Chapter 7 - The Final Playback
I pressed Play.
The high-definition speakers above the ballroom, bridged directly into my device by Daniel, echoed Ethan’s voice across the entire room for two hundred distinguished guests to hear:
“The brakes gave out,” Ethan’s recorded voice laughed clearly. “Once Claire is officially pronounced dead, the one million dollars from her life insurance is ours.”
Then came Megan’s voice, crisp and venomous:
“Three years of pretending to be her friend finally paid off.”
The ballroom went dead silent. You could hear a pin drop on the velvet carpet.
Ethan stood frozen, his mouth open in a silent scream of absolute ruin. Beside him, Megan burst into violent, hysterical tears, dropping to her knees on the marble floor.
"And here is another clip from two nights ago," I added softly, pressing the button again.
“Did you talk to Jimmy? Did you make sure he wiped the garage logs?... Jimmy cut the hydraulic line exactly where you told him to!”
"No! Turn it off! TURN IT OFF!" Megan shrieked, clawing at her own hair as the elite of the city stared down at her with cold, merciless disgust. Guests pulled out their phones, recording every second of their downfall.
Ethan looked around the room frantically, realizing there was no exit, no dark corner to hide in, no money left to buy his way out. He reached into his coat, as if intending to grab me, his face twisted in a final, demonic rage. "I'll kill you!" he screamed. "I'll kill you myself!"
Before he could take two steps, Ruth stepped out from the shadows of the pillar. In one fluid, brutal movement, she grabbed Ethan’s arm, twisted it behind his back with a sharp SNAP, and slammed his face hard onto the marble floor.
Ethan howled in agony, his jaw bleeding against the white stone.
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The heavy mahogany doors of the Plaza Hotel flew open. Detective Miller of the State Homicide Division walked in, flanked by four uniformed officers with handcuffs drawn.
"Ethan Bennett, Megan Vance," Detective Miller announced, his voice echoing over the quiet hall. "You are under arrest for attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and insurance fraud. You have the right to remain silent..."
