Accident Prone 223 The Fourth Of July Party 8

"Did she buy it?", Max asked.

Hunter got his phone and responded a few seconds later: "Yeah, she is in panic mode. Grace is doing her part in keeping her on the edge."

Mia is in charge of watching McKenzie, and she is texting Hunter with updates.

Max pulled Liz into a hug. He would not forgive himself if McKenzie was successful this time. "I am sorry, Liz. All this is because of me…"

Hunter saw that things are getting emotional and he glanced at the door. "I can leave, right?"

"Yeah. Thank you. Make sure McKenzie hears that Max is not well and that I'm by his side, and I will take it from there.", Liz responded.

Max tightened his hug on Liz.

"Who is Grace?", Liz asked Max.

"A neighbor and Hunter's cla.s.smate from high school. We know each other for a long time. Hunter asked her to stir up Zi with occasional provocations."

Liz looked at Max suspiciously. "Why would she help you?"

"She has an old grudge against Zi. And she is not doing this for free."

"What does she want?"

Max shrugged. "Hunter negotiated with her."

"Nothing for free…", Liz mused. "Don't you guys have any friends?"

Max exhaled. "There are few. But they are rare. I learned to rely on myself, Hunter, and Rina because most of the other people have some agenda. It's just a matter of how soon I find out about it. Quentin is in the group of people I trust. And you as well."

Liz looked up at him and smiled brightly. Her expression didn't match her words: "You should not trust me. I have an agenda with you."

"What is it?"

Liz wiggled her eyebrows. "I want to see your room. Later."

Max chuckled. "In your case, I will make an exception and allow you to take advantage of me."

Liz wanted to ask more about this Grace person but decided not to. She needs to focus on McKenzie now, and if she gets a hint that this Grace person is someone from Max's past… Liz does not want to know about it.

Liz leaned into Max's embrace and reminded herself that he is her boyfriend and that McKenzie is stepping over the line. And she can't relax yet because Max did his part, and now it's her turn.

"How many pina coladas did she drink?", Liz asked.

"Five so far.", Max responded.

"All of them had alcohol?"

Max confirmed. "As we discussed previously."

"That should be enough. Do we have the photos of her putting drugs into the drink?"

"Yes. My men took care of it…", Max responded while forwarding the photos to Liz.

Liz shook her head in disapproval at McKenzie's stupidity. Or maybe it's not stupidity. It's her sense of privilege and lack of punishment whenever she did something wrong that twisted her ideas of right and wrong. There is no other explanation as to why she thought how pus.h.i.+ng someone off a cliff or spiking someone's drink is acceptable.

Everyone here works for Andersons. Did McKenzie really think that she can come to this party and do as she pleases without being noticed?

McKenzie is not aware that she is being watched from the moment she arrived. Of course, everyone is being watched, but Max made sure that McKenzie is not let out of sight as he marked her as a potential 'problem guest'. Max also instructed his people to record her every move and that unless she makes a direct move against someone (aka Liz), that they should blend in with guests and observe.

Other than that, Max and Liz decided to do a few things to get McKenzie into a situation where she can't get out of easily, and hopefully, she will expose herself.

The bartender knew who McKenzie and her close friends are (aka potential co-conspirators). The bartender was instructed that if McKenzie (or Oliver or Lewis) orders any 'virgin' drink, he should put a small dose of alcohol.

It is not a large dose of alcohol to be noticed or to have an effect on a person normally, however, McKenzie is taking anti-anxiety medications. Those medications boost the effect of alcohol significantly and at the same time, the calming effect of those medications is reversed. That is why McKenzie is anxious and her heart is beating wildly, and another common side effect is paranoia. With McKenzie not having a clear conscience about 'drugging Max', it will be easy to manipulate her.

And why is Max not drugged after drinking that strawberry mojito? The man who called McKenzie to see if she lost her phone is the same one who took the photos of her mixing the drink (with a small b.u.t.ton-like camera attached to his s.h.i.+rt; the photos are stills from the captured video). Also, he was a distraction for the second security member (who is also dressed as a guest) to swap drinks behind McKenzie's back. So, Max drank a regular strawberry mojito.

Liz checked the photos she got from Max and saw that they clearly show McKenzie taking something from her purse and emptying a small bag of white powder into the drink.

"This will be perfect. I will go and do my part.", Liz told Max.

"You are leaving me?", Max looked at Liz sadly.

Liz blinked. "I thought that was part of the plan."

Max grabbed Liz around her waist and threw himself on the bed backward with Liz on top of him.

"You are crazy. How can you be so reckless? What if you end up hurt?" Liz didn't expect this. No wonder he ends up in a hospital often. 

"If I'm hurt, my girlfriend will take care of me…", Max said cheekily and his hand landed at the back of her head, holding her in place as his lips claimed hers.

Liz leaned onto him and returned his kisses, but when she felt that he is pulling her skirt higher, she squirmed. "Max… I need to do my part now…"

Max exhaled and helped Liz to get up.

He waited for Liz to straighten her clothes before telling her seriously: "Be quick and be careful. She is unstable as-is. No one can predict what she will do when she is pushed into a corner. My men will be around, but you know that they can't get too close. I don't want to see a recording of her hurting you."

Liz hugged Max and hid her face in his chest, with the hope that he will not see that she is nervous. But she needs to do it. McKenzie needs to be exposed. They planned, prepared, and played their roles, and now it's time for Liz to bring this game to an end. And no one else can do it, because Liz is the target of McKenzie's schemes, and Liz is angry that McKenzie almost killed her, twice.

McKenzie is the one who attacked first, Liz is only retaliating. And McKenzie did something dramatic as pus.h.i.+ng Liz off a cliff and spiking her drink. It is only fair to return her what she deserved in the same dramatic way.

Liz remembered McKenzie's birthday wish, 'I wish you everything that you deserve', and smiled. This will be poetic justice.

…

Liz re-joined the party and McKenzie's heart jolted when she saw that Liz is by herself. Where is Max? But Liz does not seem to be devastated, so Max is alive. But… Max should be in a horrible state. Why did she leave his side? Isn't she a doctor who can see that something is wrong with him? Where is the ambulance?

McKenzie's mind was spinning while she made slow steps toward Elizabeth.

Liz was walking toward the table where bottled water and some other drinks are. There is a large bucket filled with cans and bottles of various beverages, covered in ice. The right side of the table has numerous gla.s.ses, and in the middle is a large bowl of fruit punch.

Liz stopped at the middle of the table and took the ladle which is resting in the fruit punch and mixed the liquid, stirring the ice and fruits.

"Is Max OK?", Madeline's voice laced with concern reached Liz. She saw that Hunter and Liz almost carried Max inside the villa, but the fact that Mia was calm told Madeline that there is more to it. However, she is still worried that something happened.

Liz stopped her stirring and turned to Madeline. She wanted to explain the situation to Madeline, but she saw with her peripheral vision that McKenzie is nearby, so the only thing left was to keep on the act: "Uhm… He is not feeling well. Sudden headache and dizziness. We think that he mixed one drink too many because it started after he drank a strawberry mojito. He is resting now, and I will check on him later."

"Oh, I see. OK. I trust that you know what you are doing.", Madeline was about to leave, when she remembered: "Are you available to meet my friends now? I would love to show you around. Mia is avoiding me also, so out of two girls who are dating my sons, none is willing to spend some time with me." Madeline leaned closer and said in a whisper: "Some of them suspect that I am making it up, only to keep their daughters away..."

Liz smiled. "I am not avoiding you. I promise to find you within half an hour, after I check on Max again."

"That is acceptable.", Madeline responded and walked away.

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