The Vial on the Floor
Chapter 02 - The Vial on the Floor
Margaret rose slowly, her face changing from shock to practiced concern.
“She fainted,” she said. “Call an ambulance.”
Nathan ignored her and dropped beside Elena. Her pulse was weak, and her breathing came in shallow bursts. When he touched her stomach, he felt the baby move violently.
Rosa finally broke free and called emergency services.
Nathan picked up the vial. It bore the name of a powerful heart medication produced by Carrington Medical. In small doses it saved lives. In larger amounts it could cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and premature labor.
“This was in her drink,” Nathan said.
Margaret’s eyes flashed. “You don’t know that.”
“I know this vial came from our private research lab.”
Paramedics arrived and rushed Elena to the hospital. Nathan rode beside her while doctors treated her with an antidote. The baby’s heartbeat stabilized, but Elena remained unconscious.
Police questioned everyone at the mansion.
Margaret claimed Rosa had prepared the juice. Rosa admitted carrying the tray from the kitchen but insisted Margaret had taken it from her and entered Elena’s room alone. Security cameras should have settled the matter, but every hallway recording from the previous hour had been erased.
Nathan’s suspicion became rage.
At the hospital, Dr. Samuel Pierce explained that Elena had received a dangerous drug, but the amount was not enough to kill her.
“Whoever did this either miscalculated,” he said, “or wanted her unconscious rather than dead.”
Nathan returned to the mansion with Detective Maya Cole. They searched Margaret’s purse, bedroom, and private office. No matching medication was found.
Then Rosa remembered something.
Before Elena collapsed, Margaret had whispered about inheritance papers. Nathan checked his safe and discovered that the trust documents had been removed. Without those originals, Margaret could petition the board to delay transferring shares to the child.
The poisoning was not only an attack.
It was part of a takeover.
Late that night, Elena opened her eyes. Nathan leaned over her, overwhelmed with relief, but she immediately pulled away.
“Your mother tried to hurt our baby,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“No,” Elena said, tears filling her eyes. “You knew she hated me. You kept asking me to be patient.”
Nathan had no answer.
Before he could apologize, Detective Cole entered carrying a sealed evidence bag. Inside was the vial from the mansion.
“The fingerprints came back,” she said.
Nathan expected his mother’s name.
May you like
Instead, the prints belonged to Rosa.
And Rosa had disappeared.
