The Pink Trace
Amber Ann calmed the situation down with a stiff smile. "Samuel, let's not ruin dinner with this." She turned to Damon Jr.'s wife. "I saw you put in an order for Danielle's birthday cake. You know I don't mind baking that at home for her."
Her sister-in-law pursed her lips and looked playfully to her daughter. "I told her that, but BonBons Sereins is already so popular. That signature cake you designed with the two B's and an S is all over social media."
Damon Sr. perked up, suddenly regretting his rule about never bringing his cell phone to the dinner table. "What is this? Angelica, remind me to look this up."
"Here, Daddy." Virginia rapidly tapped on her phone as she stood and walked toward her father. Damon Sr. quickly put on his reading glasses as he took the device.
On the screen was a two-layered, eight-inch round cake, adorned with fresh fruit and intricate piping. A large, stylized "BBS" in chocolate stood boldly on the side, the letters studded with gems the color of the fruit.
"This is the one my team ordered for me," Virginia explained, smiling at her niece. "The gems are edible, but they're like pop-rocks; they sizzle and pop in your mouth." The little girl squirmed in her seat with excitement.
The tension in the room dissipated, replaced by the familiar comfort of family. They finished their meal, and while the children were ushered into the sunroom for dessert, the adults moved to the sitting room for after-dinner drinks.
Samuel, Dan, and Damon Jr. huddled with Damon Sr. in a side nook. Samuel stepped to the door and took three bottles of spring water from a guard. Amber casually made her way over, her eyes fixed on the plastic containers. Samuel had already checked for punctures or evidence of tampering, but the seals appeared factory-perfect.
He opened the first one, sniffed it, and set it down, repeating the process for the others. Finally, he pulled a small vial from his pocket and squeezed five drops into each 32oz bottle.
Everyone leaned in, hearts pounding in the heavy silence.
A vibrant, violent pink swirl erupted in two of the bottles. Amber's eyes tracked the intensity of the color. Her scientific mind, usually her sanctuary, began calculating substance saturation and potency—vaguely hearing Samuel's grim explanation.
"It's a tasteless, odorless toxin," Samuel muttered, his voice shaking with suppressed rage. "It causes total respiratory failure in less than three minutes."
The room went cold. Amber realized she had only taken three bottles with her today. She had reached for one in the SUV on the ride back, her hand inches from the cap before she'd been distracted by a text. Her hand moved instinctively to her throat, her pulse thrumming against her skin like a trapped bird.
She felt the weight of the moment—the realization that her own meticulous nature had almost been her undoing. The killer hadn't just studied the site; he had studied her habits. He knew she would be thirsty after the heat of the kitchens. He knew she preferred that specific brand of mineral water. It was a cold, clinical intimacy that made her skin crawl more than a direct physical threat ever could. She wasn't just being hunted; she was being dissected.
As her eyes roamed the room, she caught Jessica's gaze. Amber froze. The genuine terror in her sister's eyes was undeniable. In that moment, Amber gave a small, stiff nod. She had to forgive her; if she didn't, the bitterness would consume her until she became as twisted as the woman who had started this mess.
"…Okay, Amber?"
She snapped back to reality, realizing everyone was watching her. Dan moved to her side, his face pale. "Samuel is suggesting you stay here, at the main estate…"
"Dan! You can no longer make decisions for me. I will decide what is best for my life."
The room went silent, the sharpness of her tone echoing off the walls. As the heat of her anger cooled, Dan's actual words finally registered.
"I am sorry. I just…" Amber pinched her temples as Dan shook his head, his expression pained.
"You don't need to apologize," Dan said softly. "Me being here is just making things more stressful. I'll—"
"No. Let's just calm down," Amber interrupted, sitting beside her father. "Let me actually hear what Samuel has to say."
Samuel watched Dan retreat into the background before turning to his sister. "My units found Tony Douglas' body behind the Calm Stays property. His respirator was discarded near the artisanal dairy. I think you need to stay here for a while, Amber. The security here is ten times better and—"
"No. I will stay at my estate or my lake house. I am not going to allow anyone to dictate how I live my life or where I sleep." She stood, kissed her father's cheek, and then turned to her mother. "Bye, Daddy. I love you. Come on, Dan, we're leaving. Bye, Mommy."
Amber Ann walked out of the sitting room without a single backward glance, her heels clicking a steady, defiant rhythm against the marble floor.