Chapter 7 - THE LAB REPORT
Two days later, we sat in a private conference room at the Ohio Attorney General’s Special Crimes Division in downtown Columbus.
Across the metallic table sat Special Agent Marcus Vance, a stern, sharp-eyed investigator with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, along with a senior Assistant District Attorney named Sarah Lin.
On the table between us lay the evidence: the sterile glass vial containing the green liquid we had extracted from Vivian's amber bottle, printouts of the high-resolution photos of Vivian's black leather journal, and the medical records from Cousin Owen's stay at the Cleveland integrative clinic.
Agent Vance lowered the state lab report he had been reading. The room was dead quiet except for the hum of the overhead fluorescent lights.
"The state forensic laboratory finished analyzing the liquid sample you brought us this morning," Agent Vance began, his tone heavy and professional. "The liquid is a hyper-concentrated, unregulated extract of Digitalis Purpurea—Foxglove. Combined with a synthetic chemical carrier designed to increase intestinal absorption."
DA Sarah Lin leaned forward, her hands clasped. "In plain terms: it is a lethal poison when administered over time. In small doses, it causes severe physical distress, cardiac arrhythmia, neurological confusion, and extreme fatigue. In slightly larger doses... it causes fatal cardiac arrest."
Ethan covered his face with his hands, letting out a ragged sigh of horror. "She was feeding that to children..."
"The lab confirmed something else," Agent Vance added, tapping the photos of Vivian's journal. "The handwriting analysis on this journal matches Vivian Bennett's public records perfectly. The dates and specific symptoms recorded in her notes correspond directly with documented hospital visits and school absences for your nephew Owen, your niece Sophie, and several other individuals over the past eight years."
"Including my father?" Ethan asked suddenly, raising his head.
I looked at Ethan, shocked. "Your father?"
"My dad died five years ago of sudden cardiac failure," Ethan whispered, tears welling in his eyes. "The doctors said it was natural... but his symptoms started right after he announced he was filing for divorce from my mother."
Agent Vance exchanged a grave look with DA Lin. "We have already submitted an emergency order to review your father’s autopsy files and medical records, Mr. Bennett. If the evidence supports it, we will seek an exhumation order."
"Is this enough to arrest her?" I demanded, leaning across the table. "Can you take her into custody right now before she hurts someone else?"
"Mrs. Bennett," DA Lin said calmly, "this isn't just an arrest. This is a multi-count prosecution for attempted aggravated murder, child endangerment, poisoning, and potentially historical murder. We executed a secret judicial search warrant on her residence two hours ago."
I gasped. "You searched her house?"
Agent Vance nodded. "Our tactical team swept the premises while she was at her country club. We seized the amber bottle, the black journal, dozens of additional chemical compounds stored in her basement, and her personal computer. We found order logs purchasing raw plant toxins from dark-web chemical suppliers abroad."
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"So it's over?" Ethan asked, his voice trembling.
"It's just beginning," Agent Vance stated firmly. "We are issuing a formal arrest warrant as we speak. Officers are apprehending Vivian Bennett at the Columbus Country Club right now."
