Chapter 8 - The Poisoned Tea
Morning arrived with beautiful sunlight.
Emily hated it.
Nothing about the day felt beautiful.
She sat at the breakfast table pretending to read the newspaper.
Mara worked near the kitchen.
Daniel entered carrying a silver tray.
Emily’s body immediately tensed.
“Good morning.”
Daniel smiled warmly.
“I made something for you.”
He placed a porcelain cup beside her.
Herbal tea.
“I thought you said you couldn’t cook.”
Daniel laughed.
“Tea is different.”
Emily looked into the cup.
Steam curled from the surface.
Then she saw it.
White residue clung to the inside rim.
Her fingers went cold.
Daniel sat opposite her.
“Drink.”
Emily looked up.
“It’s hot.”
“I’ll wait.”
He smiled.
Mara walked past.
Her eyes dropped to the cup.
She understood immediately.
Emily lifted it.
Daniel watched.
Mara stumbled deliberately.
Her shoulder slammed into Daniel.
His arm struck Emily’s hand.
The cup flew.
Tea spilled across the expensive rug.
Daniel exploded.
“You stupid woman!”
He grabbed Mara by the collar.
Emily stood.
“Let her go.”
Daniel ignored her.
Mara winced as his fingers tightened.
“Daniel!”
Emily’s voice echoed through the room.
He turned.
For one terrible moment, Emily saw something murderous in his eyes.
Then he released Mara.
“It was an accident,” Emily said.
Daniel breathed heavily.
“So many accidents lately.”
The words hung between them.
Mara bent down with towels.
“I’ll clean it.”
Daniel stormed away.
The moment he disappeared, Mara leaned close to the stained rug.
A small section of fabric had begun discoloring.
She smelled it.
“Chemical.”
Emily whispered.
“Poison?”
“I don’t know.”
Mara carefully soaked part of the tea into a clean cloth.
“We’ll keep this.”
Emily watched the doorway.
“He knows.”
“He definitely knows something.”
“The office?”
“Maybe.”
Emily touched her stomach.
“We have to leave.”
Mara nodded.
“Tonight.”
She took the stained cloth and sealed it inside a food-storage bag.
Then she walked toward the service entrance.
Outside, beyond the cameras mounted around the property, Mara crossed behind the greenhouse.
She removed a second phone hidden beneath a loose stone.
There was only one person she trusted.
Thomas Reed.
Private investigator.
Former detective.
And an old friend.
Thomas answered immediately.
“Mara?”
“We need help.”
Her voice trembled despite her effort to control it.
She told him everything.
The chandelier.
The notebook.
The insurance.
The tea.
Thomas stopped her.
“Listen carefully.”
Mara did.
“Get Emily out tonight.”
“How?”
“Midnight.”
“Where?”
“Service gate.”
“I’ll bring a van.”
Mara looked toward the mansion.
“And if Daniel stops us?”
Thomas paused.
“Then call the police.”
“He owns half the city.”
“Not all of it.”
Mara ended the call.
May you like
When she turned around, Daniel was standing twenty yards away.
Watching her.
