He left his knife sticking up out of Goliad’s back. It was acting as a plug. He didn’t want to have to mop up a gulf of blood when he came back later to dispose of the body.
5:35 p.m.
Nate gaped at Delores. “What do you mean, you want to do it?”
“Exactly what I said. I want to inject the drug into the IV bag.”
Richard said. “Brilliant, darling. I love that idea.”
She leaned down and kissed him lightly on the lips. “We’ve come all this way together. I want to take an active part.”
“As you should. Nate?”
“I don’t think it’s a brilliant idea at all.”
“What matters is that Richard and I do.” Not even deigning to look at Nate, she stroked her husband’s cheek.
Nate sputtered, “But you’re not medically qualified.”
“It’s not brain surgery. How hard can it be?”
“It’s not hard, but you don’t know how.”
Delores turned to him. “Do you?” she challenged. “Don’t you have nurses to take care of the menial tasks while you’re busy being stupendous you?”
“I—”
“Have you ever, over the course of your career, done this before, Nate?”
He wet his lips. “Not since I was an intern.” He glanced nervously toward the camera.
“Don’t worry about how this is going to look in your silly video,” Delores said. “We got what we needed from you, didn’t we, Richard?”
“Needed from me?” Nate asked, his voice going thin.
Richard said, “I think Delores is referring to your florid admission of breaching professional ethics.”
Nate’s jaw loosened. He opened and closed his mouth several times, without sound.
“Not that you need to worry about it getting out,” Richard continued calmly. “You were never going to leave this room with that video.”
“No. No, of course not. I didn’t intend to. I was making it for you only. And posterity.”
Delores snickered as she walked over to the camera and turned it off. “It’s superfluous now. And so are you, Nate.” She popped a pair of latex gloves from the box on the table and pulled them on. “Tell me what to do. More to the point, what not to do to screw up, and then leave me to do it.”
5:37 p.m.
Timmy returned from the kitchen alone.
Brynn’s spine stiffened. “Where’s Goliad?”
“Still in the kitchen.”
“Why?”
“He’s having a snack.” He came to stand directly in front of her.
She stood up. “I may get something to eat, too.”