Chapter 4 - The House of CardsSaturday morning dawned bright and crisp over our sprawling suburban estate in the North Shore.
According to Richard’s carefully scripted timeline, I was supposed to wake up in a haze of drugged confusion, stumble down to the kitchen, discover the planted pills and whiskey glass, and suffer a hysterical breakdown in front of their hand-picked private physician.
Instead, I sat in my private home office on the second floor, sipping hot black coffee while watching the interior security feeds on my monitor.
At 8:00 AM sharp, the front door unlocked.
Richard walked in, wearing his signature tailored weekend blazer, carrying a bag of fresh pastries from the artisanal bakery down the street. He looked relaxed, confident, and entirely pleased with himself.
“Evelyn? Honey, are you awake?” Richard called out loudly, projecting his voice so the hallway microphones could catch his theatrical concern.
He pushed open the kitchen door, walking right toward the spot where Vanessa had left the whiskey glass and the prescription pills the night before.
I watched through the camera as Richard stopped dead in his tracks.
The whiskey glass was gone. The pills were gone. The kitchen island was wiped down to a pristine, mirror-like shine, and Rosa, our longtime housekeeper, was standing by the stove quietly brewing fresh coffee.
Richard’s charming smile vanished instantly. He spun around, his eyes darting toward the security camera in the corner.
“Rosa!” Richard snapped, his voice tight with sudden panic. “Where is the glass that was on the counter? Where did the items go?”
Rosa turned around, her face a mask of innocent confusion. “Mr. Carter? I don't know what you’re talking about. I came in through the side entrance this morning just like Mrs. Carter instructed me, and the kitchen was completely spotless. Did you leave something out?”
Richard clenched his jaw, swallowing hard. He pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and stormed out toward the patio.
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I didn't wait to hear his frantic call to Vanessa. I picked up my own phone and called Miriam.
“Phase one is complete, Miriam,” I said smoothly. “The trap is empty. Now let’s begin freezing their liquidity.”
