The Phoenix Diamond

Chapter 3 The Flawless Frame-up

Liam's sandalwood cologne reached me before his steps did. The sleeve of his suit brushed against the bed rail.

"Officer, I'm sorry you have to see this," he said. "She's unwell."

Chloe whimpered nearby, loud enough for the whole room. "Liam, don't. It's my fault. I shouldn't have been there." She stopped, caught her breath, and pressed on. "I saw her face."

"Tell the detective what you saw," Liam said, using the patient tone he saved for investors.

"I went to the workshop to ask a question. The door was unlocked, and Jade stood at the console. She kept saying she built the company and you couldn't replace her. Then she aimed the micro-laser at the Phoenix's core. Her cut was so precise. She didn't even flinch when it shattered."

The lie depended on my skill. A destructive cut through the core inclusion at that accuracy had to come from a master, and everyone in the industry knew Chloe could not make it. Mom gasped, and I pressed her hand once to keep her quiet.

A tired male voice answered. "The evidence supports Ms. Adams. Your keycard entered at 3:17 a.m., your credentials logged into the workstation, and the footage shows only you entering and leaving the lab during the incident."

Liam controlled the building's security data, from keycard access to the camera archive. The same employees who answered to him would certify whatever version he handed the police.

He leaned close enough for his cologne to sting. "It's over, Jade. They have everything. I can still protect you and make this go away."

I lay still.

"Sign a full confession and blame emotional distress. I'll hire the best lawyers. You'll get a suspended sentence, especially now that you're blind. Who else will want a cripple? I'll honor the engagement and take care of you. You only have to accept responsibility for this mess."

He wanted a criminal confession, a ruined license, and a wife who would depend on him for every practical need. He could keep using my knowledge while introducing himself as the generous man who had stayed with me.

In my last life, I screamed, cried, and threw everything I could reach. Every reaction helped him sell the story.

This time, I kept my hands open on the sheet. The heart monitor beside me continued at the same measured rhythm, giving Liam no outburst to point at.

I turned toward Mom's breathing. "The nurse call button is on my left. Please hand it to me."

Her fingers searched the sheet, then placed the button in my palm. I pressed it.

"What are you doing?" Liam snapped. "No one here can help you."

The door opened, and rubber soles squeaked on the linoleum. "Miss Vance? Is everything all right?"

I answered the nurse without raising my voice.

"Please remove the bandages from my eyes."