Chapter 1 - The Morning Performance
The sun crept through the blinds of the master bedroom, casting long gray shadows across the floorboards. I sat in the armchair in the corner, fully dressed, watching Elena sleep. She looked so peaceful, tangled in expensive silk sheets that I had paid for from five thousand miles away. When her eyes flickered open, she smiled instantly, stretching her arms out like a contented cat.
“Good morning, darling,” she purred, her voice dripping with practiced sweetness. “Did you sleep well? You must be exhausted from the flight.”
“I slept enough,” I replied, keeping my tone flat and unreadable. I watched her swing her legs out of bed, her silk robe slipping over her shoulders. Everything about her routine was calculated to project domestic perfection.
“I’m going to make coffee and some of those blueberry pancakes you love,” she said, walking over to kiss my cheek. I had to force my muscles not to flinch when her lips touched my skin. The scent of her expensive perfume made my stomach turn, knowing that same hand had slapped my mother’s face just hours before I arrived.
“Sounds great,” I lied. “While you do that, I’m going to check on Mom.”
Elena’s posture stiffened for a fraction of a second. She turned back, her smile slightly strained. “Oh, Marcus, let her sleep. The morning is always hard for her. The doctor said we shouldn't overstimulate her brain before noon. Besides, Julian is stopping by later with some paperwork for the estate. I want us to have a nice, quiet morning together before we start dealing with all the legalities.”
“Right. The paperwork,” I said, offering her a nod that she interpreted as agreement. “I’ll just grab a shower then.”
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As soon as she left the room, heading downstairs to clatter pots and pans in the kitchen, I pulled my phone from my pocket. The upload to the secure cloud server was complete. I sent a single encrypted text to Inspector Vance: Tonight at 7:00 PM. Have two transport vehicles ready. My cousin Julian will be here too.
I walked into the bathroom, turned the shower on high to drown out the noise, and stared at my reflection in the mirror. Four years of working in high-security environments had taught me how to wear a mask. Today, I would give Elena the best performance of her life, right up until the handcuffs clicked around her wrists.
