Chapter 1
“You first. Finish every drop.”
Meredith stared at the cup.
She did not touch it.
That answered my first question.
The conservatory had gone completely still except for Iris crying softly against Julia’s shoulder near the doorway. Spencer remained folded into the rattan chair, one hand pressed against his stomach.
I moved the cup half an inch closer to Meredith.
“Drink.”
Her breathing changed.
“Adrian, don’t be absurd.”
Interesting.
Not offended.
Afraid.
I looked toward Spencer.
He was staring at the tea too.
“You reached for this before I asked a single question.”
He said nothing.
Meredith tried to laugh.
“It’s tea.”
“Good.”
I leaned back.
“Then this should be easy.”
She looked at the cup again.
Nothing.
Julia whispered:
“Boss…”
I turned.
She was pale.
“What?”
“I saw Meredith bring that cup in herself.”
My attention sharpened.
“The kitchen didn’t?”
Julia shook her head.
“There were six cups on the breakfast tray. She took one away, came back ten minutes later, then told me that one was yours.”
Meredith closed her eyes.
Spencer muttered:
“Julia, shut up.”
Wrong move.
I stood.
Iris immediately tightened her arms around Julia.
I saw it.
So did Meredith.
My daughter was afraid of her.
That mattered more than the tea.
I walked toward Iris and crouched.
“Did Meredith make you hold Daddy’s cup before?”
She nodded.
“How many times?”
She held up three fingers.
My chest went cold.
Not once.
Not impulsive.
A pattern.
Julia added:
“For the last three mornings.”
Meredith snapped:
“She likes helping.”
I looked at her.
Iris had been denied bread until I drank.
That was not helping.
That was conditioning.
Then Spencer spoke too fast.
“It wasn’t supposed to hurt him.”
The room froze.
Meredith turned toward her brother.
He realized immediately what he had done.
I rose slowly.
“Wasn’t supposed to?”
No one answered.
I looked at the untouched cup.
Whatever they had put inside it, murder might not have been the intention.
May you like
But something had been intended.
And apparently my daughter had been used to make sure I consumed it.
