Hubby made me a cup of coffee which had a very strange smell.…

And the breakfast incident two months ago. Those weren’t accidents, were they? Nina’s face contorted with another wave of pain. The tea, that was supposed to keep you home during the Johnson contract presentation, but you went anyway.

She clutched her stomach, doubling over. James said, he said we just needed to discredit you, make clients think you were unreliable. The sound of sirens filled the air outside.

James stood up, backing away from both of us. Nina, stop talking. You don’t know what you’re saying.

I know exactly what I’m saying, Nina spat, her words slurring slightly. We’ve been planning this for months, ever since Christina started outperforming me at every client meeting. You were supposed to make sure she drank it today.

The paramedics burst through the front door, and I quickly stepped aside to let them work. As they loaded Nina onto a stretcher, I stopped recording and sent the video to my private email, then to my lawyer. James stood frozen, watching as his carefully constructed plan crumbled around him.

I’ll ride with her to the hospital, I told the paramedics, my voice firm. After all, I need to make sure my sister-in-law gets the proper treatment. I met James’ terrified gaze, and I’m sure the doctors will be very interested in knowing exactly what was in that coffee.

The emergency room at Nashville General Hospital was a flurry of activity as doctors rushed to treat Nina. I sat in the waiting room, my phone clutched in my hand, replaying the recording of Nina’s confession. The tremors in her voice, the panic in her eyes, it was all the evidence I needed to prove this wasn’t just paranoia on my part.

Family of Nina Anderson, a nurse called out. I stood up noting James’ conspicuous absence. He’d mumbled something about parking the car 20 minutes ago and hadn’t returned.

I’m her sister-in-law, I said, following the nurse through the double doors. How is she? She’s stabilized, but we found concerning levels of toxins in her system. The nurse’s expression was grave.

The doctor would like to speak with you about some unusual findings in her blood work. Dr. Phillips, a tall woman with graying hair and sharp eyes, was waiting by Nina’s room. Mrs. Bennett, could you tell me exactly what happened before your sister-in-law became ill? I took a deep breath, pulling out my phone.

I think you should listen to this first. I played the recording from brunch, watching the doctor’s expression change from professional concern to alarm. This is very serious, she said, making notes on her tablet.

The substance we found isn’t something that accidentally ends up in coffee. We’re looking at deliberate contamination. Just then James appeared at the end of the hallway, his face pale and sweaty.

He’d clearly overheard the doctor’s words. Christina, he started, taking a step toward me. Let me explain.

Stay back, Dr. Phillips warned, pressing the nurse’s call button. Security to room 4-1-2, please. James raised his hands in surrender.

This is all a misunderstanding. Nina was confused. She didn’t know what she was saying.

Really? I pulled up the texts I’d discovered on his phone last week, the ones I’d secretly forwarded to myself. So these messages between you and Nina about making sure she’s out of commission before the Henderson presentation were just friendly conversation. His face drained of color.

You went through my phone? After I found the strange pills in your desk drawer? Yes, I did. I turned to Dr. Phillips. Doctor, I’ve been hospitalized three times in the past six months with unexplained symptoms…