Chapter 3 - The Poisoned Needle
At exactly three o'clock, the doorbell rang.
Dr. Vance walked in carrying his heavy black leather medical bag.
He was a tall, thin man with perfectly combed gray hair and cold blue eyes.
"How is our little patient today?" he asked, rubbing his hands together.
Evelyn guided him into the parlor where Clara sat rigidly in her velvet wheelchair.
"She’s been a bit moody," Evelyn sighed.
"Hopefully, the treatment will relax her."
Dr. Vance opened his bag and pulled out a silver syringe.
The liquid inside was a sickly, pale yellow.
Clara’s heart hammered against her ribs.
"No," Clara said, gripping the armrests of her chair.
"Please, no."
"Now, Clara, don't be difficult," Dr. Vance scolded gently.
He tapped the needle to remove an air bubble.
Evelyn stepped behind Clara’s chair, placing her manicured hands firmly on Clara’s shoulders to hold her in place.
"It will be over in a second, darling," Evelyn whispered.
Dr. Vance stepped closer, reaching for Clara’s arm.
Clara thrashed backward, kicking out wildly.
Her right foot—the same foot that moved in the water—jerked upward and knocked the syringe out of his hand.
The needle hit the floor and shattered.
The yellow liquid spilled onto the expensive Persian rug.
"Clara!" Evelyn shrieked.
Dr. Vance stared at the spilled medicine, his face twisting into sudden rage.
"Look what you've done," he hissed, dropping his friendly doctor act.
Suddenly, the front door burst open.
Arthur rushed into the parlor, breathing heavily.
He stopped and stared at the broken syringe on the floor.
"What is going on here?" Arthur demanded.
Evelyn quickly recovered, forcing a sweet smile.
"Clara just had a little tantrum, Arthur."
"She broke her medicine."
Arthur walked slowly toward the puddle of yellow liquid.
He knelt down and stared at it.
Where the liquid had soaked into the rug, the fabric was actively bubbling and burning away.
Arthur looked up at Dr. Vance.
"What exactly is in this medicine, Doctor?" Arthur asked.
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Before the doctor could answer, a loud crash echoed from the kitchen.
Someone else was in the house.
