Chapter 2 - The Poisoned Tag
The grand sitting room of the Moretti estate was bathed in shadow as the storm raged outside. Paramedics had arrived through the service gate to treat Emily Carver, who was now conscious but weak, sitting on a plush sofa while a paramedic administered oxygen. Lily sat tightly tucked against her mother's side, holding her hand.
At the center of the room stood Dr. Harrison, the Moretti family physician, analyzing the contents of the baby bottle and the red cloth tag under a portable UV lamp.
Vincent stood by the fireplace, an untasted glass of scotch in his hand. Beside him, Cassandra adjusted her white satin gloves nervously, while Mrs. Hargrove and Nora stood near the grand archway under the watchful eye of two armed security guards.
"Well, Edward?" Vincent asked, his voice steady but dangerous.
Dr. Harrison turned off the UV lamp and sighed, looking up at Vincent with grave eyes. "The milk inside the bottle itself is pure. However, the red cloth tag—specifically the tight knot that was tied over the nipple ring—was saturated with a concentrated solution of liquid sedatives and industrial antihistamines."
A sharp gasp escaped Mrs. Hargrove's throat.
"If the baby had sucked on that cloth knot, or if the liquid from the tag had dripped into the teat during feeding," Dr. Harrison explained, "it would have caused severe respiratory depression. In an infant Enzo's age, it could have caused him to slip into a coma within an hour."
Vincent’s glass shattered in his grip. The heavy crystal cracked under his bare hands, scotch and blood dripping onto the Persian rug. He didn't even blink.
"Who touched that tag?" Vincent turned his gaze toward the staff.
Emily Carver spoke up from the sofa, her voice raspy through the oxygen mask. "I... I tied the tag at 10:25, Mr. Moretti. I used my usual knot—bunny ears. I wrote 'Enzo 10:30 EC' on it. Mrs. Hargrove ordered me to leave the kitchen to polish glassware in the dining room before Nora came down."
"And who was in the kitchen after Emily left?" Vincent demanded, stepping toward Mrs. Hargrove.
Mrs. Hargrove trembled, her face pale. "I... I went to the sitting room to check Miss Vale's tea service! I was not in the kitchen!"
"That's a lie," Lily's small voice cut through the heavy room.
Everyone looked down at the five-year-old girl.
Lily looked straight at Cassandra Vale. "The lady with the white gloves was near the counter. She had a small bottle in her bag. She touched the red tag while Mommy was walking away."
Cassandra’s face went completely white. "You insolent little brat! How dare you accuse me? Vincent, you aren't going to listen to the hallucinations of a servant's child, are you?"
Vincent didn't answer. He turned to Dominic. "Review the kitchen security footage."
Cassandra let out a bitter, nervous laugh. "The kitchen doesn't have cameras, Vincent. You know that. It was removed last year for staff privacy."
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"The kitchen doesn't," Vincent replied coldly. "But the smart refrigerator has a 1080p wide-angle door camera that syncs automatically with my phone."
Cassandra’s breath caught in her throat.
