been the past few days? At a friend’s, I said, nodding toward Chloe. After what happened at the restaurant, I was in shock. And after that.
Then I found out something that made me fear for my life. Ryan leaned forward, his expression sharpening. Go on.
I placed the folder Robert had given me on the desk. These are documents. Financial records from my husband’s business, insurance policies, photographs.
Everything that proves my husband, James Prescott, was planning to kill me. Ryan raised his eyebrows, but said nothing. He opened the folder and began reviewing the contents.
That night at the restaurant, I continued. I saw James pour something into my wine glass when he thought I wasn’t looking. I decided to switch glasses, mine with his sister Samantha’s.
I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t know how dangerous it might be. I just panicked and tried to protect myself.
Ryan looked up from the documents. You knowingly swapped the glasses, aware that yours had been tampered with. Yes, I lowered my eyes.
I know it wasn’t the right thing to do. I should have refused to drink or said something. But I was in shock.
I wasn’t thinking clearly. Samantha Prescott regained consciousness this morning, Ryan said. She claimed she saw you switch the glasses.
But she also said something else, she said your husband planned to kill you, and that she knew about it. I stared at him in disbelief. She admitted it.
But why? Maybe guilt. Maybe fear. The poisoning was severe.
She nearly died. Experiences like that tend to shift people. Ryan continued flipping through the documents.
This is all very serious, Emily. Attempted murder, conspiracy, financial fraud. I’ll need to take your official statement.
And we need to ensure your safety. My daughter, Catherine, she’s at the hospital. With Samantha and James.
I’m afraid for her. Ryan immediately picked up the phone. Get me the juvenile protection unit.
It’s urgent. She’s 19, I said quickly. She’s legally an adult.
He nodded and changed his directive. Then get the response team. We need a unit dispatched to Central Hospital, Samantha Prescott’s room.
The situation could be volatile. He hung up the phone and looked at me again. Don’t worry.
We’ll make sure your daughter is safe. Now, let’s start from the beginning. I want every detail.
For the next two hours, I told Captain Ryan everything. About my marriage to James. About his sister Samantha.
About how things had changed over the years. What I saw in the restaurant. My decision to switch the glasses.
The visit from the officer. Robert’s warning. My escape.
And finally, what I learned yesterday at the library. Ryan listened carefully, taking notes and occasionally asking follow-up questions. When I finished, he leaned back in his chair, looking at me thoughtfully.
It’s a complicated situation, but we do have evidence. The documents your father-in-law gave us. Samantha Prescott’s testimony.
The surveillance footage from the restaurant, we’ve already reviewed it. It clearly shows your husband putting something into your glass, and later, you switching it with Samantha’s. It aligns with your version of events.
What happens now? I asked. We’ll detain your husband for questioning. Given the severity of the allegations and the strength of the evidence, the court will likely hold him in custody during the investigation.
You and your daughter will be placed under protection. As for Samantha Prescott, based on her statement and her admission of involvement, she’ll also have to face charges, once she’s recovered. And me? I asked.
Will I be arrested for switching the glasses? Ryan hesitated. Technically, you acted in self-defense. You were responding to an immediate threat to your life.
But the final decision will rest with the prosecution and the court. Honestly, considering all the circumstances, I doubt you’ll face any serious charges. Still, we have to follow protocol.
Just then, another officer entered the room. Captain, the team has arrived at the hospital. But James Prescott isn’t there.
Neither is his daughter. I froze. What? Where are they? We’re still trying to confirm, the officer said.
Samantha Prescott is in her room under guard. The doctor said James left about an hour ago, right after Samantha gave her statement. He took the girl with him, told them they were heading home.
We need to find them now, Ryan said sharply. Alert all units. Check their residence, the airport, the train stations, he might be trying to flee.
My hands clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white. My daughter. He took my daughter.
We’ll find them, Ryan said firmly. He won’t get far. But I couldn’t calm down.
James was cornered. Desperate. What might he do? Where could he take Katherine? And for what reason? As a hostage? Or something else? And then it hit me.
The power of attorney. He still has it. The one Katherine signed, giving him control over her assets, including any inheritance she might receive.
If something happens to me, my share of the house goes to her, and he can access it. But now that his plan’s been exposed, that won’t work, Chloe said, speaking for the first time since we’d entered, her voice quiet but firm. He can’t hurt you now without getting caught.
Unless he’s planning something else, Ryan said grimly. Something we haven’t seen coming yet. At that moment, my phone rang.
James’s name lit up on the screen. I showed it to Captain Ryan. Answer it, he instructed.
Put it on speaker. Try to find out where he is and what he’s planning. And don’t mention the police.
I nodded and picked up the call, switching to speaker. James. Emily, his voice was oddly calm.
Finally. I was starting to get worried. Where’s Katherine? Is she with you? Yes, she’s with me.
She’s fine. Don’t worry. I want to talk to her.
Later. First, you and I need to talk. Just the two of us.
About what? My voice trembled, and I did everything I could to keep him from hearing the fear behind it. About our future. About what happened at the restaurant.
About what we’re going to do now. Samantha’s awake. She said a lot.
Yes, I know. Katherine called me. Then you understand, we need to meet.
Now. I’ll be waiting for you at the lake house. The one in the Hamptons.
Come alone. No police, no friends. Just you and me.
If you’re not here in an hour, or if I see any sign of cops. Keep paused. Let’s just say, there will be consequences.
You’re threatening Katherine. My voice broke. I’m saying we need to talk.
Privately. This is a family matter, Emily. And we’re going to handle it as a family.
All right, I said. I’ll come. One hour.
I’ll be waiting. He hung up. I turned to Ryan.
You heard him. He’s at the lake house. With Katherine.
And he wants me to come alone. It’s a trap, the captain said. He’s desperate, he’s cornered, and he’s dangerous.
I know. But I have to go. My daughter is there.
We’ll go with you. Discreetly. We’ll surround the house, be ready to act.
But you’re not going in there alone. It’s too risky. If he even suspects we’re involved, he could hurt Katherine.
We’ll be careful, Ryan assured me. Mateen knows how to stay invisible. But I won’t let you walk in there unprotected.
I knew Captain Ryan was right. James was cornered, and his entire plan was unraveling. He was capable of anything now.
But this was my daughter. I couldn’t just sit back and wait for the police to fix everything. All right, I agreed.
But let me talk to him. Maybe I can convince him to surrender peacefully. Ryan nodded.
We’ll give you that chance. But the moment there’s any sign of danger, we’re going in. No exceptions.
Over the next 20 minutes, the plan was laid out. I would drive to the lake house alone, just as James had instructed. The police would follow at a safe distance and surround the property, staying out of sight.
I’d be wired with a microphone so they could hear everything happening inside. If things went south, they’d intervene immediately. Before I left, Ryan gave me one final warning.
Don’t take unnecessary risks. This isn’t about being brave. Your job is to buy us time and, if possible, convince him to release your daughter.
We’ll handle the rest. I nodded, fully aware of what I was walking into. Chloe hugged me tightly before I stepped into the car.
Be careful. And remember, you’re stronger than you think. The drive to the lake house took about 40 minutes.
The whole way there, I was rehearsing what I’d say to James. How I’d look into the eyes of the man I’d loved for 20 years, the man who had tried to kill me. How I’d explain to Catherine that the father she’d worshiped her entire life was not the man she believed him to be.
The lake house greeted me with an eerie silence. The large, three-story stone house stood by the lake, surrounded by towering pines. A place that once felt cozy and serene now looked dark and foreboding.
James’ car was parked out front. So they were really here. I parked, checked that the microphone clipped inside my collar was working, and stepped out.
Taking a deep breath of the crisp forest air, I walked to the door. My hand was trembling as I rang the bell. It opened almost immediately.
James stood in the doorway. He looked tired and worn down, like someone who hadn’t slept in days. But his eyes were clear, steady, focused.
Emily, he said, stepping aside to let me in. I’m glad you came. Where’s Catherine? I asked, walking in and glancing around.
She’s upstairs. In her room. She’s exhausted from this whole circus.
I want to see her. You will. But first, let’s talk.
Come into the living room. I walked through the spacious hallway and into the living room. The large windows faced the lake, which now lay still like glass, reflecting the gray autumn sky.
James gestured for me to sit in one of the armchairs, but he remained standing. So, he began, his tone disturbingly casual, Samantha told the police she saw you switch glasses. And that I put something into yours.
She did, I replied. And it’s true. I saw you add something to my drink when you thought I wasn’t looking.
What was it, James? Poison. A sedative. He smiled, but the expression never reached his eyes.
A tranquilizer. Strong, but not lethal. At least not for a healthy person.
Though combined with alcohol, the effects could have been unpredictable. You wanted to kill me, I said. It wasn’t a question, it was a fact.
James shrugged. More like I wanted you to go into a deep sleep. In public.
With witnesses. It would have been humiliating, but not deadly. Then, maybe next time, under more convenient circumstances, something more effective.
More permanent. I stared at him, struggling to comprehend. He spoke of murder like someone discussing dinner plans.
Why, James? For the money. The insurance. Her.
I meant his mistress, the woman whose photos I’d seen in Robert’s folder. For all of it. The money.
The freedom. A new life. You know our marriage has been dead for years.
Emily. We’ve been living like roommates. A divorce would have been messy, and expensive.
I needed something clean and quick. Clean. Killing your wife is a clean solution.
Under the right conditions, yes. The business is collapsing, creditors breathing down my neck. And not the kind you negotiate with.
I needed cash. Fast. Your life insurance, your share of the house, your savings.
Everything that would have gone to Catherine, and by extension, to me, thanks to the power of attorney. And Samantha knew. She helped you.
Of course. We’ve always been closer to each other than to anyone else. She always had my back.
And she never liked you, you know that. What about your father? Did he know? James’ face twisted with anger. My father’s a traitor.
No, he didn’t know. At least not all of it. He suspected I was in trouble financially, but he didn’t know about the rest.
Not until recently. After the restaurant, he started poking around, asking questions. I’m sure he contacted you.
I don’t know where he is now. Probably at home. I doubt he has the guts to come out against me.
I’m still his son. And what do you plan to do now? After Samantha told the police everything. James walked over to the window, staring out at the lake.
The plan changed, but the goal’s the same. I need money. To start over.
And I still have leverage. Catherine. I said quietly.
You’re using our daughter as leverage. Not exactly. More like a partner.
She’s an adult, Emily. She can make her own choices. And she’s on my side.
She always has been. What did you tell her? What lies did you feed her? James turned to me, and for a moment, his smile looked almost genuine. I told her the truth.
That her mother tried to poison my sister. That you switched the glasses, knowing something was in yours. That you ran instead of staying to help Samantha.
That you’ve always envied our family, our status, our money. And now, you’re trying to destroy me to save yourself. And she believed you.
She really believes I’m capable of something like that. Not at first. But then Samantha confirmed she saw you switch the glasses.
Then the police started asking questions. And you vanished without a word. Yes, she started to believe.
I want to speak to her. Now. James nodded.
Of course. She’s upstairs in her room. Go ahead.
I’ll wait here. I climbed the stairs, my heart pounding. What was I going to say to my daughter? How would I explain everything? And after all her father had told her, would she even believe me? Catherine’s room was at the end of the hallway.
I knocked, but there was no response. I knocked again, louder. Still nothing.
I slowly pushed the door open and peeked inside. She wasn’t there. The bed was neatly made.
A bag sat on top of it, packed as if someone was preparing for a trip. On the nightstand, there was a glass of water and a pill bottle. I picked it up and read the label.
A strong sedative. I looked at the water. There was a chalky residue at the bottom.
A chill ran down my spine. I rushed to check the other rooms upstairs. All of them were empty.
Catherine was gone. Or… A terrifying thought struck me. I ran back downstairs, into the living room.
James stood by the window, his back to me, staring out at the lake. When he heard my footsteps, he turned around slowly. Where’s Catherine? I asked, a panic rising in my throat.
She’s not upstairs. Where is she? She’s exactly where she needs to be, he said calmly. What did you do to her? If you hurt her.
Me? Hurt my own daughter. He looked almost offended. Emily, she’s my flesh and blood.
I would never harm her. Then where is she? And why is there a bottle of sedatives in her room? Oh, that, he waved a hand dismissively. Just a mild tranquilizer.
She was really shaken up by everything. I gave her something to help her sleep and took her somewhere more peaceful. Where? Where did you take her? A safe place.
Somewhere she can wait out this chaos. Where she’ll be well taken care of. Stop playing games, James.
Where is our daughter? He looked at me with a slight smile, as if enjoying my panic. She’s on my yacht. Ten miles offshore.
With people I trust. They have clear instructions, if anything happens to me, or if I don’t contact them at the agreed time, they’ll take her far away. Somewhere you, and the police, won’t find her.
You kidnapped your own daughter. You’re insane. No.
I’m adapting to the situation. Plan A didn’t work out. This is Plan B. And in this plan, Catherine is the key.
What do you want? The same thing I’ve always wanted. Money. Freedom.
A fresh start. And you’re going to help me get it. How? Simple.
You’ll sign over all your assets to Catherine. Bank accounts, property, stocks, whatever you’ve got. Everything.
And since I have power of attorney, I’ll be able to access it all. And if I refuse? Then you’ll never see our daughter again. She’ll disappear forever.
I stared at the man I once loved, and didn’t recognize him at all. How had he become this? How could he use his own daughter in such a vile scheme? You’re bluffing, I said, trying to stay calm. You won’t hurt Catherine.
You said you love her. I do. But I love myself and my freedom more.
And if I have to choose between prison and vanishing somewhere new, even without her, I’ll choose the latter. You won’t stay hidden for long. The police will find you.
Maybe. But by then, I’ll be gone. With new papers.
A new life. You know how easy it is to buy a new identity on the black market? One with legit documents, a full backstory, even a credit history. It’s not that expensive.
Especially if you have the right connections. And I do. I was stalling for time, hoping the police were hearing everything through the mic and already preparing to act.
I just had to keep him talking, dig for details. So how do you imagine this working? I sign over everything, and you let Catherine go. Not exactly.
First, I make sure the transfers go through. That I can access everything. That might take a day or two.
Once I’m certain everything’s in place, I’ll let you know where to find her. Or maybe I’ll bring her myself. Depends on the situation.
And you expect me to just trust you? After everything you’ve done. You don’t have a choice, Emily. You either trust me, or risk never seeing our daughter again.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself and think clearly. James was cornered, but still dangerous. And he held the one thing I cared about most, Catherine.
Alright, I said finally. I’ll sign the papers. But first, I want to speak to Catherine.
I need to know she’s okay. James nodded. A reasonable request.
He pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and put it on speaker. Mike? How are our guests? All good, boss, a man’s voice answered. She’s still asleep.
What should I tell her when she wakes up? Nothing. Just stick to the plan. I’ll contact you later.
He ended the call and looked back at me. See? She’s fine. Just sleeping.
The sedative will wear off soon. That’s not proof. I want to talk to her myself.
Hear her voice. Later. When she wakes up.
Right now, we have paperwork to deal with. Everything’s ready, all I need is your signature. He walked over to a desk, opened the briefcase sitting there, and pulled out a folder filled with documents.
It’s all straightforward. A transfer of funds from all your accounts to Catherine’s. A deed gifting your share of the house to her.
And a few other forms related to your assets. I stepped to the desk and began flipping through the documents. It was exactly what he said.
Money transfers, a gift deed, stock ownership forms. All made out in Catherine’s name. And what about Samantha? I asked, trying to stall for time.
She told the police about your plan. She betrayed you. James’s face twisted with anger.
Yes. She did. I didn’t expect that from her.
I always thought she’d stand by me, no matter what. But I guess staring death in the face changes people. She got scared and saved herself by turning me in.
And what are you going to do about her? Nothing. Let her live with her betrayal. Let her wake up every day knowing she almost killed her own brother by selling me out.
For someone like her, that’s worse than death. Just then, I heard something outside. A faint noise.
James heard it too. He tenched, stepped quickly to the window, and looked out. You didn’t come alone, he said, his voice turning cold and sharp.
Who’s out there? The police. I came alone. Just like you asked.
Don’t lie to me, he growled, grabbing my arm and squeezing until it hurt. I see them. In the trees.
They’re surrounding the house. You brought the police. He dragged me toward the window, forcing me to look.
And there they were, dark shapes moving between the trees. Officers taking positions around the house, thinking they were hidden. But they’d underestimated James’s vigilance.
You stupid fool, he hissed through clenched teeth. You thought they’d help you. Thought they’d save Catherine.
You’ll never see her again. He shoved me away and pulled out his phone. Mike? Initiate plan B. Now.
I’ll contact you when I can. No. I screamed, lunging for the phone.
Don’t hurt her, please. But it was too late. He had already ended the call and was now staring at me with cold fury.
You ruined everything. I gave you a chance to end this peacefully, and you brought the police. Now deal with the consequences.
What are they going to do to her? Where are they taking her? Somewhere you and your cop friends will never find her. Maybe South America. Maybe Asia.
Somewhere the laws are softer, and money solves most problems. She’s your daughter, James. How can you do this to her? I’m not doing anything to her.
You decided her fate, with your actions. This is on you, and no one else. Just then, Captain Ryan’s voice rang out from a loudspeaker outside.
James Prescott. The house is surrounded. Come out with your hands up.
Surrender now, and no one gets hurt. James laughed. See? They don’t even realize they’ve already lost their bargaining chip.
They still think Catherine’s here, that they can use her to control me. But she’s far away now, getting farther by the minute. I stared at him as a wave of fury surged inside me.
This man, who I had once loved, was a monster. He was willing to sacrifice his own daughter for money and freedom. He had tried to kill me, framed his own sister, and now threatened Catherine’s life.
You won’t get away with this, I said quietly. Even if you run, even if you disappear halfway across the world, I’ll find you. And I’ll bring her back.
