Chapter 4 - THE LAB REPORT
The preliminary forensic result arrived before sunrise.
Detective Ortiz refused to describe the substance dramatically.
She did not need to.
The residue recovered from the tablecloth and broken glass contained a powerful toxic compound not expected in any beverage.
Enough for immediate medical concern.
Arthur sat in silence.
Sarah’s recording had not captured a joke.
A supplement.
A misunderstanding.
Something dangerous had been placed in his drink.
The medical team checked him anyway.
No concerning exposure.
Sarah had moved fast enough.
Arthur asked to see her.
She was still inside the mansion with police.
Her cheek had begun swelling where Vivienne struck her.
When Sarah entered the library, she stood near the door.
Arthur stood.
“Sit.”
“I’m okay.”
“That wasn’t a request.”
She sat slowly.
Arthur looked at her.
“How long have you worked here?”
“At the mansion?”
“Three months.”
“For the catering company?”
“Two years.”
“Why were you filming Vivienne?”
Sarah hesitated.
“I thought she was stealing.”
Arthur frowned.
“What?”
“Two weeks ago, I saw her take an envelope from your study.”
“You were cleaning after a dinner.”
“I saw her put it in her purse.”
“Did you report it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Sarah looked embarrassed.
“Because people like me don’t accuse people like her without proof.”
Arthur said nothing.
That sentence landed harder than he wanted it to.
Sarah continued.
“So tonight, when I saw her behind the bar, I recorded.”
“Just in case.”
Arthur looked at the phone.
“You could have shouted.”
“I was afraid she’d dump the glass.”
“You could have called security.”
“I didn’t know if anyone would believe me fast enough.”
“So you knocked it away.”
“Yes.”
“And got slapped.”
Sarah looked down.
“I’d rather get slapped than watch somebody die because I was worried about keeping my job.”
Arthur felt shame.
Not because he caused Vivienne’s strike.
Because for a moment after the glass shattered, he had looked at Sarah with irritation too.
Before asking why.
He said quietly.
“Thank you.”
Sarah looked up.
“I only wanted to save your life.”
The words broke through whatever control Arthur had been using all night.
He looked away.
Then Detective Ortiz entered with another update.
The envelope Sarah saw Vivienne remove from Arthur’s study had likely contained copies of his revised estate documents.
Arthur turned slowly.
His estate lawyer had delivered drafts two weeks earlier.
May you like
The drafts changed one important thing.
Vivienne’s future financial rights.
