CHAPTER 6
The next three days were a master class in deception.
Abigail would visit Spencer twice a day. Morning and evening.
Each time, she would let him “guide” her through the complexities of having money. She would ask his opinion on everything. Investments. Lawyers. Safety.
And each time, he would gently steer the conversation toward himself.
“Mom, if we're going to do this properly, you need to make sure I'm taken care of in case anything happens to you. I mean, I'm your only family. Who else would you trust with your affairs?”
Or:
“Once you claim the money, we should put it someplace where it can grow. I know a financial advisor. A friend of mine. He's really good. He could double your money in no time.”
Or, her personal favorite:
“You know, with all this money, you should probably update your will. Make sure everything goes to the right person. I can help you find a lawyer who specializes in that kind of thing.”
She recorded every word. Every suggestion. Every manipulation.
And she watched as Victoria started showing up more often. Always when Abigail was there. Always playing the concerned friend.
“Mrs. Riley, it's so good to finally meet you. Spencer talks about you all the time. He says you're the strongest woman he knows.”
Victoria was beautiful. Blonde. Perfect makeup. Expensive clothes that didn't match the story of a struggling friend.
Her smile was warm. Her eyes were cold.
“Thank you, Victoria. It's nice to meet you too. Spencer is lucky to have such a good friend.”
“Oh, we're more than friends,” Victoria said, and there was a possessive edge to her voice that made Abigail's skin crawl. “We're... partners. In everything.”
Spencer shifted uncomfortably in the bed. “Victoria, that's not—”
“It's okay, baby,” she said, cutting him off with a look. “Your mom deserves to know how much I care about you.”
Abigail watched the exchange carefully. The power dynamic was clear. Victoria was in charge. Spencer was along for the ride.
Or was he?
Sometimes, when Victoria wasn't looking, Abigail would catch a glimpse of something in Spencer's eyes. Something hard. Something that suggested he wasn't quite as trapped as he appeared.
It kept her up at night.
On the fourth day, Arthur called with news.
“My investigator has been following Victoria. She's been busy. She's been meeting with a man. Someone we didn't expect.”
“Who?”
“Marcus Reid. He's Spencer's business partner at the print shop.”
Abigail frowned. “Marcus? But Spencer said Marcus was loyal. That he was the only one he could trust.”
“Marcus is also in debt. About a hundred and twenty thousand dollars in gambling debts. And our investigator saw Victoria handing him an envelope of cash yesterday. In a parking garage. In broad daylight.”
The web was getting bigger.
“What does this mean?”
“It means Victoria has been planning this for a long time. She didn't just target Spencer. She targeted his whole world. She's got Marcus on her payroll too. And if she's paying his debts, she owns him.”
Arthur paused.
“I think we're looking at a three-person operation. Victoria is the brains. Marcus is the muscle. And Spencer... Spencer is the face. The sympathetic son who can get you to open your wallet.”
Abigail thought of Naomi's warning. About Victoria being the one to push. About her saying they didn't have a choice anymore.
“Arthur, I'm scared. If there are three of them, and they're all desperate...”
“That's why we need to move now. I've already arranged everything. Tomorrow morning, you and I will go to the lottery headquarters. We'll claim the prize. We'll set up the trust. And we'll make sure every penny is protected.”
“Won't they find out? The lottery winners are public record.”
“Exactly. We want them to find out. Because once they know the money is real and it's safely in a trust you control, they'll make their final move. And when they do, we'll be waiting.”
“Waiting with what?”
“With the police, Abigail. We have enough evidence now for fraud charges. The recordings. Naomi's testimony. The financial records. Once they try to take the money from you—once they make their threat—that's attempted extortion. And they go away for a very long time.”
Abigail's hands shook.
Police. Arrest. Prison.
Her son.
“Are you sure this is the only way?”
“Is there another way you can think of that keeps you safe and keeps your money? Because I can't see one. These people aren't going to stop. Not now that they know what's at stake.”
He was right. She knew he was right.
“Okay,” she said. “Tomorrow morning.”
“Good. Now, here's what I want you to do. Go visit Spencer tonight. Drop a hint. Let him know you're planning to claim the prize very soon. Make it sound like you're going to put everything in his hands. Make him think he's won.”
“Why?”
“Because I want him to relax. I want him to think the hard part is over. And then, when the news breaks tomorrow that you've claimed the money and it's all in an irrevocable trust that he can't touch? His reaction will tell us everything we need to know.”
Abigail arrived at the hospital that evening with a heavy heart.
Spencer was sitting up in bed, looking better than he had in days. Victoria was sitting beside him, holding his hand.
They both smiled when she entered.
“Mom! Perfect timing. Victoria and I were just talking about you.”
“Were you?” Abigail sat down across from them.
“Yes. We were saying how lucky we are. That you're such an amazing woman. And that once everything is settled, we can all start fresh. Together.”
Victoria's smile was blinding. “Spencer has told me so much about you. I really hope we can become close. I've always wanted a mother figure in my life.”
Abigail wanted to laugh. Or scream. Or both.
“That's very sweet, Victoria.”
She turned to Spencer.
“Actually, I have some news. I talked to a lawyer today. I'm going to claim the prize tomorrow morning.”
Spencer's face lit up. “Really? That's wonderful, Mom!”
“Yes. And I've been thinking about what you said. About needing someone to trust. About family. So I'm going to make sure you're well taken care of. I'm going to set up an account for you. A generous one.”
She watched his eyes. Saw the dollar signs dance behind them.
“Mom, that's... that's incredible. I don't know what to say.”
“Just get better, baby. That's all I want.”
She stood up to leave. She couldn't stand being in the same room with them a second longer.
“I should go. I have an early morning. Lots to do.”
“Of course, Mom. Get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be the first day of the rest of our lives.”
His smile was warm. Sincere.
If she hadn't known better, she would have believed him.
She left the room and walked down the hallway.
And then she heard it.
Voices. Coming from the supply closet.
Victoria and Spencer.
“She bought it,” Victoria said. “She's going to claim it tomorrow. And she's going to set up an account for him.”
“Good,” Spencer said. And his voice was nothing like the loving son from five minutes ago. It was hard. Cold. “But we need more than just an account. We need control of everything. Once that money is in her name, she could change her mind. She could cut us off.”
“So what do you want to do?”
“The plan we talked about. After she claims it, we need to move fast. Before she has time to second-guess anything.”
Abigail pressed herself against the wall, her heart hammering.
“Spencer, are you sure about this? Because once we do this, there's no going back.”
“Victoria, we've been over this. Twenty million dollars. That's life-changing money. We can't let her walk away with it. Not when we've come this far.”
“But what if something goes wrong?”
“It won't. Because she trusts me. She thinks I'm her sweet, sick son. She'll do anything I ask. All I have to do is cry a little. Tell her I'm scared. And she'll hand over everything. Every last penny.”
He paused.
“And if she doesn't? Well... we have Plan B.”
Abigail's blood turned to ice.
“What's Plan B?” Victoria asked.
Spencer laughed. A low, ugly sound.
“Let's just say I've been talking to Marcus. And he knows some people. People who can make... problems... disappear.”
Abigail covered her mouth to keep from crying out.
She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think.
Her son. Her own son.
Was talking about having her killed.
She backed away slowly, her mind reeling.
She had to get out of there. She had to call Arthur. She had to call the police.
But as she turned to run, she collided with someone.
Strong hands caught her arms.
She looked up.
Into the face of Marcus Reid.
Spencer's business partner.
The man Victoria had been paying.
The man who knew people who could make problems disappear.
He smiled down at her. And there was nothing friendly about it.
May you like
“Mrs. Riley. Fancy meeting you here.”
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