In the quiet of the night, a soft rustling stirred 70-year-old Agnes to be as cautious as a hawk on the hunt. She peered out from under her blanket at the shadowy figure of her son-in-law, Chris, rummaging through her nightstand.

Beads of sweat broke on Agnes’s forehead. She’d been waiting for this moment. With a flick of her wrist, she turned on the light.

“Caught you, you conniving scoundrel! Your unquenchable greed has finally unmasked you…Time to say goodbye to my daughter and surrender your freedom to the cops.”

“A-Agnes??” Chris stammered. A look of agitation and surprise washed over his face. “I thought you were…DEAD.”

Agnes glared at him, her eyes sharp and full of resolve despite the pain in her broken leg. “You thought wrong, Chris. Now, tell me what you were looking for, or I’ll make sure you regret every second of this night.”

Chris stumbled backward, his face pale. “I…I wasn’t looking for anything. I just…I thought I heard something and wanted to check on you.”

“Liar,” Agnes snapped. “I’ve known you were up to something ever since the accident. What were you planning to do if I hadn’t turned on the light? Steal my jewelry? Or were you planning to finish the job you started on that dark road?”

Chris’s eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. It was an accident.”

“Save it,” Agnes said, her voice icy. “I might be old, but I’m not senile. I remember the look in your eyes when you pushed me down those stairs. You knew I was onto you and your little schemes.”

Chris took a step toward the door, but Agnes reached for the phone beside her bed. “Don’t even think about it. I’ve already called the police. They’ll be here any minute.”

Panic flashed across Chris’s face. He lunged for the phone, but Agnes held her ground. “You won’t get away with this, Chris. I’ve left a letter for my daughter explaining everything. She’ll know the truth about you soon enough.”

Just as Chris reached Agnes, a loud knock echoed through the house. “Police! Open up!”

Chris froze, his face contorted with fear. Agnes let out a sigh of relief, knowing she was safe. “It’s over, Chris. Time to pay for your crimes.”

The door burst open, and officers stormed into the room, quickly apprehending Chris. As they led him away in handcuffs, Agnes felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. But she also felt a sense of victory.

The next day, her daughter, Emily, arrived, tears streaming down her face. “Mom, I had no idea…”

Agnes took her hand and squeezed it gently. “I know, dear. But now you do. Chris won’t be able to hurt us anymore.”

Emily hugged her tightly, and Agnes felt a deep sense of peace. She had survived the attempt on her life, and now she had protected her daughter from the man who had betrayed them both. As she lay back in her bed, she knew that justice had finally been served.