Chapter 6: What Serena Knew
The lawyer Carol had called was named Ruth Halston.
She arrived the next morning before Preston, which was exactly what Madeline had asked for.
She was in her late fifties, wore no jewelry except a watch, and sat down with a yellow legal pad and a pen and looked at Madeline the way people look when they are already three steps ahead.
"Tell me everything," Ruth said.
"Don't edit.
Don't decide what's relevant.
Just tell me."
Madeline told her.
The milk, the bottle, the blood results, the life insurance policy, the recording on her phone, Preston's warning, Serena's name, Poppy's words to the detective.
Ruth wrote without looking up.
When Madeline finished, Ruth set her pen down.
"The recording is useful but may not be admissible depending on your state's consent laws.
We'll work with what we have.
The blood results and the bottle are the core." She looked up.
"What do you know about Serena?"
"She was his assistant.
She's been with the company three years."
"Do you know where she lives?"
"No."
"Do you know if she and Preston have a personal relationship outside of work?"
Madeline held Ruth's gaze.
"I believe so.
I have no proof."
"We may not need proof of the relationship.
We need proof of coordination." Ruth picked up her pen again.
"Detective Ruiz is already working the criminal angle.
My job is to protect you and Poppy in every other arena — custody, assets, the insurance policy.
Preston cannot be allowed to control the narrative while you're still in this bed."
"He's going to say I'm unstable," Madeline said.
"That the stress made me paranoid.
He's been laying that groundwork for months."
Ruth didn't look surprised.
"What does that look like?"
"He started mentioning my anxiety to people.
Friends, his family.
He suggested I see a therapist — which I did, and I'm glad I did, but I understand now why he pushed for it.
He wanted a record."
"Who is your therapist?"
"Dr.
Anita Voss.
She's been seeing me for seven months."
"I'll need her contact information.
She may become an important voice in your favor." Ruth made a note.
"Anyone else who has witnessed Preston's behavior toward you?
Neighbors, family, colleagues?"
"My sister.
And —" Madeline stopped.
"And?"
"Poppy's preschool teacher.
Ms.
Brennan.
She called me in February to ask if everything was okay at home.
She said Poppy had been drawing pictures that worried her.
Families with one parent missing.
A house with someone locked outside."
Ruth wrote for a long moment without speaking.
The door opened.
A uniformed officer Madeline didn't recognize leaned in.
"Ms.
Halston?
Detective Ruiz is here.
She says she has an update."
Ruth stood.
"Send her in."
Detective Ruiz entered with a folder under her arm and the look of someone who had been working since before sunrise.
"The lab put a rush on the bottle," she said.
"The residue is a sedative compound — not available by prescription in this country.
It has to be sourced through specific channels." She set the folder on the table and opened it.
"We also pulled security footage from the pharmacy two blocks from your house.
Three weeks ago, a woman matching Serena's description purchased two items.
One was a common antacid.
The other was a small amber glass bottle — empty."
Madeline stared at the still image printed on the page.
The angle was high, the image slightly grainy, but the woman's profile was clear enough.
"That's her," Madeline said.
"That's Serena."
"We're bringing her in this morning." Detective Ruiz closed the folder.
"I want you to know — Preston's attorney has already contacted our office.
He's claiming the bottle was a supplement and that you have a history of anxiety-related episodes that may explain the collapse."
"I know," Madeline said.
"He's been building that story for months."
"Your blood results don't support it.
The compound doesn't come from anxiety." Ruiz looked at her steadily.
"You were dr*gged, Mrs.
Madeline.
The evidence is there.
We're going to follow it."
After she left, the room was quiet.
Poppy was still asleep in the cot the nurses had brought in, her rabbit tucked under her chin.
Madeline watched her daughter breathe.
"What happens when he finds out Serena's been brought in?" she asked.
Ruth looked up from her notes.
"He'll try to reach her before we can."
"Can we stop that?"
"Detective Ruiz can." Ruth paused.
"But there's something else you should consider.
If Serena is smart — and she may be — she'll realize very quickly that Preston is the one with the most to lose here.
She's an accessory.
He's the one with the insurance policy and the motive."
Madeline understood what Ruth was not quite saying.
"She might talk," Madeline said.
"She might," Ruth said.
"People in her position often do."
Outside in the corridor, a phone rang.
Then another.
Then the sound of quick footsteps moving toward the elevator.
Madeline looked at the door.
May you like
Something was already happening.
She could feel it the way you feel a change in pressure before a storm.
