Chapter 8 - The Trap Spreads
Julian and Vanessa entered the dimly lit bedroom, closing the door behind them. Julian set his briefcase on the nightstand and pulled out a thick stack of legal documents, a red ink pad for thumbprints, and a heavy down pillow.
"Is she fully sedated?" Julian whispered, turning to Vanessa.
"She drank the tea hours ago," Vanessa replied, stepping toward the bed. "She hasn't moved a muscle."
Julian opened the land transfer deed, turning to the final signature page. "Good. Hold her hand steady. I need a clean thumbprint on the trust release form, then her signature on the deed transfer. Once that's done, I'll place the pillow over her face. It will take less than two minutes. The coroner will assume her weak heart finally gave out from her 'dementia' stress."
Vanessa reached out and pulled back the heavy blanket—and froze.
Instead of my mother's frail body, her hands touched the rigid plastic of a medical mannequin wearing a gray wig.
Vanessa gasped, stumbling backward in horror. "What... what is this?!"
Julian stared at the mannequin, his face turning pale as paper. "What the hell is going on, Vanessa?!"
"I... I don't know!" Vanessa shrieked, her voice cracking with terror. "She was here! I saw her!"
Suddenly, the overhead lights in the bedroom slammed on with blinding brilliance.
The heavy oak door of the bedroom was kicked wide open, slamming against the wall with a deafening crash.
I walked into the room, wearing my overcoat, my hands tucked calmly into my pockets.
Vanessa’s eyes bulged out of her head. "M-Marcus?!"
Julian panicked, reaching into his coat pocket for a weapon, but before his hand could even enter his jacket, three armed SWAT officers burst through the doorway, their assault rifles raised, green laser sights painting red targets across Julian’s chest and forehead.
"POLICE! DROP TO THE GROUND! DROP TO THE GROUND NOW!" Detective Miller’s voice thundered through the house.
Julian instantly collapsed to his knees, throwing his hands into the air, trembling violently. "Don't shoot! Don't shoot! I'm a lawyer! I was forced into this!"
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"You cowardly bastard!" Vanessa screamed, turning on Julian like a wild animal. "You planned the whole thing!"
"BE QUIET! BOTH OF YOU ON THE FLOOR!" an officer barked, forcing Vanessa down onto the carpet and pulling her arms behind her back, snapping heavy steel handcuffs around her wrists.
