CHAPTER 1 The Housekeeper Didn't Call the Police
The mansion had fallen silent long before midnight.
Only the soft lights beneath the kitchen cabinets illuminated the marble island where Arthur Ashford's nightly medicine and glass of water had already been prepared.
Natalie Ashford quietly entered the kitchen.
She paused beside the doorway.
Listened.
Nothing.
She slipped a small prescription bottle from the pocket of her cashmere robe.
It looked identical to the one already sitting beside the glass.
Same pharmacy.
Same label.
Even the same warning sticker.
Only one person would notice the difference.
Natalie.
She carefully unscrewed both bottles.
Then began exchanging the tablets one by one.
Her movements were slow.
Precise.
Almost professional.
She counted every pill before placing it into the second bottle.
When she finished, she reached for the glass of water.
The kitchen lights suddenly flooded the room.
Natalie froze.
Standing in the doorway was Margaret Ellis.
The family's longtime housekeeper.
She had worked for the Ashford family for nearly twenty years.
She didn't shout.
She didn't panic.
She simply looked at Natalie.
Then quietly asked,
"Why are you doing this, ma'am?"
For several seconds...
Neither woman moved.
Natalie slowly closed the medicine bottle.
Then walked toward Margaret.
Very calmly.
Very slowly.
When she stood only a few feet away, she whispered,
"How much money do you want?"
Margaret didn't answer.
She didn't even blink.
"I've watched this family for twenty years," she finally said.
"I've seen people lie."
"I've seen people steal."
"But I've never seen someone offer a bribe before explaining themselves."
Natalie's face remained expressionless.
"I don't have time to explain."
"You do."
Margaret replied.
"Because I haven't called anyone."
That surprised Natalie.
"You haven't?"
Margaret slowly shook her head.
"If I believed you were trying to kill Mr. Ashford..."
"...I would already be calling the police."
Silence.
Natalie stared at her.
"So why aren't you?"
Margaret glanced at the two medicine bottles.
Then quietly said,
"Because I think you're trying to stop someone else."
Natalie's breathing stopped.
For the first time that night...
Fear disappeared from her face.
Replaced by shock.
"How did you know?"
Margaret walked toward the kitchen island.
She picked up Arthur's original medicine bottle.
Turned it over.
Then sighed.
"I've replaced these bottles twice this month."
Natalie's eyes widened.
"What?"
Margaret looked directly at her.
"And both times..."
"I never told Mr. Ashford."
The room fell completely silent.
Someone had already been tampering with Arthur's medication.
Long before Natalie walked into the kitchen.
👇 Chapter 2
