Chapter 18 - TWO GLASSES
The pantry footage confirmed it.
Evelyn had prepared two drinks.
One was placed at Owen's seat.
The second sat near Sarah's chair.
Sarah never touched it because she had been inside helping an aunt with a burned casserole.
Later, Evelyn carried the untouched glass into the kitchen.
That glass was gone.
Detective Ramos searched the house again.
He found it in the dishwasher.
Clean.
But not clean enough.
A swab from the inner rim preserved trace evidence.
The lab report came back the following afternoon.
The second glass contained the same class of sedating medication.
Sarah sat on the edge of Owen's hospital bed when Ramos told them.
"She wanted me sick too."
Daniel took her hand.
Ramos nodded. "The working theory is that if both you and Owen became impaired at the party, she could create a scene suggesting you had exposed him to something."
Sarah looked sick.
"And Daniel would walk in and see both of us like that."
"Exactly."
The entire plan depended on Daniel doing what he had always done.
Believing his mother first.
That realization hurt more than he expected.
Evelyn had not merely counted on money, influence, and forged papers.
She had counted on her son's habits.
His silence.
His excuses.
His instinct to keep peace.
Daniel looked at Sarah.
"I'm sorry."
She squeezed his hand.
"Then don't apologize once. Change forever."
That evening Owen was discharged.
As they stepped into the parking lot, reporters were waiting.
May you like
One shouted a question that stopped Daniel cold.
"Mr. Mercer, is it true your mother says Sarah planned the whole thing?"
