Chapter 5 - The Trap is Set
"We can't just call standard dispatch," Marcus analyzed, his expression grim. "Derek is smart. He’s spent months building a solid alibi. The hitman didn't leave forced entry marks because he used a key. If we go to the police right now without ironclad proof, Derek will claim you've had a psychological breakdown to discredit you in a custody battle. We need to catch them red-handed."
"What do I have to do?" I asked. The fear inside me had completely hardened into cold, unwavering determination. For Lily, I would face the devil himself.
Marcus looked at me, his eyes full of worry but pride. "We're going to use their own trap against them. You have to act as the bait."
The plan was orchestrated meticulously. Marcus contacted a trusted former colleague in the major crimes unit, along with the local police department. They agreed to set up a sting operation.
I took the burner phone and inserted my old SIM card into a secondary phone Marcus provided—one that allowed the police to monitor the incoming data but masked our actual location. I turned it on and sent a text to Derek:
"Derek, help us! A man broke into the house. Lily and I ran away and we're hiding at the old family cabin in the North Woods. My phone is almost dead, please come rescue us!"
The old cabin in the North Woods was an isolated property left behind by my late parents. It was completely secluded—the perfect place for a hitman to commit a crime without witnesses, and the perfect place for us to spring our trap.
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Barely two minutes later, Derek replied: "Oh my god! Stay hidden, Clara! I'm renting a car and heading back right now. Hold on, I'm coming to save you both!"
I stared at the screen, letting out a bitter laugh. He didn't tell me to call 911. He wanted us to stay put so his executioner could finish the job.
