diff --git a/src/iai_mcp/capture.py b/src/iai_mcp/capture.py
index 67ff704..d61f4d7 100644
--- a/src/iai_mcp/capture.py
+++ b/src/iai_mcp/capture.py
@@ -201,6 +201,13 @@ def capture_turn(
         log.exception("capture_turn insert failed")
         return {"status": "skipped", "record_id": None, "reason": f"insert-failed: {type(e).__name__}"}
 
+    # Wire temporal_next: link this insert to the previous same-session insert.
+    try:
+        from iai_mcp.retrieve import link_temporal_next
+        link_temporal_next(store, rec, session_id=session_id)
+    except Exception:
+        pass  # diagnostic only; never block the write path.
+
     return {"status": "inserted", "record_id": str(rec.id), "reason": f"tier={tier}"}
 
 
diff --git a/src/iai_mcp/qdrant_store.py b/src/iai_mcp/qdrant_store.py
index 9e1cc63..ec6222d 100644
--- a/src/iai_mcp/qdrant_store.py
+++ b/src/iai_mcp/qdrant_store.py
@@ -1335,10 +1335,10 @@ class QdrantStore:
                     continue
 
             raw_data = p.get("data_json") or "{}"
-            try:
-                data = json.loads(raw_data)
-            except (TypeError, json.JSONDecodeError):
-                data = {}
+            # data_json is AES-GCM encrypted; pass it through as a raw string
+            # so query_events() in events.py can decrypt it properly.
+            # Pre-02-08 unencrypted rows are plain JSON — query_events()
+            # handles both paths via is_encrypted() / decrypt_field().
             try:
                 source_ids = json.loads(p.get("source_ids_json") or "[]")
             except (TypeError, json.JSONDecodeError):
@@ -1350,7 +1350,7 @@ class QdrantStore:
                 "severity": p.get("severity") or None,
                 "domain": p.get("domain") or None,
                 "ts": ts_dt,
-                "data": data,
+                "data": raw_data,
                 "session_id": p.get("session_id", "-"),
                 "source_ids": source_ids,
             })
diff --git a/src/iai_mcp/retrieve.py b/src/iai_mcp/retrieve.py
index 72caac9..fdb46b5 100644
--- a/src/iai_mcp/retrieve.py
+++ b/src/iai_mcp/retrieve.py
@@ -278,6 +278,12 @@ def contradict(
     store.insert(new_rec)
     store.add_contradicts_edge(original_id, new_rec.id)
 
+    # Wire temporal_next: contradict inserts land in same session, link them.
+    try:
+        link_temporal_next(store, new_rec, session_id="-")
+    except Exception:
+        pass  # diagnostic only; never block the write path.
+
     # monotropic proactive check fires only in high-focus
     # domains. Hints aren't surfaced via contradict() (its signature is fixed
     # to ReconsolidationReceipt), but events land in the events table so the