The Pulse He Wanted Them to Miss

Chapter 07 - The Road Camera

Ridgeway Road had no traffic cameras at the crash barrier.

Mason knew that.

What he did not know was that a delivery truck had been parked overnight in a service lot overlooking the road. Its dashboard camera continued recording while the driver slept.

The footage showed Audrey’s car arriving at 10:18 p.m.

It did not arrive at high speed.

A black SUV followed closely behind and forced it toward the maintenance wall. Both vehicles stopped before the impact. Two figures exited the SUV.

One was Mason.

The other wore medical scrubs beneath a dark jacket.

They opened Audrey’s door, dragged her unconscious body onto the pavement and pushed her car against the barrier. Pierce climbed into the driver’s seat, accelerated and jumped free seconds before the collision.

Mason placed Audrey beside the wreck.

Then he called emergency services and pretended to discover the accident.

The footage lacked audio, but the sequence was unmistakable.

Ortiz obtained warrants before sunrise.

Police searched Mason’s home, office and SUV. They found Audrey’s torn scarf beneath the passenger seat, disposable gloves carrying her blood and a copy of the trust clause governing spousal voting rights.

At Pierce’s apartment, investigators recovered sedatives and a suitcase containing cash.

Both men were arrested.

Mason remained composed as officers escorted him through the hospital lobby. Reporters had not yet learned about the case, but employees watched from behind the reception desk.

He turned toward Elias.

“She will never wake up.”

The confidence in his voice frightened Margaret more than the threat.

Elias returned to Audrey’s bedside and ordered another brain scan.

The sedative should have cleared. Her pupils reacted. Her brain activity remained present. Yet she did not regain consciousness.

The scan revealed swelling near the brainstem, but not enough to explain the depth of the coma.

Elias examined the bruising on her neck again.

There was another possibility.

Temporary oxygen deprivation during strangulation might have damaged the neural pathways controlling speech and movement. Audrey could be conscious inside an unresponsive body.

Elias leaned close.

“Audrey, if you can hear me, move your eyes.”