David: Poisoning him...? What insane lie are you telling me right now?
Elena: Look at the monitor, Mr. Vance! Look at his heart rate!
David slowly lowered the handgun, his eyes darting from Elena’s terrified face to the glowing screen resting beside the white wooden crib. The digital numbers were spiking erratically, pulsing in bright red figures.
David: His heart rate is over one hundred and eighty... why is his heart beating so fast?
Elena: Because every time he drinks from the formula bottles prepared in the kitchen, his breathing stops and his vitals crash!
David: That's impossible! My mother personally orders the imported organic formula from Europe!
Elena: I noticed the powder looked slightly discolored this morning. When I tried feeding him two hours ago, he started choking and gasping for air. I didn't ignore him, Mr. Vance! I saved him!
Elena reached into her uniform pocket with a shaking hand, pulling out a small glass vial containing a sample of white powder.
Elena: I ran a quick test using the medical testing kit your late wife kept in the nursery cabinet. The formula is laced with heavy sedatives!
David: Sedatives...? My son is only three weeks old! Who would do something so evil?!
Elena: I don't know, sir! But three days ago, I saw someone come up to the nursery while you were at the corporate office!
Before David could ask another question, the nursery door creaked open further. His mother, Victoria Vance, stepped into the room wearing a tailored silk dress and expensive diamond jewelry. Her face was twisted into an expression of exaggerated concern.
Victoria: David! Oh, thank goodness you're here! Did you catch this dreadful woman?
David: Mother... what are you doing up here?
Victoria: I heard shouting all the way from the garden! Why haven't you called the police to arrest her yet? Look at what she's done to my grandson!
Elena: Mrs. Vance... please tell him the truth!
Victoria: Silence, you disgraceful thief! How dare you speak to me after trying to hurt my family!
David: Mother, wait a minute. Elena says someone has been putting sedatives into the baby's formula.
Victoria: And you actually believe her?! She is making up wild stories to cover up her own gross negligence! I caught her sleeping on the couch yesterday while the baby was screaming!
Elena: That is a lie! I have never left this room while the baby was awake!
Victoria: David, put that gun away and have security drag her out of my house! She's dangerous!
David looked down at his crying son in Elena's arms, then looked back at his mother's furious, demanding eyes. A cold knot of suspicion began to form in his stomach.
David: Mother, how did you know the baby was refusing his milk before I even got home?
Victoria: I... well, I came up to check on him earlier, of course!
Elena: She didn't just check on him, Mr. Vance. She was the one who brought the fresh batch of formula upstairs this morning!
Victoria: How dare you accuse me, you miserable little peasant!
David: Everyone quiet! Nobody leaves this room until I figure out what is happening!
David re-holstered his weapon, his jaw tight as he stepped closer to the crib. He picked up the bottle of milk resting on the side table, smelling the faint chemical odor rising from the rubber nipple.