Chapter 1 - The Lab Report
Naomi stared at the preliminary laboratory results glowing brightly on her computer monitor.
The chemical compound detected in little Toby’s blood was not a natural allergen.
It was a highly volatile synthetic neurotoxin currently in phase two trials.
She knew exactly where this chemical originated because she read the medical journals religiously.
The patent for this specific experimental drug belonged to Sherman BioTech.
That was the massive pharmaceutical research company her billionaire ex-husband, Elijah Sherman, had purchased just three weeks ago.
Naomi printed the report and walked slowly out of her office toward the pediatric intensive care unit.
Through the glass wall, she watched Elijah sitting beside his son’s bed with his face buried in his hands.
Cassandra paced nervously near the window, clutching her expensive handbag tightly against her chest.
Naomi opened the glass door and stepped into the quiet room.
"The toxicology screen is back," Naomi announced, holding the paper firmly in her hand.
Elijah looked up immediately, his eyes red and filled with desperate hope.
"What did he eat?" Elijah asked, his voice rough from crying.
"He did not eat anything wrong," Naomi replied, turning her sharp gaze toward Cassandra.
"Your son was poisoned with an experimental neurotoxin developed by your own company, Elijah."
Elijah froze, the color completely draining from his handsome face.
Cassandra let out a loud, theatrical gasp and took a step backward.
"That is a lie!" Cassandra shrieked, pointing a manicured finger at Naomi.
"She is making this up to ruin our family and steal your money again!"
Naomi held the paper out toward Elijah so he could read the chemical breakdown himself.
Before Elijah could take the document, Cassandra lunged forward and tried to snatch the paper from Naomi’s hands.
Naomi stepped aside quickly, causing Cassandra to stumble and drop her designer handbag onto the linoleum floor.
The unlabeled bottle of liquid rolled out of the bag and stopped directly at Elijah’s feet.
Elijah slowly reached down and picked up the mysterious bottle.
He looked at Cassandra with a mixture of confusion and growing suspicion.
"What is this, Cassandra?" he asked, his tone dangerously low.
Before she could answer, Elijah’s cell phone buzzed loudly in his pocket.
He pulled it out and read a newly arrived text message from an unknown number.
May you like
Elijah looked up from his phone, his eyes narrowing into cold, furious slits as he stared directly at Naomi.
"You authorized the transfer of this exact drug from my lab to this hospital yesterday morning," Elijah whispered, turning his phone around to show Naomi a document bearing her exact digital signature.
