“Oh, you’re right. It’s just that I believe Claire and Mrs. Simmons have become very close.”
Tony shrugged. “I don’t know. Claire complains about how much Courtney talks.” A small grin emerged. “Now, if that’s not the pot—”
“Anton, I see how you have this all planned. Nathaniel would be so proud. And you’re so brave! You’re willing to take the poison?”
His dark eyes darted from his near empty glass to Catherine’s questioning gaze. “I am. I don’t think it’ll be necessary, but if she takes the bait and drives away, I’ll drink it.” He swallowed the remaining contents of his tumbler. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
Catherine nodded. “It’s not like I can practice on anyone, but yes. I’m confident you’ll go unconscious and nothing more.”
“As in, I won’t die? Go ahead and say it, Marie. I’ve momentarily turned off the surveillance to the whole damn house. The whole system’s doing a reboot. No one will ever hear what we’re saying.”
“Anton, I don’t want to talk about you dying—that’s not going to happen. As you’ve said, you probably won’t even need to drink the coffee. But, if you do—”
“If I do, I’ll live to see the repercussions of Claire’s decision.”
Catherine nodded. “What about witnesses?”
“I have a web conference I’m doing from home tomorrow. If she gets in the car, I’ll be live in front of people all over the country.”
Catherine reached out and covered Tony’s hand. “If you’re sure you need to do this, I’ll help you. Just like I’ve helped in the past and how you’ve helped me. I won’t let anything happen to you. We’re too close to seeing the fulfillment of our goals.” She clapped her hands under her chin. “Just think—the end is so near. Only Emily will be left.”
Tony straightened his shoulders and sat taller. “Remember that—only Emily. Claire will be done. Nothing else is necessary; her name is off the list.”
“Yes, of course. That’s what you’d said, but if she doesn’t take the bait?”
His voice deepened. “Then her name is off the list. If she’s presented with a clear line to freedom and doesn’t take it. No! When she’s presented with this avenue and doesn’t take it, it’ll prove that Claire Nichols is gone.” He felt his eyes darken as he emphasized his final point, spacing each word. “Claire. Rawlings. Was. Never. On. Our. List.”
Catherine stood. “Yes, of course. Now, how much longer until the cameras turn back on? I’ll get things set in the kitchen.”
Tony glanced at his watch. “You have about ten minutes.”
Walking toward the door, she said, “I’ll have it ready.”
Looking into his empty tumbler, Tony’s mind filled with images of him and his wife. They were memories of private times, times of comfort and companionship. He’d never had a person in his life before. He’d never wanted to be near someone or please someone. He had to know that, no matter what, he could trust this person. Why, oh why had that person been Claire? Of all of the people in the world, why did it have to be one of the people he’d promised to bring down?
Closing his eyes, Tony remembered Claire after her accident. He had brought her down, but in true Claire fashion, she rebounded. That strength and resilience amazed him. If she failed this impending examination, would she rebound?
He didn’t want to think about it; instead, he imagined their future. Claire would pass. She wouldn’t take the bait.
Feeling a bit more confident, Tony walked back to his desk and searched travel sites. Claire enjoyed travel. She didn’t know that she was facing a life-changing test, but when she passed, he wanted to reward her. Maybe England? They’d talked about that. No, it was January. The United Kingdom would be cold. A grin surfaced as he thought about her likes and dislikes—she liked sun. He entered tropical beaches into the search engine. Tony would take her someplace warm. If she asked why, he’d say it was because she was upset about her brother-in-law; however, he’d know the real reason: it was her positive consequence.
When Tony crawled back into his bed, he slid behind Claire’s sleeping body and wrapped her in his arms. She fit perfectly as he was drawn to her radiating warmth. Gently kissing her hair, he tasted her perfume as his hands wandered her curves, caressing her soft skin. Her soft murmurs filled his heart with hope as she settled into his embrace. Smiling, Tony imagined that in a few days he’d have his wife on a sunny beach with nothing more than a bikini—maybe not even that. Those images and more filled his mind as he drifted off to sleep.
When he woke, Tony lingered longer than usual in the warmth of their bed. Being much too early for Claire to wake, he lifted his head, rested it on his elbow, and watched her sleep. Her lightened hair covered her pillow as renegade strands crisscrossed her cheek. Along with her exposed face, one bare shoulder was visible above the mound of luxurious blankets. Tony leaned closer, kissed her forehead, and watched in amusement as her nose wrinkled. Lightly, he kissed her again. This time he was rewarded with the most beautiful moan as she stretched and turned toward him. Although Claire was still sound asleep, she subconsciously responded to his touch. He wanted to wake her, but he feared that if her warm, soft skin touched his and they connected their bodies, as they’d been connected the night before, he wouldn’t be able to carry out his plan.