Chapter 10 - WHAT THE POISON WAS FOR
The preliminary lab results came the next morning.
The butter contained a prescription sedative.
The bottle found in Maria’s apron held traces of the same substance.
The bottle in Vincent’s study contained a different compound requiring further analysis.
Ruiz gave him only what the lab could support.
“Your fiancée says she expected you to be incapacitated.”
“She told me.”
“She also says Adrian wanted you angry when you woke up.”
Vincent looked at her.
“Angry.”
“Maria would be found in your study. With cash. With documents. With a bottle in her pocket.”
Nora leaned forward.
“And an anonymous report already on record saying Vincent planned to silence her.”
Ruiz nodded.
“If you threatened her, detained her, or sent your own people after her, it would fit the story they’d prepared.”
Vincent thought of the version of himself Adrian expected.
The one who made decisions behind closed doors.
The one whose father had taught him that calling police meant losing control.
Adrian had counted on that man.
Emma had forced a different choice.
Ruiz placed a photograph on the table.
A recovered draft statement from Celia’s phone.
Vincent read it.
HE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. HE SAID MARIA HAD RUINED EVERYTHING. I WAS AFRAID TO INTERVENE.
Celia had written it the previous night.
Before the butter.
Before Emma.
Vincent pushed the photograph away.
“She was going to say I hurt her.”
“Your housekeeper,” Ruiz said. “Yes.”
“Was Maria supposed to survive?”
“We don’t know.”
That answer stayed in the room.
The poisoning scare would look like a dispute over stolen money.
The study would supply a motive.
The old records would turn suspicion into a history.
And Adrian would step forward, devastated, to save the company from his unstable brother.
Vincent let out one short, humorless breath.
“All this time, I thought he wanted what I had.”
Nora gathered the photographs.
“He wanted you holding the bill.”
At the board meeting, Adrian sat at the head of the conference table.
Their father’s portrait hung behind him.
Vincent arrived with Nora and no security.
Adrian looked disappointed.
“You should be resting.”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s not what we’re hearing.”
Vincent laid down a request for an independent audit.
Adrian didn’t touch it.
Then the company’s outside accountant walked into the room.
Pale. Sweating.
Carrying a red binder.
May you like
“I need to correct something,” she said.
Adrian stood so fast his chair struck the wall.
