Evening

The front door opens, and Chad walks in. He looks exhausted, his tie loosened, his briefcase swinging heavily at his side. He stops in the hallway, sniffing the air. The house smells of rosemary, roasted chicken... and a lingering, metallic scent of ozone that his mind, already under the Blindfold, translates as "fresh laundry."

“I’m home!” Chad calls out.

Cherie comes out of the kitchen. She is wearing a silk wrap dress that is perhaps a bit too short, her hair slightly damp from a post-masturbation shower. She looks glowing, her skin radiating a heat that Chad attributes to the stove.

“Welcome home, honey,” she says, moving toward him. She gives him a lingering, soft hug—a physical affection prompted by the subliminals Tyler installed days ago.

Alexis and the girls filter in. The Aura of the house is at a peak, drawing everyone toward the dining table. The family sits down, and for a moment, it looks like a perfect, suburban tableau.

Tyler comes down last. He looks at his mother as she pours the wine, his gaze lingering on the curve of her neck. He looks at his father, the oblivious king, and then he looks at the corner of the room where he knows you are standing.

The Hollow Point install is ready. After dinner, while the house is quiet and the "Sentinel" is asleep, he will make the final delivery to Cherie’s laptop.