Chapter 22
I was anxious, waiting for Zora to go out so I could make my move. Jan wasn''t home, and I figured I
could handle Zora on my own.
To pass the time, I pulled out my phone and sorted through the information I''d gathered from Jan''s
phone the night before. I sent the useful bits to my close friend, Catherine, for further investigation.
Catherine is the daughter of my father''s good friend, we''ve been thick as thieves since we were kids,
and we both ended up in Goldenvale Town for college. She studied journalism at a different university,
but we''ve always stayed in touch.
Catherine is a single, career-oriented woman, a real go-getter in her field at Goldenvale Media. She''s
outgoing and friendly, with an impressivework of contacts. She always teased me about how I''ve
be a docile ''house-cat'' since I married Jan.
Whenever she saw me, she tutted and shook her head,menting, "Such a talented business partner,
off the market just like that! Women really shouldn''t get married. Men are like sandpaper, they smooth
out all your edges until you''re round and dull, devoid of personality. You''re the perfect example."
I always brushed off herments, replying, "What''s wrong with being rounded? I enjoy my current
life, right?"
"Ha! More like you''ve been trained into a housewife by Jan, that man''s a bona fidedykiller. Look at
you, he''s practically killing you!"
Her words were eerily prophetic, as it turns out Jan really did want me dead. But Catherine
remained my steadfast supporter.
After I briefed Catherine on the points she needed to investigate, I took a short rest. I hadn''t slept well
the night before, my mind was a whirl of thoughts, and I was feeling drained. I needed to conserve myN?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.
strength.
I barely ate lunch, and to watch Zora''s movements, I didn''t even go upstairs, choosing to lie down on
the living room couch instead.
Carl sat beside me, ying with his toys, while Zora patiently fed him his lunch.
I was getting impatient, but Zora seemed to be in no hurry to leave. She was interacting harmoniously
with Carl as if I wasn''t there at all.
Seeing that Jan wasn''t home, she probably didn''t feel the need to go to the market. I had to give her
a reason to leave the house.
I casually said to her, "Zora, could you buy some shrimpter? I want some for dinner."
"We have some at home, how do you want them prepared?" she asked, ncing at me.
"I want fresh ones, not frozen. Also, get a durian," I added, knowing that this would force her to go out
since Jan hated its smell and we rarely had it at home. But both Zora and I loved durian.
She agreed readily, "Alright, I''ll go buy themter."
I grabbed a nket and pretended to sleep on the couch, nning my next moves in my head.
Once Carl was asleep, Zora left the house. I immediately turned off the surveince, got up to
rummage through the medicine cab, and found exactly what I was looking for - a tranquilizing
hypnotic. I chose Midazm, a quick-acting and potentially addictive drug, fitting punishment for Zora.
After putting everything back in its ce, I returned to the couch to figure out how to slip it to Zora
unnoticed.
I was actually asleep on the couch when Zora returned, and was rudely awakened by Carl pping my
face. His little hand pped hard on me. He giggled at my shocked expression.
Still groggy, I yfully swatted his bottom, "You little rascal!"
He immediately looked towards the kitchen, and I followed his gaze to catch a fleeting glimpse of Zora.
It seemed she had spoiled him rotten.
But this made me realize a problem - what would happen to Carl if Zora was put to sleep?
It would be toote if I waited for Carl to fall asleep.
And the drug onlysted 4-6 hours. If Zora woke up early and found a stranger looking after Carl, our
cover would be blown. If I took Carl out, he might inadvertently spill the beans, which would be
dangerous.
I looked at Carl, torn between options.