Chapter 10
The prepared dishes in the pantry were not all for the same morning.
Grace realized it first.
Each butter dish had a different small mark beneath the rim.
A dot.
Two lines.
A tiny scratch.
Household scheduling marks.
My mother had used them years ago to identify breakfast services.
Monday.
Wednesday.
Council mornings.
Travel mornings.
Victoria had copied the system.
Not randomly.
Strategically.
One dish for the morning before my monthly captain meeting.
Another before a flight.
Another before Sunday family breakfast.
Different opportunities.
Different witnesses.
Different stories afterward.
I stared at them.
She had not prepared poison.
She had prepared narratives.
Sick before travel.
Collapse after council stress.
Sudden illness at breakfast.
Each one would look different.
That was what frightened me most.
Victoria had learned my life well enough to hide harm inside routine.
Grace looked sick.
“She planned around your schedule.”
I nodded.
Victoria smiled faintly.
“You’re making me sound brilliant.”
I turned.
“That pride is going to cost you more than denial would.”
Her smile faded.
Caleb sat quietly now.
I looked at him.
“What was attempt three?”
He stared.
“I don’t know.”
“Wrong.”
“I swear.”
Victoria laughed.
“He really doesn’t.”
For once, I believed her.
Then Annie’s voice came from the hallway.
“There was a black car.”
Everyone turned.
Grace rushed toward her.
“Annie, sweetheart, you’re supposed to be upstairs.”
Annie held her rabbit.
“I forgot.”
“What?”
“The man.”
My eyes narrowed.
“What man?”
“The one who gave Miss Victoria the white bottle.”
Victoria went completely still.
Caleb stared at her.
I crouched beside Annie.
“Where did you see him?”
“Back kitchen door.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Did you know him?”
She shook her head.
Then added:
“He called her Mrs. Carter.”
My expression changed.
Victoria was not my wife yet.
But someone supplying her already believed—or had been told—that my death would change that detail.
I looked at her.
She did not need to answer.
May you like
There was another person inside the plan.
Someone preparing for the world after me.
