Chapter 3 - Someone Inside the House
Dominic read the message twice.
“Who brought this?”
“Left outside the gate,” Carmine said.
“Cameras?”
“Nothing.”
Dominic turned toward the window.
Six months earlier, his SUV had gone through a guardrail on a wet mountain road.
His driver died.
Dominic survived.
Barely.
Everyone believed speed and rain had caused it.
Dominic had never believed in coincidences.
“Check everyone.”
“I already started.”
“Everyone means everyone.”
Carmine hesitated.
“Including Fay?”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“Especially Fay.”
The following morning, Fay noticed immediately.
Two security guards stood outside the kitchen.
Another watched the rear entrance.
She found Dominic downstairs in his study.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“You doubled security because nothing happened?”
Dominic looked up.
“You said you don’t ask questions.”
“I lied.”
“You're improving.”
Fay placed his coffee down.
Dominic picked it up.
Then stopped.
“What?”
She frowned.
“You always smell it first.”
His eyes sharpened.
“You noticed that?”
“You do it every morning.”
Dominic set the cup down.
“Don’t touch it.”
Fay stared.
Carmine entered seconds later.
Dominic pointed toward the coffee.
“Take it.”
“For what?”
“Testing.”
Fay looked between them.
“You think somebody poisoned your coffee?”
“No.”
“That sounded very much like yes.”
Dominic wheeled toward her.
“From now on, you don't eat or drink anything prepared in this house unless Carmine clears it.”
Fay laughed.
Dominic didn't.
Her smile disappeared.
“You're serious.”
“Completely.”
“Why would anyone care what I eat?”
“Because they’ve noticed you.”
“Who?”
“People who notice anyone near me.”
Fay stepped closer.
“I’m your maid.”
“That doesn't matter anymore.”
Something in his voice silenced her.
That afternoon, Dominic's physical therapist arrived.
Fay was changing the bed linens when she heard an argument.
“Again,” Dr. Mercer said.
“No.”
“You asked me whether recovery was possible.”
“And you gave me your answer.”
“I said unlikely. Not impossible.”
Dominic laughed bitterly.
“You want me to spend six hours a day failing to move muscles that don't work?”
“I want you to stop deciding your future based on your worst day.”
“Get out.”
The therapist packed his bag.
At the door, he passed Fay.
“Good luck.”
“With what?”
“Him.”
After he left, Fay entered.
Dominic stared at her.
“Don't.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were going to.”
Fay collected a glass from the desk.
“What did the therapist want?”
“None of your business.”
“Fine.”
She walked away.
“Exercises.”
Fay turned.
Dominic looked irritated that he had answered.
“He believes some nerve pathways may still function.”
“And?”
“And he's an optimist.”
“Try.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I said no.”
Fay nodded.
“Okay.”
Dominic frowned.
“That's it?”
“Yep.”
She walked toward the door.
“You’re not going to lecture me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Fay looked back.
“Because if you want to spend the next fifty years staring through a window, that's your decision.”
His face hardened.
She continued.
“But stop pretending somebody else made it for you.”
Dominic’s hands tightened around the wheels.
“Get out.”
Fay left.
Twenty minutes later, she returned for the laundry.
Dominic was beside the bed.
His hands gripped the support rail.
His upper body shook with effort.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re sweating.”
“Leave.”
Fay understood.
He was attempting the therapist’s exercise.
She quietly put down the laundry basket.
“Need help?”
“No.”
His arm slipped.
Fay stepped forward instinctively.
“Don't.”
She stopped.
Dominic reset his grip.
Again.
His right foot remained motionless.
Again.
Nothing.
On the sixth attempt, his shoe shifted less than an inch.
Dominic froze.
Fay did too.
“Did you—”
“Quiet.”
He tried again.
Nothing.
Again.
A tiny movement.
Dominic stared at his foot.
His breathing changed.
Fay crouched.
“You moved it.”
“Maybe gravity.”
“You moved it.”
“Fay.”
“You moved your foot.”
He looked at her.
For once, there was no anger in his eyes.
There was fear.
Hope terrified him.
A knock interrupted them.
Carmine entered holding a plastic evidence bag.
“Dominic.”
The hope vanished instantly.
“What?”
“We found something in the garage.”
Inside the bag was a small electronic component.
Carmine lowered his voice.
“It came from your old SUV.”
Dominic looked at him.
“The accident?”
Carmine nodded.
“Brake control system was tampered with.”
Fay slowly stood.
Dominic's expression became unreadable.
“Who had access?”
Carmine hesitated.
“Five people.”
“Names.”
“Mrs. Gable. Me. Your former mechanic.”
He paused.
“Your cousin Anthony.”
Dominic said nothing.
“And your brother, Vincent.”
The room went silent.
Fay looked at Dominic.
His voice became cold.
May you like
“Find my brother.”
---
