My Late Wife Warned Me In A Dream Not To Wear My Son’s Gift. It Was A $30,000 Rolex. I Just Found Out It Was Actually A High-tech Murder Weapon.

A Flash of Frustration

“Richard this is too much I can’t accept this.”

“nonsense You deserve it Dad After everything you’ve built everything you’ve done for this family put it on Let me see how it looks on you.”

I stared at the watch. Margaret’s words screamed in my head. Don’t wear it Walter.

Don’t even touch it with your bare hands.

“I I’d rather wait until Christmas,” I said, closing the box.

“Open it properly you know with everyone there.”

Richard’s smile flickered. Just for a second, but I saw it. A flash of something that looked almost like frustration, maybe even anger.

“Dad come on I want to see your reaction Just try it on real quick.”

“No I’d rather wait But thank you son It’s beautiful Truly.”

Richard stared at me for a long moment. Then he laughed, though it sounded forced.

“All right All right Suit yourself But you have to promise me you’ll wear it to the New Year’s party at the country club Show it off a little.”

“I promise,” I lied.

After he left, I sat in my chair for a long time looking at that box. My hands were shaking, and my mind was racing. What was wrong with me?

Why was I letting a dream control my actions? This was Richard, my firstborn son, the boy I’d coached in little league. The young man I’d put through college.

The adult I’d entrusted with my life’s work. He wouldn’t hurt me. He couldn’t, could he?

The Detective’s Hands

The next morning, Christmas Eve, I did something I’m not proud of. I called my old friend Benny Morrison. Benny is a retired detective, spent 30 years with the Nashville Police Department.

We’ve been fishing buddies for two decades. I trust him with my life.

“Benny I need a favor A strange one.”

“What’s going on Walt you sound spooked?”

I told him about the dream, about the watch, about my unease. When I finished, there was a long silence on the other end of the line.

“You want me to have the watch tested?” benny said.

It wasn’t a question.

“I know it sounds crazy.”

“It sounds crazy as hell but I’ve seen a lot of crazy things in my career Walt and I’ve learned to trust my gut You’re not a paranoid man If something feels wrong to you maybe something is wrong.”

He came over that afternoon. I watched him put on latex gloves before he touched the box. He examined the watch carefully, turning it over, studying the clasp, the face, the band.

“Rolex Submariner,” he said.

“Nice piece but look here.”

He pointed to the back of the watch face.

“See this tiny gap that shouldn’t be there The back panel looks like it’s been modified opened and recealed.”

My stomach dropped.

“What does that mean?”

“could be nothing Could be something I know a guy at the crime lab owes me a favor Let me take this in Have him look at it Keep this quiet for now.”

I nodded. I couldn’t speak.

A Deadly Discovery

Benny left with the watch. I spent Christmas Eve alone, unable to eat, unable to focus on anything. The house was decorated with lights and a tree, but I felt like I was living in a nightmare.

I kept telling myself there was an innocent explanation. Maybe Richard had the watch customized somehow. Maybe he’d added an engraving I couldn’t see, something harmless, something loving.

But Margaret’s voice wouldn’t leave me alone. Don’t wear it. Don’t even touch it with your bare hands.

The call came on December 26th, Boxing Day. I was eating leftover turkey when my phone rang. Benny’s name flashed on the screen.

“Walt we need to talk in person I’m coming over.”

“What did you find?”

“in person walt.”

20 minutes later, Benny was sitting in my living room. His face was grave. He looked like he’d aged 10 years overnight.

“The watch was modified,” he said slowly.

“The back panel was removed and a small compartment was created inside In that compartment we found a substance.”

“What substance?”

Benny took a deep breath.

“Dimethyl mercury It’s a neurotoxin one of the deadliest poisons known to man.”