Chapter 8 - Teresa’s Confession
Teresa had not been kidnapped.
She had run.
Security footage showed her leaving the family mansion at 4:12 that afternoon with one suitcase and a locked silver case.
Her driver took her to Union Station.
From there, she disappeared.
Arthur became furious.
Not worried.
That distinction mattered to Clara.
“What’s in the silver case?” she asked.
Arthur ignored her.
“What’s in it?”
“Family documents.”
“What kind?”
“None of your business.”
Cole interrupted.
“If your wife is connected to an attempted poisoning, it is my business.”
“She didn’t poison anyone.”
“How do you know?”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
Clara stared at him.
“You know who did.”
Arthur said nothing.
Hours later, Teresa called Clara directly.
No caller identification.
Clara answered from the hospital hallway.
“Teresa?”
A shaky breath.
“Is Julian alive?”
“Yes.”
“Is Arthur there?”
“No.”
“Are you alone?”
Clara walked into an empty consultation room.
“Yes.”
“I didn’t poison my son.”
“I didn’t say you did.”
“I know what you think.”
“Then tell me what I should think.”
Teresa began crying.
Clara had seen Teresa perform tears before.
These sounded different.
“I gave Serena my prescriptions.”
“Why?”
“She told me Arthur needed them.”
Clara frowned.
“That makes no sense.”
“I know.”
“What exactly did she say?”
“That Arthur was worried about Julian.”
“Worried how?”
“He thought Julian was investigating company records. He wanted to scare him.”
Clara gripped the phone.
“With medication?”
“I didn’t ask enough questions.”
“What did you think they planned to do?”
“Make him sick.”
“Your son.”
“I thought it would be temporary.”
Clara closed her eyes.
“How long?”
“Small doses for several weeks.”
Rage moved through Clara so slowly that it became almost calm.
“You helped poison Julian.”
“No.”
“You gave them the medicine.”
“I didn’t know Serena would increase it.”
“Serena told you that?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
Silence.
“Teresa.”
“She called me last night.”
“When?”
“After Julian collapsed.”
“What did she say?”
Teresa whispered:
“She said it wasn’t supposed to happen at her apartment.”
Clara went still.
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Then why call?”
“Because Arthur will blame me.”
“Maybe he should.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then make me.”
Teresa sobbed.
“The medicine wasn’t Arthur’s idea.”
Clara said nothing.
Teresa continued.
“He didn’t start this.”
“Who did?”
“I don’t know her real name.”
Clara’s pulse quickened.
“Whose real name?”
Teresa whispered:
May you like
“Serena’s.”
The line went dead.
