Chapter 2 - The Lethal Test
I shoved the photograph deep into my pocket and motioned for Lumi to stay completely silent.
Maris walked into the kitchen dragging her rolling suitcase behind her.
She wore a bright, artificial smile that now looked absolutely terrifying to me.
"The airline canceled everything due to bad weather over the Midwest," she lied smoothly.
I forced a fake smile onto my face, praying my trembling hands would not give me away.
"I am so glad you are home, sweetheart," I replied, my voice sounding hollow and strange.
Maris placed her purse on the counter and immediately walked over to the coffee maker.
"You look exhausted, Gideon, let me make you a fresh cup of coffee before your shift," she offered.
I watched her back intently as she reached into the deep pocket of her designer cardigan.
She thought I could not see the tiny glass vial she slipped into her palm.
She turned around and handed me a steaming mug of dark roast with that same chilling smile.
I took the mug and thanked her, pretending to take a small sip while actually pressing my lips tightly together.
"I need to grab my stethoscope from my medical bag upstairs," I said casually.
I walked quickly into our master bathroom and locked the door behind me.
I opened my trauma kit and pulled out a specialized chemical testing strip used for toxicology screens.
I dipped the strip directly into the hot coffee and waited for the reaction.
The paper instantly turned a deep, violent shade of black.
It was a positive reading for a highly concentrated, lethal dose of digitalis.
If I had swallowed even a mouthful of that coffee, my heart would have stopped before I reached the hospital.
I dumped the poisoned liquid down the sink and rinsed the mug thoroughly.
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When I opened the bathroom door, Maris was standing directly on the other side of the threshold.
"Why did you lock the door, Gideon?" she asked, her eyes narrowing with cold suspicion.
