Chapter 10 - The Night Gideon Stood Again
Malcolm Finch held a gun against Gideon’s chest.
Gideon sat in a wooden chair.
No restraints.
He didn't need them.
He was still too weak to overpower a healthy man.
Malcolm looked at Norah.
“Elaine’s daughter.”
Norah entered.
Arthur followed despite his father’s warning.
For the first time, Malcolm's confidence cracked.
“Son.”
“You're dead.”
“Only legally.”
Arthur's voice broke.
“You let me bury you.”
Malcolm smiled.
“Grief builds loyalty.”
Arthur raised his weapon.
Malcolm pressed his gun harder against Gideon.
“Drop it.”
Arthur obeyed.
Malcolm explained everything because arrogant men often believed confession was victory.
He had manipulated Samuel.
Bribed Mercer.
Used Caleb.
Exploited Thomas.
Altered access systems.
The red tonic had not been poison.
That was the genius of it.
Everything was ordinary.
The danger came from combinations, dosage changes, timing, and Gideon's existing prescriptions.
A murder designed to resemble medicine failing.
“But she saw it,” Gideon said.
Malcolm looked at Norah with hatred.
“A maid.”
“A woman paying attention.”
Gideon slowly stood.
Malcolm laughed.
“You can barely walk.”
“Still standing.”
Norah understood what Gideon was doing.
Keeping Malcolm focused on him.
Arthur saw it too.
Thomas appeared at the chapel entrance.
Malcolm turned.
One second.
Arthur moved.
The gun fired.
Norah screamed.
Gideon hit the floor.
Arthur tackled his father.
Security rushed in.
Malcolm was disarmed.
Norah dropped beside Gideon.
No blood.
The bullet had struck the wooden chair.
Gideon looked up at her.
“You look disappointed.”
She laughed and cried simultaneously.
“You're impossible.”
Malcolm was arrested.
It should have ended there.
It didn't.
Because Elias arrived holding new laboratory results.
Someone had administered Gideon another dose of the dangerous medication less than an hour earlier.
Norah stared at him.
“How?”
“I don't know.”
Gideon had eaten nothing.
Drunk nothing.
Then Norah saw the IV.
A fresh injection port.
Elias followed her gaze.
His face changed.
May you like
Someone had accessed Gideon’s IV.
And Malcolm had been with Arthur the entire time.
