Chapter 6 - FRIDAY NIGHT
I canceled dinner with Kate but told no one.
Then I made the house look empty.
At six-thirty Friday evening, Mom took Emma to Kate’s place.
I parked my car two blocks away and returned through the back gate.
Officer Jensen hated the idea.
So did I.
But he agreed to have an unmarked unit nearby after the custody documents, forged school form, and planted medication.
At 7:18, headlights swept across the living room wall.
A dark sedan stopped outside.
Alan Price stepped out.
He was not alone.
A woman in navy scrubs followed with a medical bag.
They used Ryan’s key. I recorded from the dark kitchen.
Alan whispered, “She’s supposed to be at dinner.”
“Why are we here?” she asked.
“To document the environment.”
“You said there would be an incident.”
“There will be.”
My skin went cold.
Alan walked toward the bar cabinet.
He opened it and placed an empty wine bottle on the counter.
Then he scattered two glasses near the sink.
The woman stared at him.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving context.”
“That’s not context. That’s staging.”
Alan’s voice hardened. “You’re being paid for an evaluation, Dr. Bell.”
Dr. Bell.
So this was the evaluation.
She stepped backward.
“I’m leaving.”
Alan grabbed her wrist.
The lights came on.
I stood in the doorway.
“Good idea.”
Alan went white.
Dr. Bell jerked free.
Behind me, Officer Jensen and another officer entered through the back door.
Alan looked at the wine bottle.
Then at my phone.
Then at the police.
He knew.
“I can explain.”
“Please do,” Jensen said.
Dr. Bell pointed at Alan.
“He told me Mrs. Mercer was intoxicated and threatening her child.”
I stared at Alan.
“You came here to manufacture a scene?”
He said nothing.
His phone buzzed on the counter.
The screen lit up.
One message.
RYAN: IS SHE THERE YET?
Jensen saw it.
So did I.
Alan reached for the phone.
Jensen got there first.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
RYAN: MOM SAYS LAUREN TOOK THE BAIT.
