Chapter 9 - Dinner with a Murderer
Arthur returned to the penthouse at seven.
Vanessa greeted him wearing a red dress.
Candles burned in the dining room.
Two plates had been placed at opposite ends of the table.
“You’re late,” she said.
“I wasn’t aware we had plans.”
“I thought we could have dinner alone.”
Arthur removed his jacket.
“Where is Julian?”
“In Miami.”
Arthur almost admired the ease with which she lied.
He sat.
Vanessa poured wine into his glass.
“The chef made your favorite,” she said.
“Lamb?”
“Of course.”
Arthur watched her hands.
The glass vial was not visible.
She sat across from him.
For several minutes, they ate in silence.
Arthur remembered the first time he met Vanessa at a museum fundraiser. She had been twenty-nine, charming, observant, and entirely unafraid of him.
He had mistaken fearlessness for honesty.
“Why did you marry me?” he asked.
Vanessa smiled.
“That’s a strange question.”
“Indulge me.”
“I loved you.”
“Past tense?”
Her fork paused.
“I love you.”
“Then say it while looking at me.”
She raised her eyes.
“I love you.”
Arthur believed she had said the same words to men before him and would say them again after he was dead.
Vanessa reached for the wine bottle.
As she leaned across the table, her left hand moved near his water glass.
Arthur saw one drop fall from a ring on her finger.
The stone was hollow.
Ingenious.
She lifted the bottle.
Arthur switched the glasses while she turned away.
When she faced him again, her poisoned glass stood in front of her.
Vanessa picked it up.
Arthur watched the rim approach her lips.
At the final second, he said, “I know about Dorian Medical.”
The glass stopped.
Vanessa slowly lowered it.
“What?”
“You were twelve.”
Her face emptied of expression.
“You participated in an unauthorized trial.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I found your name.”
“Where?”
“In Evelyn’s ledger.”
The mask cracked.
Only slightly.
But Arthur saw the frightened child beneath the polished woman.
“You found it?” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“Where is it?”
“Safe.”
“E said it was destroyed.”
Arthur leaned forward.
“So you do know Eleanor.”
Vanessa realized her mistake.
She stood.
Arthur remained seated.
“Sit down.”
“Don’t order me.”
“You came to my home, entered my bed, took my name, and spent years waiting for the opportunity to kill me. I think I’ve earned one honest conversation.”
Her eyes hardened.
“You bought Dorian Medical.”
“I did.”
“You protected the people who experimented on children.”
“I did not know.”
“You didn’t want to know.”
Arthur felt Evelyn’s old accusation return.
You care more about winning than knowing what you won.
Vanessa continued.
“My mother signed papers she couldn’t read. They gave her ten thousand dollars. For two years, they injected me with drugs that caused seizures, blackouts, and hallucinations.”
Arthur remained silent.
“Julian was eight,” she said. “He stopped speaking for six months after one trial.”
“I’m sorry.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Sorry?”
“I cannot change what happened.”
“No. But you became rich from the patents.”
“I shut the program down after the acquisition.”
“After the valuable research had already been completed.”
Arthur stood.
“If you wanted justice, you could have brought me the evidence.”
“Justice?” Vanessa’s voice shook. “Men like you own justice.”
“Then why wait ten years after meeting me?”
Her answer came softly.
“Because Eleanor promised the ledger would expose everyone.”
“And you believed her.”
“She saved us.”
“No. She used you in the trials and then convinced you I was responsible.”
Vanessa flinched.
Arthur saw doubt.
A tiny fracture.
He pushed harder.
“Eleanor founded Dorian. She authorized the program.”
“She opposed it.”
“The ledger says otherwise.”
“You’re lying.”
“Ask her why your mother was paid from Eleanor’s personal account.”
Vanessa stared at him.
The room became silent.
Then Arthur lifted his water glass.
“To justice.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
She knew which glass he held.
“Arthur, don’t.”
He drank.
For one second, panic crossed her face.
Then relief.
Then something worse.
Arthur placed the empty glass on the table.
“You switched them,” she said.
“Yes.”
Vanessa looked at her untouched wine.
Arthur smiled.
“You were about to drink your own poison.”
She slapped him.
The sound echoed across the dining room.
Arthur did not move.
Vanessa backed away.
“You don’t know what you’ve done.”
“Neither do you.”
Her phone rang.
She answered immediately.
A distorted female voice came through the speaker.
“Is it finished?”
Vanessa looked at Arthur.
He could hear Eleanor’s mechanical tone.
Vanessa made a decision.
“Yes,” she said. “He drank it.”
Arthur stared at her.
The voice replied.
“Then call the ambulance in twelve minutes. Do not let him die at home.”
The call ended.
Arthur stepped closer.
“Why the hospital?”
Vanessa’s eyes filled with fear.
“I don’t know.”
“You do.”
“No.”
“You were never supposed to kill me.”
She looked toward the security camera in the corner.
Arthur followed her gaze.
The light was off.
Someone had disabled it.
Vanessa whispered, “You were supposed to survive long enough to sign something.”
A crash came from the kitchen.
Julian entered holding a pistol.
Behind him stood two men in hospital uniforms.
May you like
Julian pointed the weapon at Arthur.
“Time for your emergency.”
