Chapter 4 - Six Weeks Earlier
Michael wanted to open the older video.
Emily stopped him again.
“Call someone first.”
He looked confused.
“Who?”
“My doctor.”
That surprised him.
Emily had been experiencing headaches, dizziness, and unexplained weakness throughout her pregnancy.
Sophia always blamed stress.
Michael had believed her.
Emily hadn't.
Her obstetrician had recently ordered additional bloodwork.
The results were due that afternoon.
Michael called.
The nurse connected them with Dr. Hannah Price.
“Emily, I've been trying to reach you.”
Emily's stomach dropped.
“What happened?”
“Your bloodwork showed something we need to investigate.”
Michael put the call on speaker.
Dr. Price explained carefully.
Emily's test showed traces of a sedating medication she had not been prescribed.
Silence.
Michael stared at his wife.
“What?”
Emily looked toward Sophia.
Sophia's face changed.
Dr. Price continued.
The level was not immediately life-threatening, but repeated exposure during pregnancy could create serious risks.
Emily's hand went instinctively to her stomach.
“How did it get into me?”
“We don't know yet.”
Sophia suddenly grabbed her purse.
“This is ridiculous.”
Michael stepped toward her.
“You're staying.”
“You can't imprison me.”
“No. But I'm calling the police if you leave after trying to destroy evidence.”
Sophia laughed.
“You're insane.”
Mason began crying.
Emily took him into the living room.
Michael watched his sister.
Then opened the six-week-old recording.
The footage showed Emily in the kitchen.
Sophia entered.
They argued.
No audio.
Emily turned away.
Sophia reached toward Emily's water glass.
Her hand hovered over it.
Then dropped something inside.
Michael stopped the video.
He couldn't breathe.
Sophia immediately said:
“You can't see what that is.”
She was right.
The angle wasn't clear enough.
It proved suspicious behavior.
Not what substance she used.
Michael turned back to the screen.
Minutes later, Emily drank.
Twenty-eight minutes after that, she became unsteady.
Sophia followed her.
Emily collapsed near the counter.
Sophia didn't call for help.
She stood over her.
Watching.
For almost a minute.
Only then did she pick up her phone.
Emily stared at the screen.
“You told Michael you found me like that.”
Sophia said nothing.
Michael whispered:
“You were there the whole time.”
Then another person appeared briefly in the recording.
A man entered through the side door.
Michael leaned closer.
He recognized him.
Sophia's ex-boyfriend.
May you like
Attorney Lucas Grant.
The same attorney currently handling Michael and Emily's estate planning.
