Chapter 98 The Trap
Day 78. Twenty-five days until the deadline.
“Let's cut off both of them,” Ariella said. “Rebecca and Dr. Chen. No more babysitting, no more appointments, we eliminate every possible asset.”
“And Elena’s next vaccine is due in two weeks,” Aiden countered. “If we skip it, they’ll send child services. If we go to a different doctor, Dr. Chen will know we suspect her and could trigger early activation.”
“So what do we do?”
Marcus was on speaker phone, still on medical leave but coordinating from his apartment.
“ Let's set a trap,” he said. “We make them think they’ve won.”
“Explain.”
“Reach out to Victoria’s lawyers, Tell them you’re ready to recant. That you want to negotiate the specific wording of your statement. Set up a meeting for…” He paused, calculating. “…Day 65. Five days before the deadline.”
“That’s cutting it close….”
“That’s the point. Victoria thinks she has until Day 60, If you agree to meet on Day 65, she’ll think you’re stalling. She’ll order the asset to activate early and force your hand.”
“And we’ll be ready,” Aiden said slowly, seeing it. “We watch both Rebecca and Dr. Chen. See who makes a move.”
“Exactly, we’ll put surveillance on both of them. Twenty-four seven. The moment one of them tries to get to Elena…”
“We stop them.”
“And we’ll have proof of intent. Conspiracy to commit murder, Even without the illegal recordings, we can prosecute.”
It felt risky, and dangerous, to use their daughter as bait.
But they had no safe options left.
“Do it,” Ariella said.
Day 76. Twenty-three days until the deadline.
The message went to Victoria’s lawyers:
We’re ready to discuss terms. Can we meet on Day 65 to negotiate the specific wording of our recantation?
Response came within an hour:
Day 65 is acceptable. Come prepared to sign affidavits. V is pleased you’re being reasonable.
“She took the bait,” Aiden said.
Now they waited.
David Park installed additional surveillance. Cameras on Rebecca’s apartment, Dr. Chen’s office, and home. GPS trackers on their vehicles. Phone taps that would get them all thrown in prison if discovered.
“This is so illegal,” Jessica said when they briefed her. She was back in New York, armed, paranoid, but alive. “If this goes wrong…”
“If this goes wrong, Elena dies,” Ariella interrupted. “I’ll risk prison to prevent that.”
Days passed with excruciating slowness.
Rebecca continued her normal routine, Work, and television. Nothing suspicious.
Dr. Chen saw patients, did paperwork, Had dinner with her husband. Nothing suspicious.
“Maybe Marcus was wrong,” Aiden said on Day 72. “Maybe they’re not planning to activate early.”
“Or maybe they’re just being careful.”
At 3 AM on Day 71, twenty days before deadline, Rebecca’s phone rang.
David had routed the audio to Ariella’s laptop, She was awake….she was always awake now…and heard it immediately.
“Yes?” Rebecca answered groggily.
“Timeline has moved up.” It was a Male voice they couldn't identify. “Day 70. Tomorrow.”
“That’s not…we agreed on Day 60….”
“Client wants it done faster, Suspects surveillance. Do it tomorrow during the afternoon babysitting session or abort entirely.”
“I don’t have the materials yet…”
“Check your mailbox, delivered tonight. Untraceable. Symptoms will appear in six to eight hours. Natural cause, there will be no investigation.”
“You’re sure it’s…”
“Do you want confirmation or do you want out? Because once you’re out, you’re loose ends. And we eliminate loose ends.”
Rebecca went silent.
“Tomorrow,” the voice repeated. “Confirm.”
“Confirmed,” Rebecca whispered.
The call ended.
Ariella was already shaking Aiden awake. “It’s happening tomorrow, Rebecca just got orders.”
“Call Marcus…”
“Already on it.”
Marcus answered immediately. “I heard. I’ve been monitoring the feed. I’m calling an FBI team now. We’ll have Rebecca in custody by morning.”
“What if she’s already administered something? What if…”
“She said she doesn’t have the materials yet. They’re in her mailbox. We’ll intercept before she can use them.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure, Get some sleep. This’ll be over by sunrise.”
But Ariella couldn’t sleep.
She sat in Elena’s room, watching her daughter breathe, waiting for morning.
At 6 AM, Marcus called.
“We have a problem.”
Ariella’s stomach dropped. “What problem?”
“Rebecca’s gone, her apartment is empty and there is no sign of her. And her mailbox…someone already collected whatever was delivered.”
“What? How…”
“We think she was warned, Someone tipped her off that we were monitoring her.”
“Who? Who could have?…”
And then Ariella knew.
The only person who had access to all their surveillance.
The only person who knew exactly what they were planning.
“David,” she breathed. “David Park. He’s the mole.”
“That’s impossible. He’s CIA…”
“Or he’s a network, playing both sides. He installed the surveillance. He could’ve warned Rebecca…”
“I’ll find him…”
“There’s no time! Rebecca has whatever was delivered. She’s going to try to get to Elena…”
“Then we lock down now, no one gets near Elena. We’ll find Rebecca…”
But Ariella was already running to Elena’s room, and found it Empty.
The crib was empty.
“AIDEN!” she screamed.
He came running. “What…”
“Elena’s gone. She’s…someone took her…”
They tore through the apartment. Checked every room, every closet.
Gone.
Claire came up from the bakery. “What’s all the…oh my God. Where’s Elena?”
“Did you see anyone come in?” Aiden demanded. “Anyone at all?”
“Just Dr. Chen. She stopped by around five-thirty. Said she wanted to check on Elena after she missed her last appointment. I…I let her in. She’s Elena’s doctor. I thought…”
Ariella’s vision went dark.
Dr. Chen.
While they’d been watching Rebecca, Dr. Chen had made her move.