Chapter 7 - Cassandra Wakes
Cassandra opened her eyes two days later.
Julian was beside her hospital bed.
She stared at him through the oxygen mask.
“Julian?”
“I am here.”
Her lips moved.
“I'm sorry.”
“You were poisoned.”
“I know.”
“Who did it?”
Cassandra closed her eyes.
“I don't know.”
Julian waited.
Then she whispered,
“Thomas.”
Julian leaned closer.
“What about him?”
“He brought the champagne.”
Julian said nothing.
Cassandra's eyes filled with tears.
“But he wasn't trying to kill me.”
Julian froze.
“What?”
“He warned me.”
She reached weakly toward the table.
Julian gave her the phone.
Cassandra unlocked it.
There was a message.
Do not drink from the left glass.
She had ignored it.
“Who sent this?”
“I don't know.”
Julian stared at the number.
Blocked.
He looked back at Cassandra.
“You were poisoned because someone wanted to scare me.”
She nodded.
Then she whispered,
“They mentioned Claire.”
Julian’s face hardened.
“What did they say?”
“That the missing woman knew where the money was.”
“What money?”
Cassandra shook her head.
“I don't know.”
A nurse entered.
“Her blood pressure is dropping.”
Julian stepped back.
Cassandra grabbed his wrist.
“Julian.”
He looked at her.
“If Claire is alive, do not trust the person who brings her back.”
Then she released him.
Julian stared at the door after the nurse pushed him out.
The warning stayed with him.
He had spent four years wanting Claire returned.
Now he understood.
Someone else wanted it too.
May you like
And that person had a plan.
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