Chapter 3 - The Empty Casket
I stared at the computer screen in absolute disbelief as the news anchor moved on to the weather report.
Someone inside the state forensic laboratory had manipulated the DNA results to guarantee Michael got his money immediately.
Julian explained that we had to let the world believe I was dead so we could safely gather evidence against the massive conspiracy.
Two days later, I sat in a plush armchair in the clinic, feeding my son while Julian set up a secure video feed.
He had managed to hack into the security cameras of the grand cathedral where my funeral was being held.
The mahogany casket sitting at the front of the church was incredibly expensive and entirely empty.
Michael stood perfectly positioned near the altar, wiping away fake tears with a silk handkerchief for the flashing cameras.
Ashley stood right beside him, wearing a tasteful black designer dress and the diamond necklace Michael had bought for our anniversary.
My blood boiled as I watched the people who tried to murder me accept condolences from my grieving family.
I handed my sleeping baby to a trusted nurse and walked over to the desk where my recovered cell phone lay charging.
I told Julian it was time to let my grieving husband know that his dead wife was still watching him.
I opened a secure text messaging application that routed my signal through dozens of international servers to hide my location.
I typed a single sentence and attached a digital photograph that Julian had taken from the helicopter.
I hit send and turned my attention back to the live video feed of the funeral.
May you like
Michael felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and slowly pulled it out to read the screen.
All the fake color instantly drained from his face as he stared at the picture of his own hands pushing me off the cliff.
