Chapter 5 - The Web Tightens
Eric arrived at the hospital at noon carrying a glossy legal folder. He looked visibly frayed around the edges. Dark violet half-moons hung beneath his eyes, and his hands twitched nervously whenever the door swung open.
""How are you feeling, sweetie?"" he asked, dropping a kiss on my cheek that took every ounce of my willpower not to wipe away with the back of my hand.
""A little clearer today,"" I answered, keeping my voice soft and obedient. ""The doctor said they’re scaling back the heavy narcotics so I can start physical therapy on Monday.""
Eric swallowed hard, shifting his weight. ""That's amazing news, babe. Really. But... listen, we have a minor logistical hurdle at home.""
""What do you mean?""
He opened the folder, pulling out several official-looking documents from our bank and an attorney's office. ""Because you're incapacitated, the medical bills are starting to pile up from the first two surgeries. The hospital’s billing department called me this morning. They need a deposit on the orthopedic implants, and our primary account is running low because of my payroll delays.""
""Oh no,"" I said, widening my eyes with faux distress. ""How much do they need?""
""About fifteen thousand dollars,"" Eric said smoothly, though a tiny drop of sweat beaded near his hairline. ""I know you keep emergency cash and your grandmother’s bearer bonds in the fireproof safe behind the closet mirror. But it requires your master PIN and the backup physical key. If you give me the key and the passcode, I can run home, grab the cash, pay the hospital billing desk, and take care of everything before you have to worry.""
He slid a glossy pen into my hand along with a temporary power-of-attorney authorization.
""Just sign this, Maya,"" he coaxed, his voice dropping into that familiar, honeyed cadence he had used when he proposed to me seven years ago on the beach. ""Let me take the burden off your shoulders. You just focus on walking again.""
I looked at the document. It was a total grant of authority over all my assets, personal accounts, and properties. If I signed it, Eric wouldn't just empty the safe—he could liquidate my mother's estate trust before the police could freeze the accounts.
""Of course,"" I said gently. ""You've been carrying so much, Eric. I’m so sorry you have to deal with this alone.""
I took the pen. With deliberate clumsiness, I scribbled a jagged, illegible signature across the bottom line, purposely altering the curve of my surname so that the bank's automated verification would flag it as irregular.
""The key is hidden in the lining of my leather makeup pouch in my overnight bag,"" I told him, looking straight into his eyes. ""And the PIN is 0-8-1-4.""
August 14th. The date of our wedding.
Eric smiled, a flash of predatory relief breaking through his exhaustion. ""Thank you, sweetheart. You have no idea how much this helps. I’ll run home right now, handle the safe, and come straight back to stay with you tonight.""
""Wait,"" I called out as he reached for the door handle. ""Take Jenna with you. She mentioned she needed to pick up fresh clothes from her apartment anyway, and you shouldn't be driving while you're this exhausted. Let her drive your car.""
Eric hesitated for a fraction of a second, then nodded eagerly. ""Good idea. I'll call her on my way down.""
As soon as the door closed, I pressed the emergency call button on my bed console.
Detective Walsh stepped out from the nursing station alcove where he had been waiting with his radio headset.
May you like
""They're heading to the house,"" I told him. ""Both of them.""
""Units are already in position around your street,"" Walsh said, pulling his tactical jacket on. ""We have surveillance vans on both ends of the cul-de-sac. The moment Eric opens that safe with the marked bills we planted inside, the warrant goes active.""
