Chapter 2 - The Spare Key
The first guests arrived before Connor reached the pharmacy.
Teresa’s sisters entered carrying gifts and criticizing the decorations. Dylan arrived with two bottles of expensive wine and a leather document case.
Amy watched him place the case beneath a chair near the hallway.
“What is that?” she asked.
Dylan smiled. “Business.”
“This is a family party.”
“Everything is family business eventually.”
Frederick began coughing against her shoulder.
Amy turned toward the stairs.
Teresa blocked her path.
“Where are you going?”
“To put him to bed.”
“Guests are here.”
“Connor said no one was supposed to come in.”
Teresa’s smile disappeared.
“Connor is not here.”
Amy stared at her.
Teresa leaned closer.
“You have lived in this family for three years, and you still don’t understand how it works.”
“I understand that my son is sick.”
“You always use that child as an excuse.”
“He is your grandson.”
“He is Connor’s weakness.”
Amy’s entire body went still.
Teresa immediately softened her tone.
“You misunderstood.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Frederick whimpered.
Amy carried him upstairs and locked the nursery door.
She gave him his medicine, checked his temperature, and sat beside the crib until his breathing settled.
Downstairs, more guests arrived.
Music began.
Furniture scraped across the floor.
Someone laughed loudly outside the nursery.
Amy called Connor.
The call went to voicemail.
She sent him a message.
Your mother let everyone in. Please come home.
A reply appeared almost immediately.
Still at pharmacy. Five minutes.
Amy placed her phone beside the crib.
Then she noticed the nursery monitor was disconnected.
She had not unplugged it.
She followed the cable to the wall and found it neatly folded behind the dresser.
A cold sensation moved through her chest.
Teresa had entered the nursery.
Amy checked the medication drawer.
The bottle prescribed that morning was there, but the cap was loose.
She held it to the light.
The liquid seemed darker than before.
Amy called the pharmacy.
A technician answered.
“The medicine should be pale yellow,” the technician said.
Amy looked at the brownish liquid.
“Do not give him any more,” the technician continued. “Bring the bottle back for inspection.”
Amy’s fingers tightened around the phone.
She had already given Frederick one dose.
The technician reassured her that the color might have changed because of contamination rather than a dangerous substance, but Amy barely heard the rest.
She wrapped Frederick in a blanket and prepared to leave.
When she opened the nursery door, Teresa was waiting in the hallway.
“Where are you going?”
“To the pharmacy.”
“With my grandson?”
“With my son.”
Teresa saw the medicine bottle in Amy’s hand.
For the first time, real alarm crossed her face.
“Give me that.”
Amy stepped back.
“Why?”
“It belongs in the refrigerator.”
“It was in the drawer.”
“You must have left it there.”
Amy looked at Teresa’s hand.
She was holding a small brass key.
Connor’s office key.
Teresa closed her fingers around it.
Amy lowered her voice.
“What were you doing in Connor’s office?”
“Looking for a pen.”
“The pens are in the kitchen.”
Teresa took another step forward.
“Give me the bottle.”
“No.”
“Do not create a scandal over medicine you probably stored incorrectly.”
Amy carried Frederick toward the opposite staircase.
Teresa grabbed her arm.
Frederick cried.
Amy pulled away so violently that Teresa nearly lost her balance.
Several relatives looked up from the foyer.
Teresa immediately changed her expression.
“Amy is overwhelmed,” she announced. “She needs help.”
“I need everyone to leave.”
An aunt laughed.
“This isn’t your party.”
“It is my house.”
Teresa’s eyes hardened.
“Not for much longer.”
Amy heard the words clearly.
Before she could demand an explanation, Dylan appeared behind Teresa.
May you like
He slipped the brass key from her hand.
Then he walked toward Connor’s office.
