Chapter 2 - THE MAID WHO BROKE THE RULES
Dr. Keller arrived forty minutes later with an emergency medical team.
By then, Matteo had been transferred from his bed to a stretcher.
His pulse remained dangerously slow, and the cardiac monitor showed an abnormal rhythm.
Keller listened while Nia explained what she had observed.
The yellow-green visual disturbances.
The nausea.
The weakness.
The repeated herbal tea.
When she mentioned foxglove, his expression changed.
"Has anyone ordered a digoxin level?"
A nurse shook her head.
"Not specifically."
Keller looked toward the remaining tea.
"Preserve that for analysis."
Carlo folded his arms.
"This is ridiculous. I've been bringing my cousin tea because he asked for something soothing."
Keller ignored him.
He ordered urgent laboratory testing, cardiac monitoring, and consultation with a medical toxicologist.
Nia stepped back.
Her role was finished.
She had identified a possibility.
The physicians would have to determine whether it was correct.
As the medical team prepared Matteo for transport to a hospital equipped for advanced cardiac care, Enzo approached her.
"How did you know?"
"My grandmother grew poisonous plants."
"That isn't an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
He studied her.
"You understand what you've just accused Carlo Costa of doing?"
"I didn't accuse him of anything. I said the tea might be dangerous."
Enzo's eyes narrowed.
"That's a careful distinction."
"It's an important one."
For several seconds, he stared at her.
Then he looked toward Carlo.
The cousin had begun speaking urgently into his phone.
Enzo's expression darkened.
"Nia."
She turned.
"Yes?"
"Don't leave the estate."
Her stomach dropped.
"Am I under arrest?"
"No."
"Then I need to go home."
Enzo hesitated.
Before he could answer, Matteo spoke from the stretcher.
"She goes wherever she wants."
Everyone turned.
Matteo's eyes were barely open.
But his voice carried unmistakable authority.
"She's not a prisoner."
Nia stared at him.
He looked directly at her.
"Thank you."
Two simple words.
From a man who had never once addressed her by name.
May you like
Then the paramedics wheeled him away.
And Nia was left standing in a room filled with armed men who suddenly knew she existed.
