Chapter 2 - The Hidden Camera
I stared at my husband in absolute shock as his threat echoed in my mind. This was the man I had loved and trusted for ten entire years. I slowly put my phone back into my purse and nodded silently to appease him. Mark smiled a sickeningly sweet smile and walked over to speak with the doctor. He played the role of the devastated, concerned father flawlessly. I knew I could not confront him directly without risking Emma's safety. I walked into the hospital bathroom and locked the door behind me. My hands shook as I opened the home security application on my cell phone. We had installed a hidden camera in the kitchen last month to monitor our new puppy. Mark had completely forgotten about the camera because the puppy had chewed through the power cord weeks ago. I had secretly repaired the cord yesterday morning without telling him. I rewound the digital footage to exactly one hour before the birthday party began. The video showed Mark and my sister Rachel standing alone by the kitchen island. They were speaking in hushed tones, leaning incredibly close to one another. Mark reached into his pocket and pulled out a small glass vial filled with clear liquid. He handed the vial to Rachel and kissed her passionately on the lips. My stomach violently churned as I watched my husband betray me with my own flesh and blood. Rachel took the vial and poured the entire contents into the pink lemonade pitcher. She stirred the deadly mixture with a wooden spoon and smiled wickedly. Then, Rachel turned and looked directly into the hidden camera lens. She raised her glass of wine in a mocking toast and mouthed a sentence that froze my blood. She said, "Happy birthday, Sarah." The poisoned lemonade was never meant for my daughter. It was meant for me.
