Chapter 14 - The Last Contingency
Ethan stared at the insurance application until the words blurred.
The policy had been issued four months earlier.
His signature was forged.
The medical exam had been waived using executive underwriting privileges arranged by Thomas's office.
Richard stood beside him on the lake house porch.
"Say something," Ethan whispered.
Richard looked out at the water.
"What would help?"
"Tell me I'm an idiot."
"You aren't."
"I married someone who planned my death."
"That doesn't make you stupid."
"I hit you because she cried."
Richard turned then.
"That part was stupid."
Ethan laughed once, then covered his face.
It became a sob.
Richard hesitated before putting one hand on his shoulder.
Not a full embrace.
Not yet.
But something.
Dana interrupted gently.
"There's another file."
A spreadsheet listed dates, medications, alcohol intake, and planned dosage adjustments.
Richard's name appeared first.
Ethan's second.
The final line read:
AFTER MONDAY - CARBON MONOXIDE / GARAGE / APPEAR ACCIDENTAL.
Ethan went pale.
The garage at his house had recently been renovated.
Sophia had insisted on replacing the ventilation controls.
Police searched it that night.
Behind a wall panel, they found a remote relay connected to the ventilation fan.
It could be disabled from a phone.
In a cabinet beside Ethan's vintage car sat two sealed bottles of whiskey - the same brand Sophia poured when he could not sleep.
One bottle tested positive for the sedative.
Richard's anger finally broke through.
"She was going to kill my son."
Ethan looked at him.
It was the first time since the slap that Richard had sounded less like the man Ethan had failed and more like his father.
Then Dana's phone rang.
May you like
Sophia had disappeared from police custody during transport to a hospital evaluation.
And no one knew where she had gone.
