Chapter 8: The Poison## Chapter 8: The Poisoned Witness
ed Witness
Daniel arrived at my apartment twenty minutes afterDaniel arrived at my apartment twenty minutes after I sent him the hospital record.
He didn't take off his coat.
He placed his I sent him the hospital record.
He didn't take off his coat.
He placed his briefcase on the kitchen table, opened his briefcase on the kitchen table, opened his laptop, and enlarged the photograph.
"Where did you get this?""
"Van laptop, and enlarged the photograph.
"Where did you get this?""
"Vanessa sent it.""
"Why would she send you something that could implicate her mother?""
"Maybeessa sent it.""
"Why would she send you something that could implicate her mother?""
"Maybe she's finally frightened.""
she's finally frightened.""
Daniel studied the handwriting.
"The hospitalDaniel studied the handwriting.
"The hospital record appears genuine, but we need to verify it.""
He picked up his phone.
record appears genuine, but we need to verify it.""
He picked up his phone.
"I'm contacting the hospital's legal department.""
I sat"I'm contacting the hospital's legal department.""
I sat opposite him.
"Daniel, if my father was poisoned that night, what happened to my mother?""
He stopped typing opposite him.
"Daniel, if my father was poisoned that night, what happened to my mother?""
He stopped typing.
"We don't know.""
"But Thomas said.
"We don't know.""
"But Thomas said Eleanor was the last person who saw her.""
"That's Eleanor was the last person who saw her.""
"That's what he believes.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The date was fourteen what he believes.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The date was fourteen years old.
Richard Bennett.
Emergency admission.
Suspected overdose.
Eleanor Bennett listed as the person who brought him in years old.
Richard Bennett.
Emergency admission.
Suspected overdose.
Eleanor Bennett listed as the person who brought him in.
And beneath the medical notes, a line had been circled in red.
**Patient.
And beneath the medical notes, a line had been circled in red.
*Patient unable to provide account of events preceding admission.*
I swallowed.
"Could he unable to provide account of events preceding admission.**
I swallowed.
"Could he have been unconscious when Mom died?""
"Possibly.""
"Then why did he tell me have been unconscious when Mom died?""
"Possibly.""
"Then why did he tell me he knew what happened?""
Daniel closed the laptop.
"Because he may have remembered something afterward.""
I looked toward the window.
Outside he knew what happened?""
Daniel closed the laptop.
"Because he may have remembered something afterward.""
I looked toward the window.
Outside, the city was beginning to darken.
"There's, the city was beginning to darken.
"There's something else Vanessa said.""
"What?""
"She told me to ask why Dad was in the hospital.""
Daniel leaned back.
something else Vanessa said.""
"What?""
"She told me to ask why Dad was in the hospital.""
Daniel leaned back.
"Did she explain why she had the record?""
"No.""
"Then I think it's time"Did she explain why she had the record?""
"No.""
"Then I think it's time we spoke to her.""
Vanessa agreed to meet me the following afternoon.
She chose a private we spoke to her.""
Vanessa agreed to meet me the following afternoon.
She chose a private dining room at the Halston Hotel, a place she frequently visited with Eleanor.
When I arrived, she was dining room at the Halston Hotel, a place she frequently visited with Eleanor.
When I arrived, she was already seated.
A glass of sparkling water stood already seated.
A glass of sparkling water stood beside her handbag.
She wore a white designer beside her handbag.
She wore a white designer suit and a gold watch.
She suit and a gold watch.
She looked like someone preparing for a business meeting.
Not someone who had spent the previous evening sending looked like someone preparing for a business meeting.
Not someone who had spent the previous evening sending evidence of a possible crime to her stepsister.
I sat opposite her.
"Why did you send me the hospital record?""
Vanessa glanced evidence of a possible crime to her stepsister.
I sat opposite her.
"Why did you send me the hospital record?""
Vanessa glanced toward the door.
"Because you wouldn't stop toward the door.
"Because you wouldn't stop asking questions.""
"That's not an answer.""
She sighed asking questions.""
"That's not an answer.""
She sighed.
"You're exhausting, Maya.""
"And you're avoiding the question.""
She stirred her drink.
"Mom.
"You're exhausting, Maya.""
"And you're avoiding the question.""
She stirred her drink.
"Mom told me never to discuss that night.""
I leaned forward.
"How old were you?""
"Eleven.""
told me never to discuss that night.""
I leaned forward.
"How old were you?""
"Eleven.""
"What do you remember?""
She looked"What do you remember?""
She looked down.
For a moment, I saw something different in her expression.
Not arrogance.
Fear.
"I down.
For a moment, I saw something different in her expression.
Not arrogance.
Fear.
"I remember Dad calling Mom.""
remember Dad calling Mom.""
"Richard?""
"Yes.""
"Where was he?""
"At the old atelier.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What"Richard?""
"Yes.""
"Where was he?""
"At the old atelier.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What did he say?""
Vanessa rubbed her thumb against the side of her glass.
"He said Claire was gone.""
I did he say?""
Vanessa rubbed her thumb against the side of her glass.
"He said Claire was gone.""
I stared at her.
"Mom?""
"That's what he said.""
stared at her.
"Mom?""
"That's what he said.""
"Did he say she was dead?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Then Mom told me to stay in my bedroom. She left"Did he say she was dead?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Then Mom told me to stay in my bedroom. She left the house.""
"Did she return?""
"Not until morning.""
I tried to keep the house.""
"Did she return?""
"Not until morning.""
I tried to keep my voice steady.
"Did she have anything with her?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"A handbag my voice steady.
"Did she have anything with her?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"A handbag.""
"Anything else?""
"A small blue box.""
My heart.""
"Anything else?""
"A small blue box.""
My heart began pounding.
"Do you remember what it looked like?""
"Silver clasp. Dark began pounding.
"Do you remember what it looked like?""
"Silver clasp. Dark blue velvet. About this big.""
She held her hands apart.
I recognized the description.
My blue velvet. About this big.""
She held her hands apart.
I recognized the description.
My mother had kept a small velvet box in her sewing room.
I had seen it as a child.
I thought it contained jewelry.
"Where mother had kept a small velvet box in her sewing room.
I had seen it as a child.
I thought it contained jewelry.
"Where is it now?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I is it now?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
"Because Mom said it don't know.""
I stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
"Because Mom said it was a family secret.""
"Your mother?""
Vanessa looked was a family secret.""
"Your mother?""
Vanessa looked up.
"She said if I ever told anyone, I'd lose everything.""
I studied her face.
"What up.
"She said if I ever told anyone, I'd lose everything.""
I studied her face.
"What did she mean?""
Vanessa's eyes filled did she mean?""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"She said Dad would go to prison,.
"She said Dad would go to prison, and I would have nobody.""
I leaned back.
For the first time, I realized Vanessa might have been more than an and I would have nobody.""
I leaned back.
For the first time, I realized Vanessa might have been more than an accomplice.
She might also have been a child who had grown up inside Eleanor's lies.
But I accomplice.
She might also have been a child who had grown up inside Eleanor's lies.
But I wasn't ready to forgive her.
"Did you know she stole my collection?""
Van wasn't ready to forgive her.
"Did you know she stole my collection?""
Vanessa's expression hardened again.
"Of course.""
"Did you know she filed that false ownershipessa's expression hardened again.
"Of course.""
"Did you know she filed that false ownership declaration?""
"Yes.""
"Did you sign it?""
She looked away.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
" declaration?""
"Yes.""
"Did you sign it?""
She looked away.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because Mom told me to.""
I stared at her.
"You are twenty-five years old, Vanessa.""
Because Mom told me to.""
I stared at her.
"You are twenty-five years old, Vanessa.""
"I know.""
"You're old enough to understand that what you did was wrong.""
She swallowed"I know.""
"You're old enough to understand that what you did was wrong.""
She swallowed.
"I know that too.""
I waited.
Then she said something I hadn't expected.
"I thought if I did.
"I know that too.""
I waited.
Then she said something I hadn't expected.
"I thought if I did everything she wanted, she'd finally stop treating me like I was disposable.""
I frowned.
"What?""
everything she wanted, she'd finally stop treating me like I was disposable.""
I frowned.
"What?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Mom never loved me the way you think.""
I almost laughed.
Vanessa looked at me.
"Mom never loved me the way you think.""
I almost laughed.
"You've had everything.""
"Exactly. Things. Clothes.
Cars. Parties"You've had everything.""
"Exactly. Things. Clothes.
Cars. Parties. Everything except the one thing I wanted.""
"What?""
She looked down.
"To be enough.""
For. Everything except the one thing I wanted.""
"What?""
She looked down.
"To be enough.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I remembered the red gown.
The slap.
The way a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I remembered the red gown.
The slap.
The way she had looked at me as she walked away with my shoes.
"Whatever happened between she had looked at me as she walked away with my shoes.
"Whatever happened between you and Eleanor, you had no right to hurt me.""
"I you and Eleanor, you had no right to hurt me.""
"I know.""
"And you had no right to steal my work.""
"I know.""
She wiped her eyes.
" know.""
"And you had no right to steal my work.""
"I know.""
She wiped her eyes.
"There's something you need to see.""
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a small flash drive.
IThere's something you need to see.""
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a small flash drive.
I looked at it.
"What's that?""
"An old recording.""
"Of what?""
"Mom looked at it.
"What's that?""
"An old recording.""
"Of what?""
"Mom and Dad. The night Claire died.""
My breath caught.
"Where did you get it?""
"I found it in Mom and Dad. The night Claire died.""
My breath caught.
"Where did you get it?""
"I found it in Mom's office last year.""
"Why didn't you give it to the police?""
Vanessa looked at me.
's office last year.""
"Why didn't you give it to the police?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Because it shows what happened after Richard was poisoned.""
She slid the drive across the table.
"And"Because it shows what happened after Richard was poisoned.""
She slid the drive across the table.
"And Maya?""
"Yes?""
Her voice dropped.
"There's a reason Mom Maya?""
"Yes?""
Her voice dropped.
"There's a reason Mom was so desperate to steal your was so desperate to steal your collection.""
I waited.
"She wasn't trying to become famous.""
"Then what was she trying to do?""
collection.""
I waited.
"She wasn't trying to become famous.""
"Then what was she trying to do?""
Vanessa stared at the table.
"She was trying to sell something that belonged to your mother before the truthVanessa stared at the table.
"She was trying to sell something that belonged to your mother before the truth came out.""
Daniel examined the flash drive that came out.""
Daniel examined the flash drive that evening.
It contained a single video file.
The recording quality was poor.
The camera appeared to have been positioned on evening.
It contained a single video file.
The recording quality was poor.
The camera appeared to have been positioned on a shelf inside an office.
The timestamp showed the date of my mother's death.
At a shelf inside an office.
The timestamp showed the date of my mother's death.
At first, the room was empty.
Then Eleanor entered.
She was wearing a dark coat.
She placed a handbag on first, the room was empty.
Then Eleanor entered.
She was wearing a dark coat.
She placed a handbag on the desk and checked her watch.
A few minutes later, Richard appeared.
He looked pale the desk and checked her watch.
A few minutes later, Richard appeared.
He looked pale.
His movements were unsteady.
He sat down heavily.
Eleanor approached him.
"Did you bring it?""
Richard nodded.
His movements were unsteady.
He sat down heavily.
Eleanor approached him.
"Did you bring it?""
Richard nodded.
"Where is it?""
"In the car.""
She leaned closer.
"Did you take the documents?""
".
"Where is it?""
"In the car.""
She leaned closer.
"Did you take the documents?""
"Yes.""
"And Claire?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"She's not going to sign.""
Eleanor'sYes.""
"And Claire?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"She's not going to sign.""
Eleanor's expression hardened.
"Then we have a problem.""
Richard looked up.
"She's my wife.""
Eleanor laughed.
expression hardened.
"Then we have a problem.""
Richard looked up.
"She's my wife.""
Eleanor laughed.
"She stopped being your wife the moment she decided to destroy us.""
I"She stopped being your wife the moment she decided to destroy us.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
The recording continued.
Richard stood abruptly felt my stomach tighten.
The recording continued.
Richard stood abruptly.
"Give me the keys. I'm going to talk to her.""
Eleanor stepped in.
"Give me the keys. I'm going to talk to her.""
Eleanor stepped in front of him.
"You're not going anywhere.""
"Move front of him.
"You're not going anywhere.""
"Move.""
"Richard, sit down.""
He pushed past her.
Then he stumbled.
His hand caught the edge of the desk.""
"Richard, sit down.""
He pushed past her.
Then he stumbled.
His hand caught the edge of the desk.
Eleanor watched him.
"What's wrong?""
He struggled to speak.
"My head...""
.
Eleanor watched him.
"What's wrong?""
He struggled to speak.
"My head...""
She took a step backward.
"What's happening?""
He fell to his knees.
Daniel paused the recording.
I looked at him.
She took a step backward.
"What's happening?""
He fell to his knees.
Daniel paused the recording.
I looked at him.
"She poisoned him.""
"Possibly.""
"She knew.""
"She poisoned him.""
"Possibly.""
"She knew.""
Daniel restarted the video.
Eleanor crouched beside Richard.
She checked his pulse.
Daniel restarted the video.
Eleanor crouched beside Richard.
She checked his pulse.
Then she picked up his phone.
The camera captured her face as she made a call.
"Then she picked up his phone.
The camera captured her face as she made a call.
"He's down," she whispered.
"No, not yet. I needHe's down," she whispered.
"No, not yet. I need another hour.""
She listened.
Then said:
"Claire is still at the atelier. I'll another hour.""
She listened.
Then said:
"Claire is still at the atelier. I'll handle it.""
She ended the call.
For several seconds, she simply stood there.
Then she walked handle it.""
She ended the call.
For several seconds, she simply stood there.
Then she walked out.
The video continued for another three minutes.
Nobody entered.
Nobody checked on Richard.
Finally out.
The video continued for another three minutes.
Nobody entered.
Nobody checked on Richard.
Finally, the screen went black.
I stared at the laptop.
"Who did she call?""
Daniel shook his head.
"The, the screen went black.
I stared at the laptop.
"Who did she call?""
Daniel shook his head.
"The recording doesn't identify the number.""
I pressed my fingers against my lips.
"She left recording doesn't identify the number.""
I pressed my fingers against my lips.
"She left him there.""
"Yes.""
"While my him there.""
"Yes.""
"While my mother was still alive.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
Then he opened the file properties.
"There mother was still alive.""
Daniel nodded slowly.
Then he opened the file properties.
"There may be something else.""
He enlarged the timestamp.
The recording had been copied may be something else.""
He enlarged the timestamp.
The recording had been copied onto the drive almost a year after the incident.
"Who copied it?"" onto the drive almost a year after the incident.
"Who copied it?"" I asked.
"That's what I'm trying to establish.""
He examined the metadata.
Then his expression I asked.
"That's what I'm trying to establish.""
He examined the metadata.
Then his expression changed.
"Interesting.""
"What?""
"The original file was created on a security system registered changed.
"Interesting.""
"What?""
"The original file was created on a security system registered to Bennett Atelier.""
I leaned forward.
"Meaning?""
"Meaning someone had access to your mother's office cameras to Bennett Atelier.""
I leaned forward.
"Meaning?""
"Meaning someone had access to your mother's office cameras.""
"Thomas?""
"Possibly.""
Daniel continued examining the file.
Then he noticed a second audio track.
He.""
"Thomas?""
"Possibly.""
Daniel continued examining the file.
Then he noticed a second audio track.
He isolated it.
A faint voice emerged beneath the background noise.
A woman's voice.
My mother's.
isolated it.
A faint voice emerged beneath the background noise.
A woman's voice.
My mother's.
"Richard, if you're hearing this, please come home.""
I stopped breathing.
The recording crackled.
Then"Richard, if you're hearing this, please come home.""
I stopped breathing.
The recording crackled.
Then my mother's voice continued.
"She's here. She's taken the blueprints. I don't know what she's my mother's voice continued.
"She's here. She's taken the blueprints. I don't know what she's planning, but I need you to believe me.""
A pause.
Then:
"Please, Richard planning, but I need you to believe me.""
A pause.
Then:
"Please, Richard. Don't let her take Maya.""
The audio ended.
I stared at the screen.
My mother had known. Don't let her take Maya.""
The audio ended.
I stared at the screen.
My mother had known.
She had been afraid.
And she had been asking my father for help.
The following.
She had been afraid.
And she had been asking my father for help.
The following morning, Daniel received confirmation from the hospital.
Richard morning, Daniel received confirmation from the hospital.
Richard Bennett had been admitted at 11:47 p.m Bennett had been admitted at 11:47 p.m. on the night Claire died.
The initial diagnosis had been suspected poisoning.
A toxicology screening. on the night Claire died.
The initial diagnosis had been suspected poisoning.
A toxicology screening had detected an unidentified sedative.
The medical report also recorded a second detail had detected an unidentified sedative.
The medical report also recorded a second detail.
Richard had arrived with a woman named Eleanor Bennett.
But he had not been.
Richard had arrived with a woman named Eleanor Bennett.
But he had not been discharged until the following afternoon.
I read the report twice.
"Then Dad discharged until the following afternoon.
I read the report twice.
"Then Dad couldn't have been with Mom when she died.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not physically, no.""
"Who couldn't have been with Mom when she died.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not physically, no.""
"Who called the ambulance?""
"The hospital records don't say.""
I looked at the report again.
"Can called the ambulance?""
"The hospital records don't say.""
I looked at the report again.
"Can we find the doctor who treated him?""
"His name is listed. Unfortunately, he retired several we find the doctor who treated him?""
"His name is listed. Unfortunately, he retired several years ago.""
"Can we contact him?""
"I'm already trying.""
My phone rang.
Dad.
I answered.
"M years ago.""
"Can we contact him?""
"I'm already trying.""
My phone rang.
Dad.
I answered.
"Maya?""
His voice sounded weak.
"Yes.""
"Have you beenaya?""
His voice sounded weak.
"Yes.""
"Have you been speaking to Vanessa?""
I looked at Daniel.
"Why?""
"Because she's been asking questions about that speaking to Vanessa?""
I looked at Daniel.
"Why?""
"Because she's been asking questions about that night.""
I closed my eyes.
"She sent me the recording.""
There was a long silence.
Then night.""
I closed my eyes.
"She sent me the recording.""
There was a long silence.
Then Dad whispered:
"She wasn't supposed to have it.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"What happened Dad whispered:
"She wasn't supposed to have it.""
I felt my pulse quicken.
"What happened that night?""
He breathed shakily.
"I need to see you.""
"Why?""
"Because there's that night?""
He breathed shakily.
"I need to see you.""
"Why?""
"Because there's something I never told you.""
"What?""
He paused.
Then said:
"Your mother was alive when I something I never told you.""
"What?""
He paused.
Then said:
"Your mother was alive when I was taken to the hospital.""
I gripped the phone.
"How do you know?""
"Because I heard her voice was taken to the hospital.""
I gripped the phone.
"How do you know?""
"Because I heard her voice.""
"Where?""
"On the phone. Eleanor called me after I collapsed.""
I looked at Daniel.
His.""
"Where?""
"On the phone. Eleanor called me after I collapsed.""
I looked at Daniel.
His expression had become very still.
Dad continued.
"She told me Claire had been taken to the hospital.""
expression had become very still.
Dad continued.
"She told me Claire had been taken to the hospital.""
I swallowed.
"Which hospital?""
He hesitated.
Then gaveI swallowed.
"Which hospital?""
He hesitated.
Then gave me the name.
It was a small private medical center outside the city.
The same hospital where he me the name.
It was a small private medical center outside the city.
The same hospital where he had been treated.
I stared at Daniel.
He was already searching its records.
Then Dad had been treated.
I stared at Daniel.
He was already searching its records.
Then Dad said something else.
"Maya, there's something you need to understand.""
"What?""
"Eleanor didn't said something else.
"Maya, there's something you need to understand.""
"What?""
"Eleanor didn't poison me because she wanted me dead.""
My throat tightened.
"Then why?""
His answer poison me because she wanted me dead.""
My throat tightened.
"Then why?""
His answer came quietly.
"Because I had found the original blueprints, and I was going to give them back to your came quietly.
"Because I had found the original blueprints, and I was going to give them back to your mother.""
The call ended.
Daniel looked at me.
On his screen was an old hospital record mother.""
The call ended.
Daniel looked at me.
On his screen was an old hospital record.
The admission time for Richard Bennett was 11:47 p.m.
But the second record showed something else.
A woman had.
The admission time for Richard Bennett was 11:47 p.m.
But the second record showed something else.
A woman had been admitted to the same hospital at 12:16 a.m.
*Claire Bennett.*
And her condition had been admitted to the same hospital at 12:16 a.m.
*Claire Bennett.*
May you like
And her condition had been recorded as:
*Alive on arrival.*
