Chapter 4 - The Eviction Notice
I looked down at the forged lease agreement in my trembling hands.
My mother had actually stolen my apartment out from under me.
“You have exactly twenty-four hours to pack your pathetic bags and vacate my property,” Teresa declared.
“If you are not gone by tomorrow night, I will call the police and have you arrested for trespassing.”
My sisters laughed mockingly as they filed out of the bedroom, completely loyal to their toxic mother.
I realized that arguing with them was a useless waste of precious time.
My son's life was hanging in the balance, and I needed to find a sample of that poisoned tea.
I ran into the kitchen and ripped the plumbing pipes out from beneath the sink.
Foul-smelling water and garbage sludge spilled all over the tile floor.
I dug my bare hands into the trap pipe and pulled out a clump of soaked, unidentifiable leaves.
I shoved the toxic remnants into a plastic bag and sprinted back out to my car.
I sped back to the hospital and handed the bag directly to the waiting toxicologist.
I rushed to Emily's room, finding her hooked up to dozens of terrifying machines.
Her eyes fluttered open when I held her cold hand.
“Did you find it?” she whispered weakly.
I nodded, kissing her forehead and promising her that everything would be alright.
Suddenly, her cell phone buzzed violently on the bedside table.
I picked it up and saw a text message notification from my sister Brittany.
The message contained a photograph of a beautiful, antique diamond necklace resting on a glass counter.
It was the necklace Emily's late grandmother had given her on our wedding day.
May you like
I read the text message beneath the photo, and my blood ran entirely cold.
“Thanks for the inheritance, Emily, the pawnshop owner says this is worth at least ten grand.”
