Chapter 3: The Prescription That Could Have Killed Her
The first thing Tristan did was run to his daughter's room.
Audrey stood beside the bed, one hand resting protectively on Maisie's shoulder.
A nurse was checking the child's pulse.
"What's happening?"" Tristan demanded.
Audrey turned.
"Someone called me. They said Maisie was given something that wasn't medicine.""
Tristan looked at the nurse.
"Explain.""
The nurse, Helen Brooks, held a medical chart against her chest.
"Mr. Vale, we've reviewed the medication order. It contains a sedative that is not appropriate for a child of her age or weight.""
Tristan stared at her.
"Was it administered?""
"No. Fortunately, the nurse on duty noticed that the dosage was inconsistent with the child's medical record.""
"Who approved it?""
Helen hesitated.
"Your fiancée's access credentials were used.""
Tristan's jaw tightened.
"Where is the medication?""
"We haven't found it.""
Audrey stepped forward.
"I know where it might be.""
Everyone turned toward her.
"What?"" Tristan asked.
"Maisie mentioned a small bottle. She said Veronica gave her juice before dinner.""
Tristan looked down at his daughter.
"Sweetheart?""
Maisie opened her eyes.
"Daddy?""
"I'm here.""
"Did Veronica give you something to drink?""
The little girl nodded.
"She said it was special juice.""
"Where was it?""
Maisie pointed toward the wardrobe.
"She put it in my little bag.""
Audrey immediately opened the wardrobe.
Inside stood a small burgundy handbag decorated with a golden butterfly.
She placed it on the bed and carefully opened the zipper.
A tiny plastic bottle rolled against the lining.
Tristan stared at it.
The label had been removed.
"Call the police?"" Marcus asked.
Tristan didn't answer immediately.
In his world, involving law enforcement was rarely simple. He had enemies inside the department, allies in the courthouse, and people who would happily exploit any weakness involving his family.
But this was different.
This involved his daughter.
"Get an independent pediatric toxicologist," he ordered.
"And preserve that bottle. Nobody touches it.""
Helen nodded.
"I'll arrange it immediately.""
Tristan looked at Audrey.
"Did you give Maisie anything?""
"Only warm milk.""
"Good.""
He turned to Marcus.
"Find Veronica.""
Marcus checked his phone.
"Her car left through the north gate at 11:42 p.m.""
"Where was she going?""
"We're checking the cameras.""
Tristan's expression darkened.
"Find her.""
At 12:18 a.m., the toxicology specialist arrived.
Dr. Samuel Hayes had treated members of the Vale family for years, but he was not part of their private medical staff. Tristan had specifically requested an outside professional after discovering the falsified prescription.
The doctor examined the bottle.
Then he examined Maisie.
He spoke quietly with Helen before approaching Tristan.
"I need to be very clear.""
Tristan stood.
"Go ahead.""
"The liquid contains a sedative compound. The concentration is significantly higher than anything that should be administered to a child.""
"Could it have killed her?""
Dr. Hayes took a breath.
"Depending on the amount consumed, yes. It could have caused severe respiratory depression.""
Tristan's face became expressionless.
"How much did she drink?""
"We cannot establish the exact amount from her description. Fortunately, she appears clinically stable at present, but she needs continued observation.""
Tristan looked through the glass partition.
Maisie was lying beneath her blanket, holding Audrey's hand.
The little girl looked impossibly small.
"Thank you, Doctor.""
Dr. Hayes nodded.
"There is one more thing.""
Tristan turned.
"The bottle contains traces of another substance. We need a full laboratory analysis to identify it.""
"What does that mean?""
"It means someone may have deliberately prepared this mixture.""
Tristan stared at him.
The room suddenly felt colder.
Audrey had never seen Tristan like this.
She had witnessed him handling business disputes, dismissing employees, and confronting men who were twice his size.
He was always controlled.
Even when angry, he spoke quietly.
Now he stood in the hallway with his phone pressed to his ear, his face completely still.
"Marcus," he said, "I want every person who entered this estate tonight identified.""
A pause.
"Not just the staff. Guests, drivers, caterers, security. Everyone.""
Another pause.
"And get the vehicle records.""
He ended the call.
Audrey approached carefully.
"Mr. Vale?""
He turned.
"How is she?""
"Sleeping.""
"Has she said anything else?""
Audrey hesitated.
"She asked whether you would still love her if she was bad.""
Tristan looked away.
For a moment, his composure broke.
He rubbed his palm over his mouth.
"What did you tell her?""
"That she could never be bad enough to stop being your daughter.""
He nodded.
"Thank you.""
Audrey lowered her eyes.
"I didn't do anything special.""
"You found her.""
"I was doing my job.""
"No.""
His voice softened.
"You did what everyone else in this house failed to do.""
Audrey looked at him.
He continued.
"Everyone was concerned about the dinner, the guests, the decorations, and keeping Veronica happy. You were the only one who noticed a child was missing.""
Audrey didn't know what to say.
Then Tristan asked, "Why?""
"Why what?""
"Why did you keep looking?""
She glanced toward Maisie's room.
"Because I grew up knowing what it felt like when nobody came looking.""
Tristan's expression changed.
Before he could ask anything more, Marcus appeared at the end of the hallway.
"Boss.""
Tristan turned.
"What?""
"We found Veronica's car.""
"Where?""
"Abandoned outside the old train station.""
"Was she inside?""
"No.""
Marcus held out a photograph.
It showed the driver's seat.
The door was open.
A smear of blood marked the leather.
Tristan examined it.
"Whose?""
"We don't know yet.""
Then Marcus handed him another photograph.
This one showed a small envelope on the passenger seat.
Tristan opened it.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
Five words had been written in black ink.
*STOP LOOKING OR SHE DIES.*
Audrey read the message over his shoulder.
Her stomach tightened.
Tristan folded the paper.
"Double security.""
Marcus nodded.
"And the wedding?""
Tristan looked at him.
"Forget the wedding.""
At 1:06 a.m., the estate's front gates were placed under emergency lockdown.
The Christmas decorations still glowed.
The enormous tree still glittered.
But the festive atmosphere had disappeared completely.
The guests had been sent home under security escort. The kitchen staff had been questioned. Every employee had surrendered their access cards.
Audrey was preparing another cup of warm milk when she noticed something beneath the hallway table.
A small white envelope.
Her name was written on it.
*AUDREY LANE.*
She looked around.
Nobody was nearby.
She picked it up.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed a young woman standing beside a hospital bed.
The woman looked remarkably like Audrey.
Beside her was a little boy with dark hair and a bandage around his wrist.
Audrey's breath caught.
She recognized the photograph.
It had been taken twelve years earlier.
The boy was her younger brother, Noah.
He had died at seven years old.
She turned the photograph over.
A handwritten message appeared on the back.
*YOU WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO FIND THE GIRL.*
Audrey's fingers began trembling.
She looked toward the security camera.
Then toward the staircase.
Someone knew about her past.
Someone knew about Noah.
And someone had deliberately left the photograph where she would find it.
"Audrey?""
She nearly dropped the envelope.
Tristan stood at the end of the corridor.
"What are you holding?""
She tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
He approached.
"Audrey?""
She handed him the photograph.
Tristan examined it.
"Who is this?""
"My brother.""
"What happened to him?""
Audrey swallowed.
"He died in a hospital twelve years ago.""
Tristan looked at the message.
Then at her.
"Why would someone leave this here?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you tell anyone about him?""
"No.""
"Did Veronica know?""
Audrey shook her head.
"She never asked about my family.""
Tristan studied the photograph again.
"Marcus!""
The head of security appeared immediately.
"Sir?""
"Check every camera covering this corridor. I want to know who left this envelope.""
Marcus took the photograph and nodded.
Tristan looked back at Audrey.
"You're not leaving this house alone.""
Audrey stiffened.
"Mr. Vale, I don't think—"
"Someone is threatening you.""
"I can take care of myself.""
"I don't doubt that.""
His voice softened.
"But whoever did this knows about my daughter, your brother, and the security system inside my home. Until I know who we're dealing with, you're staying somewhere protected.""
Audrey looked at the photograph.
"Why would anyone connect me to Maisie?""
Tristan didn't answer.
Because he was asking himself the same question.
At 2:15 a.m., Marcus returned with the security report.
"Boss, we found the person.""
Tristan looked up.
"Who?""
"One of the temporary catering employees.""
"Name?""
"Peter Collins.""
Tristan frowned.
"Collins?""
"Yes, sir. He's related to the nanny.""
Tristan's eyes narrowed.
"Where is he?""
"Security detained him near the service entrance.""
"Bring him in.""
Peter Collins was brought into the private conference room ten minutes later.
He was in his early thirties, wearing a black catering uniform. His hands shook as he sat opposite Tristan.
Marcus placed the photograph on the table.
"Recognize this?""
Peter stared at it.
Then he looked down.
"Where did you get that?""
"That isn't an answer.""
"I didn't do anything.""
Tristan leaned forward.
"Why did you leave a photograph of Audrey's dead brother in my house?""
Peter's eyes widened.
"I didn't know she would find it.""
The room went silent.
Tristan slowly sat back.
"Who gave it to you?""
Peter swallowed.
"Mr. Vale, I was only following instructions.""
"Whose?""
He hesitated.
Marcus placed a small recording device on the table.
Peter looked at it.
His shoulders collapsed.
"Veronica.""
Tristan's expression didn't change.
"What did she ask you to do?""
"She gave me the envelope. She told me to leave it where the maid would find it.""
"Why?""
"I don't know.""
"Try again.""
Peter's eyes filled with tears.
"She said Audrey was dangerous. She said Audrey had to be frightened enough to leave the estate.""
"Why is Audrey dangerous?""
Peter shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Tristan leaned forward.
"Who else is involved?""
Peter looked at Marcus.
Then back at Tristan.
"Daniel.""
Tristan's fingers tightened against the table.
"What about him?""
Peter's voice dropped.
"He paid Veronica to get rid of the girl.""
Tristan didn't move.
Peter continued quickly.
"Not kill her. He said he wanted her gone before the wedding. He said the trust would become easier to control if she wasn't living here.""
"Where did they plan to take her?""
"I don't know.""
"Who was supposed to take her?""
Peter hesitated.
Then he whispered, "A woman from the children's clinic.""
Tristan's expression hardened.
"What clinic?""
Peter looked up.
"The one where Audrey's brother died.""
For the first time that night, Tristan looked genuinely shocked.
He slowly turned toward Audrey.
She had been standing beside the door.
Her face had gone completely white.
"That's impossible," she whispered.
Peter shook his head.
"No. Veronica showed me the records.""
Audrey stepped forward.
"What records?""
Peter looked at her.
"Your brother's hospital file.""
She felt the floor shift beneath her.
"Noah died twelve years ago.""
Peter nodded.
"I know.""
"Then why would Veronica have his records?""
Peter's voice became barely audible.
"Because Daniel told her that your brother wasn't the only child who disappeared from that hospital.""
Tristan stood.
"What are you saying?""
Peter looked between them.
Then he delivered the words that changed everything.
"Mr. Vale, Maisie's name isn't the only name on that list.""
He pointed toward Audrey.
"Her brother's medical records were connected to the same private trust account Veronica and Daniel were trying to access.""
Tristan stared at him.
Audrey's lips parted.
"That's not possible.""
Peter shook his head.
"There's something else. Daniel said the little girl wasn't supposed to survive long enough to inherit the money.""
Tristan's face turned cold.
"Where is Daniel now?""
Peter looked down.
"At the hospital.""
"Why?""
"Because he went there to collect something.""
Tristan took one step toward him.
"What?""
Peter lifted his eyes.
"Maisie's original birth certificate.""
Then his phone rang.
The screen showed a number from the hospital.
Tristan answered immediately.
"Vale.""
A frightened nurse spoke.
"Mr. Vale? This is the children's ward. We have a serious situation.""
"What happened?""
"Someone came asking for Maisie's medical records.""
"Who?""
The nurse hesitated.
Then whispered:
"He presented himself as the child's biological father.""
Tristan's blood ran cold.
"That's impossible. I'm her father.""
"I know, sir. But he had a document proving otherwise.""
A long silence followed.
Then the nurse said something that made Tristan grip the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"Mr. Vale, the name on the document is Eleanor Vale.""
His dead wife's name.
May you like
And beneath it was a second signature.
*Daniel Shaw.*
