Chapter 3 - THE WATCH THAT STOPPED AT 2:17
The words followed Jessica all the way into the waiting room.
“He wasn't working alone.”
She sat down slowly.
Mom kept staring at the closed operating room doors.
Dad didn't move.
For the first time in years, nobody cared about the wedding.
The flowers were still arriving.
The caterers were still setting tables.
But the room had become strangely quiet.
Jessica looked at the silver watch.
“Why was that in her jacket?”
The federal agent didn't answer immediately.
His name badge read SPECIAL AGENT DANIEL REED.
He finally said, “Because your sister kept it as evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
“That is classified.”
Jessica laughed bitterly.
“Of course it is.”
Reed studied her.
“You have spent the last six months believing your sister was simply away on medical leave.”
“Yes.”
“She wasn't.”
Mom looked up.
“Where was she?”
Reed's expression remained controlled.
“Working.”
Dad's voice sharpened.
“She was injured.”
“Yes.”
“By whom?”
Reed placed the watch back on the table.
“That's what we're investigating.”
Jessica looked at the stopped hands.
“Why 2:17?”
Reed didn't answer.
Then Claire came through the doors.
“She woke up.”
Everyone stood.
Reed moved first.
“Is she conscious?”
“For the moment.”
“Can she speak?”
“Barely.”
Jessica stepped forward.
“I want to see her.”
Claire hesitated.
“She asked for one person.”
Jessica's face fell.
“Who?”
Claire looked at Reed.
“Agent Reed.”
Mom's expression hardened.
“She asked for him?”
Claire nodded.
Jessica swallowed.
“Not us?”
Claire didn't answer.
Inside the recovery room, I opened my eyes.
Everything hurt.
The ceiling lights blurred.
Reed stood beside me.
“You're safe.”
My lips barely moved.
“The watch.”
“Recovered.”
“Did they see it?”
“Your family saw it.”
I closed my eyes.
“That wasn't supposed to happen.”
Reed pulled a chair closer.
“We had no choice.”
My breathing became shallow.
“Did they find the bracelet?”
“No.”
I looked at him sharply.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
The bracelet was the real problem.
The watch was only a decoy.
I had carried it home because I knew someone would search me.
The silver watch was meant to attract attention.
The bracelet was hidden somewhere no one would think to look.
I whispered, “My coat.”
Reed nodded.
“Secured.”
“Don't let anyone touch the inside pocket.”
He looked at me carefully.
“What is inside?”
“Something that proves why I was targeted.”
Before he could respond, the door opened.
Jessica stood there.
Her eyes were red.
“I need to talk to her.”
Reed looked at me.
I nodded.
He stepped outside.
Jessica approached the bed.
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered, “I thought you were pretending.”
My throat tightened.
“I know.”
“I thought you wanted attention.”
“I know.”
“I was angry.”
I looked at her.
“Why?”
Her face crumpled.
“Because you always disappeared.”
That surprised me.
Jessica wiped her cheek.
“Every time something mattered, you weren't there.”
“I was working.”
“You never told me that.”
“I couldn't.”
“You could have told me something.”
I looked away.
“I wanted to.”
She sat beside me.
Then she noticed the bandage across my abdomen.
Her fingers trembled.
“Did someone really try to kill you?”
I didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
She looked down.
“I told Mom not to pay for your scan.”
“I heard.”
Her face collapsed.
“I didn't think—”
“No.”
I stopped her.
“Don't say you didn't know.”
She looked at me.
“You knew I was hurt.”
Her eyes filled again.
“I was wrong.”
“Yes.”
The word landed harder than shouting would have.
She nodded.
“I was wrong.”
Then she reached into the pocket of her robe.
She pulled out something small.
A child's drawing.
Crayon on folded paper.
A house.
Three stick figures.
And one figure standing far away.
I stared at it.
“Where did you get that?”
“It was in your old room.”
My heart began pounding.
“Why were you looking there?”
Jessica hesitated.
“Because Mom told me to pack your things.”
I looked at the drawing again.
At the bottom, written in childish letters, were four words.
COME HOME, NIGHTFALL.
My blood went cold.
Jessica saw my reaction.
“You know what that means.”
I nodded.
“Where did you find it?”
“In the back of your desk.”
“That drawer was locked.”
“I had the key.”
I looked at her.
“You weren't supposed to have that.”
She went silent.
Then someone knocked.
Reed entered.
His expression had changed.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“The hospital parking garage camera captured someone entering ten minutes ago.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
He held up a photograph.
A man in a gray coat.
His face wasn't visible.
But his wrist was.
There was a black braided bracelet wrapped around it.
The same kind of bracelet I had been hiding.
Jessica stared at the photograph.
Then she whispered something that made my heart stop.
“I've seen him before.”
Reed turned.
“Where?”
Jessica looked at me.
“At your wedding.”
I couldn't breathe.
“My wedding?”
She nodded slowly.
“No.”
May you like
She pointed at the photograph.
“At mine.”
