\u201cNathan, this is\u2026\u201d She couldn\u2019t find the words. \u201cWhere did you get this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was walking past a boutique downtown. Went in.\u201d He shrugged as if they were talking about buying bread. \u201cThought you\u2019d like it. You haven\u2019t bought anything for yourself in a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was true. Eleanor rarely spent money on herself. All her time went to work\u2014solving endless questions with suppliers, accounting, inspections. But for Nathan to notice this himself and buy something like that, it wasn\u2019t like him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d She kissed him on the cheek, feeling a slight bewilderment. \u201cIt\u2019s very beautiful.\u201d Nathan smiled and went to change. Forty-one years old, tall, with graying temples beginning to show, he still looked attractive. He worked as a financial analyst at a trading company, earned well\u2014but not enough to buy dresses for six hundred dollars, just like that.<\/p>\n
The rest of the evening passed quietly. Nathan talked about the business trip, meetings with partners, negotiations, boring conferences. Eleanor listened with half an ear, thinking about the coming week; an inspection was expected at one of the pharmacies on Monday, and she needed to prepare documents.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/oldagedhumor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-14-240x172.webp\")
<\/p>\n
On Saturday morning Nathan left for the office. He said he urgently needed to finish a report. Eleanor stayed home. She planned to sort through accumulated papers and perhaps try on the dress. It lay on the dresser in its box, still emerald and alluring, but she decided to postpone it until evening when she would have free time.<\/p>\n
Around two in the afternoon there was a knock at the door. On the threshold stood Clare, Nathan\u2019s sister\u2014thirty-five years old, blonde with soft features. She worked as a kindergarten teacher and always complained about her small salary. Clare and Eleanor were friends, though they saw each other infrequently.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, Ella.\u201d Clare walked into the apartment, taking off her light jacket. \u201cI was passing by, decided to drop in. Is Nathan home?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, at work.\u201d Eleanor made tea, and they sat down in the kitchen. They talked about small things\u2014about nephews, about the renovation Clare couldn\u2019t finish in her two-bedroom apartment.<\/p>\n
Then they moved to the living room, and Clare\u2019s gaze fell on the box with the dress, still lying on the dresser. \u201cOh, what\u2019s this?\u201d She came closer and peeked inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cNathan gave it to me,\u201d Eleanor said with a smile. \u201cBrought it from the business trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clare slowly approached the box and her eyes widened. \u201cElla\u2026 this is\u2026\u201d She ran her hand over the fabric. \u201cThis is a designer brand. I\u2019ve only seen this in magazines. Can I\u2014can I try it on? Please. I can only dream of something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was such sincere enthusiasm in her voice that Eleanor laughed. \u201cOf course. Try it on. Just be careful.\u201d Clare ran to the bedroom to change.<\/p>\n
A few minutes later she returned, fastening the zipper in the back. The dress fit her perfectly. Clare was slightly slimmer than Eleanor, but the difference was small; the emerald fabric beautifully set off her blonde hair. \u201cHow is it?\u201d she asked, twirling in front of the hallway mirror and admiring herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerfect,\u201d Eleanor nodded, watching her. Clare stepped closer to the mirror, examining the details of the cut\u2014and suddenly her face contorted. She grabbed her throat and started coughing, dry, tearing coughs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? What\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d Eleanor jumped up from the couch.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t breathe.\u201d Clare stepped back from the mirror, her eyes filling with tears. The skin on her neck reddened, turned blotchy. \u201cIt burns. It burns so much. Take it off\u2014take it off me!\u201d Her voice broke into a scream.<\/p>\n
Her hands clawed at the fabric, trying to pull the dress over her head, but the zipper was in the back and in panic Clare couldn\u2019t find it. Eleanor rushed to her, found the clasp, and yanked the zipper down. The dress slipped to the floor, and Clare, gasping, kicked it away.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The coughing continued. Her face was covered with red spots. Her breathing became labored. \u201cClare, hang on. I\u2019m calling an ambulance.\u201d Eleanor grabbed the phone, dictated the address to the dispatcher, described the symptoms.<\/p>\n
The operator advised opening a window and giving an antihistamine if available. Eleanor rushed to the medicine cabinet; she always kept several medications on hand in case of an attack. Her own allergy required constant readiness. \u201cHere, drink this.\u201d She handed Clare a tablet and a glass of water.<\/p>\n
Clare swallowed with difficulty, still gasping. Gradually the cough began to subside, though the redness on her skin remained. Ten minutes later the ambulance arrived.<\/p>\n
The paramedic\u2014a woman about forty-five\u2014examined Clare, measured her blood pressure, listened to her lungs. \u201cAllergic reaction,\u201d she stated. \u201cContact, judging by everything. Did you put something on?\u201d<\/p>\n
Clare nodded, pointing to the emerald fabric lying on the floor. \u201cI just tried it on and immediately\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
The paramedic picked up the dress, smelled the fabric, frowned. \u201cChemical smell. Could be a dye or treatment. Have you had allergies before?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, never,\u201d Clare shook her head. \u201cI don\u2019t suffer from anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The paramedic recorded data in the call card, gave recommendations\u2014observation, antihistamines, and if it got worse, straight to the hospital. Hospitalization wasn\u2019t required, but she needed to be alert.<\/p>\n
When the ambulance left, Clare sat on the couch, still pale. \u201cElla, don\u2019t wear this dress,\u201d she said seriously. \u201cThere\u2019s something wrong with it. I\u2019ve never had a reaction like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor nodded silently. She approached the dress lying on the floor and carefully picked it up, hooking it on a hanger. The fabric really did smell faintly chemical. How had she not noticed immediately? Because she hadn\u2019t smelled it\u2014she\u2019d only looked at it and put it away on the dresser.<\/p>\n
Clare left half an hour later, still a bit unsteady. Eleanor walked her to the door, promising to call that evening to check on her. Left alone, Eleanor returned to the living room and studied the dress under the light: quality fabric, expensive tailoring, a well-known brand\u2014but the smell was definitely chemical.<\/p>\n
Then a thought struck her that made her go cold inside. She herself had a severe allergy, confirmed by tests, with a risk of anaphylactic shock. Five years ago, after accidental contact with a certain dye in a new blouse, they had taken her to the ICU. Since then she had observed strict precautions, checked fabric compositions, avoided synthetic dyes.<\/p>\n
Nathan knew about this. He had been there during that attack, had seen how they revived her, how she spent a week under medical observation\u2014and now he had brought her a dress that caused such a reaction in Clare.<\/p>\n
Eleanor sat on the couch, feeling her pulse quicken. Could it be coincidence? Could Clare just be sensitive to something in that particular fabric? But then why would Nathan\u2014who never gave her expensive things\u2014suddenly bring this particular dress? Why didn\u2019t he check the composition, knowing her diagnosis?<\/p>\n
She stood up, went to the dresser, and pulled the receipt from the box. She looked at it\u2014and froze. Purchase date: the day before yesterday, Thursday. But Nathan had returned from the business trip only yesterday evening. He had left on Monday, and the trip was to another city a thousand miles away.<\/p>\n
So the dress had been bought here in their city, not on a business trip.<\/p>\n
Eleanor slowly sank back onto the couch, clutching the receipt. Nathan had lied. But why? She tried to call him; the phone was unavailable. She wrote a message: Call me. Urgent. There was no answer.<\/p>\n
Eleanor went to the bedroom and opened the closet. Carefully, putting on rubber gloves, she packed the dress in a thick plastic bag, tied it, and put it on the top shelf, away from her clothes. Returning to the living room, she sat at the table, opened her medical record from the drawer, and found the entry from five years ago: anaphylactic reaction to a group dye; high risk of repeated shock; recommended to avoid contact with synthetic dyes; carry auto-injector at all times.<\/p>\n
Nathan knew. He definitely knew.<\/p>\n
The phone rang. Nathan.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d His voice was irritated, hurried.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour sister was at our place. She tried on the dress. She had an attack. We called an ambulance.\u201d Eleanor kept her voice even, restraining the tremor.<\/p>\n
A pause. \u201cWhat? What kind of attack?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAllergy. Contact. The paramedic said there\u2019s a chemical composition in the fabric that caused a reaction.\u201d Another pause\u2014longer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, it happens. Clare is sensitive.\u201d Nathan was clearly choosing his words. \u201cNothing serious, though.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNathan, I have the same allergy. Only mine can end in the ICU. You remember, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, I remember.\u201d He sighed. \u201cElla, it\u2019s just an accident. I didn\u2019t check the composition. Didn\u2019t think. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dress was bought here in the city the day before yesterday. You were on a business trip.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence became almost palpable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked an acquaintance to buy it,\u201d he finally said. \u201cDidn\u2019t have time myself. What difference does it make?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat acquaintance?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cElla, I\u2019m at work. I don\u2019t have time. We\u2019ll talk tonight, okay?\u201d And he hung up.<\/p>\n
Eleanor set the phone on the table and covered her face with her hands. Inside her, everything tightened with terrible suspicions. This couldn\u2019t be an accident. Nathan\u2014who knew about her allergy; who asked someone else to buy a dress; who lied about the business trip; and the dress that had nearly killed his sister.<\/p>\n
What if she had tried it on?<\/p>\n
The apartment was registered in Eleanor\u2019s name. The pharmacies were her business. In case of her death, everything would pass to her husband as her first-priority heir. She had no will. She had always put off that question, telling herself she was still too young for such thoughts.<\/p>\n
Eleanor stood and went to the window. Outside, it had grown dark. Streetlights lit up, illuminating deserted sidewalks. Somewhere out there in the city was the person who had bought the dress at Nathan\u2019s request. Who was it? And most importantly\u2014what had they planned?<\/p>\n
Eleanor took her phone and dialed the number of her lawyer, David Harper. He had handled her mother\u2019s family affairs, then helped her with business registration. Reliable and experienced, he had helped her out of difficult situations more than once.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Harper, good evening. I need a consultation urgently.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Mitchell, I\u2019m listening.\u201d His voice was calm, professional.<\/p>\n
Eleanor briefly laid out the facts: the dress, Clare\u2019s attack, the receipt with the wrong date, Nathan\u2019s lie.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you think this isn\u2019t accidental?\u201d David clarified when she finished.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what to think, but I\u2019m scared,\u201d Eleanor admitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cTomorrow is Sunday, but let\u2019s meet Monday morning,\u201d the lawyer suggested. \u201cI\u2019ll prepare a plan of action. And now the main thing is don\u2019t touch this dress. Preserve it as is.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI already packed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExcellent. And one more thing\u2014try not to be home alone if possible. Invite someone over.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor hung up and looked around. The apartment that had always been her fortress, her refuge, suddenly seemed alien and cold.<\/p>\n
Nathan returned late at night, around eleven. He entered quietly, undressed in the hallway, and went into the bedroom. Eleanor wasn\u2019t sleeping; she lay staring at the ceiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u2019s Clare?\u201d he asked, lying down beside her.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine. I called. The medication helped.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s good.\u201d He turned on his side, his back to her. \u201cGood night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor didn\u2019t answer. She listened to his breathing\u2014steady, calm, as if nothing had happened\u2014but the receipt with the date wouldn\u2019t disappear, and neither would the chemical smell, and neither would Clare\u2019s reaction.<\/p>\n
Eleanor closed her eyes, knowing sleep wouldn\u2019t come. Ahead was the night, and after it the meeting with the lawyer and the beginning of a path that would lead either to the truth or to something she was afraid even to think about.<\/p>\n
Monday began with Eleanor calling Clare before eight in the morning. Her sister-in-law\u2019s voice sounded tired but calm.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d Eleanor asked, pouring herself coffee in the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter. The redness is almost gone. My throat doesn\u2019t hurt, but I couldn\u2019t sleep all night.\u201d Clare sighed. \u201cElla, it was terrible. I thought I would suffocate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you going to the doctor?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. I made an appointment for today with an allergist. I want to check what it was. Maybe I\u2019ve developed an allergy to something now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor paused, considering her next words. \u201cClare, ask the doctor to document the connection between the reaction and the dress officially. It\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust please ask. Say it was after contact with a new item and let the doctor record this as a possible allergen source.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clare agreed, though there was bewilderment in her voice.<\/p>\n
Eleanor said goodbye and finished her coffee, staring at the clock. In an hour she was meeting with the lawyer. Nathan had left for work early as usual. At breakfast they hardly spoke. He read the news on his phone; she pretended to check her email. The atmosphere was tense, like a string ready to snap at the slightest touch.<\/p>\n
David Harper\u2019s office was located in the city center, in an old building with high ceilings and creaky parquet floors. The lawyer was forty-four, specialized in family disputes, inheritance cases, and protection of property rights. Graying hair, a strict suit, and an attentive gaze behind glasses\u2014David inspired trust from the first minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Mitchell, come in.\u201d He pointed to the chair opposite his desk, piled with folders. Eleanor sat, placing her bag on her lap. David poured her water from a pitcher, settled into his chair, and opened a notebook. \u201cTell me everything from the beginning in detail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor started over: Nathan\u2019s return from the business trip, the expensive dress, Clare trying it on, the terrible attack, the receipt with the wrong date, the lie about where it was purchased, Nathan\u2019s strange behavior, and most importantly, Eleanor\u2019s own allergy\u2014an allergy Nathan knew perfectly well.<\/p>\n
David listened without interrupting, making brief notes. When she finished, he looked thoughtfully toward the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou think your husband could have deliberately brought you an item that could cause anaphylactic shock?\u201d His voice was even, without a trace of condemnation or disbelief.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Eleanor said, clasping her hands. \u201cBut the facts speak for themselves. He lied about where he bought the dress. He asked someone to do it for him. And this dress almost killed his sister and could have definitely killed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMotive?\u201d David asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoney. The apartment. The business. Everything is in my name. There\u2019s no will. In case of my death, he gets everything as a spouse.\u201d<\/p>\n
David nodded and wrote. \u201cGood. Now I\u2019ll explain what we can do legally. First, protect you. Second, document evidence. Third, eliminate the motive, if it really exists.\u201d He pulled the notebook closer and began outlining a plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have the dress in safekeeping?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. I packed it in a bag wearing gloves. Haven\u2019t touched it since.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExcellent. We need an expert examination of the fabric\u2014find out what specific chemical composition caused the reaction. For this we\u2019ll either contact a private laboratory or go through the police if we file a report.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA report about what?\u201d Eleanor felt her mouth go dry.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout a possible attempt to cause harm to health. So far it sounds like an assumption, but if the examination shows the fabric contains a substance from the risk group for you and your husband knew about your allergy, that\u2019s grounds for serious investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor nodded, feeling cold spread through her.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut before going to the police, we need to strengthen the evidence base,\u201d David continued. \u201cFirst, a medical report on your sister-in-law\u2019s reaction. Let the doctor document that the attack occurred after contact with a specific item.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI already asked Clare about this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. Second, your own medical record with allergy history. Third, the receipt for the dress purchase with date and place. Fourth, we\u2019ll try to find out who exactly bought this dress\u2014store, loyalty card, surveillance cameras.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor listened, trying to hold everything in her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what about the property?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the most important thing.\u201d David raised a finger. \u201cYou need to immediately protect your assets. Execute a power of attorney for managing shares in the business and accounts\u2014not to your husband but to a trusted person.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a partner, Gregory Barnes. We own the pharmacies together. He has a forty percent share.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019ll work. Execute a temporary power of attorney to him. Also, I strongly recommend making a will. Specify who gets what in case of your death. Exclude automatic inheritance by the spouse if you have doubts about his intentions.\u201d<\/p>\n
A will. Eleanor felt herself break out in a cold sweat. She had thought of it as something distant, abstract, but now it had become real.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will eliminate the motive,\u201d David explained. \u201cIf your husband planned something for money, he\u2019ll understand that even in case of your death, he won\u2019t get anything. This will either stop him or force him to act differently\u2014and then we\u2019ll be able to track it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll right.\u201d Eleanor nodded. \u201cWhen can we do this? The will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnytime. We can go to a notary today. The power of attorney also today. The sooner the better.\u201d<\/p>\n
They spent another hour discussing details. David made a list of actions, scheduled timelines, explained legal nuances. When Eleanor left the office, she had a clear plan in her hands\u2014and a fragile feeling that she controlled at least something.<\/p>\n
The next step was meeting with Clare. They agreed to meet at a caf\u00e9 near the clinic where Clare was going for her allergist appointment. Clare arrived on time, looked tired but healthy. The redness on her skin had indeed almost disappeared; only light traces remained on her neck.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d Eleanor hugged her.<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter. But scary to remember.\u201d Clare sat and ordered tea. \u201cI never thought clothes could cause such a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor paused, choosing her words. \u201cClare, I need to tell you something. I have a severe allergy documented with risk of anaphylaxis. Nathan knows about this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clare looked up, understanding flickering in her eyes. \u201cYou mean if you had tried on this dress, they would have taken you to the ICU\u2014or worse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence stretched.<\/p>\n
Clare went pale. \u201cElla, do you think Nathan\u2026 that he did it on purpose?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, but the facts are strange. He lied about where he bought the dress, asked someone to do it, and this dress is dangerous for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clare covered her face with her hands. \u201cOh my God. This is my brother. I can\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to believe it either.\u201d Eleanor squeezed her shoulder. \u201cBut I need your help. Ask the doctor to document that your reaction was connected to the dress officially in the records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay.\u201d Clare nodded, wiping her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll do it, and I\u2019ll come with you,\u201d Eleanor said.<\/p>\n
The appointment took about forty minutes. The doctor, Dr. Rebecca Morrison, a calm middle-aged woman, examined Clare, asked many questions, and listened carefully to the story of the dress.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou say the reaction started immediately after you put on the item?\u201d she clarified, taking notes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. Literally within a minute.\u201d Clare nodded. \u201cI approached the mirror and I started coughing, burning\u2026 couldn\u2019t breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Morrison frowned. \u201cFabrics often retain traces of dyes, fixing compounds, antiseptic treatments. In people with increased sensitivity, contact with such substances can cause a sharp reaction. Have you had allergies before?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Never.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen this was most likely an acute contact reaction to a chemical component in the fabric. I\u2019ll document this in the records. Contact allergen is probable. The item is a potential source.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor, sitting beside Clare, leaned forward. \u201cDoctor, may I ask a question? I have a severe allergy with risk of anaphylaxis. My medical record documents a diagnosis\u2014reaction to a group of dyes. This dress was intended for me, but Clare tried it on. Is there a possibility it contains that same kind of dye?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Morrison looked at Eleanor carefully. \u201cQuite possible. Azo dyes are widely used in the textile industry, especially for bright colors\u2014emerald, red, blue. Do you have the item?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. I kept it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI recommend conducting a chemical analysis of the fabric. If they find a substance from your risk group, you absolutely cannot have contact with this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it possible through examination to establish whether the substance was added deliberately?\u201d Eleanor asked quietly.<\/p>\n
The doctor thought. \u201cI\u2019m not a lawyer or a forensic expert, but if we\u2019re talking about additional fabric treatment beyond standard, it can be noticeable by concentration or by atypical distribution. For this, a serious laboratory examination is needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor nodded, feeling her insides tighten. So it could be checked. All that remained was to do it.<\/p>\n
When they left the clinic, Clare took Eleanor\u2019s hand. \u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFight,\u201d Eleanor answered simply. \u201cI\u2019m not going to die.\u201d<\/p>\n
The rest of the day was spent on business. Eleanor met with a notary and executed a will: she specified that her share in the business would go to her partner Gregory Barnes, and the apartment to her cousin. Nathan wasn\u2019t mentioned anywhere. She also executed a power of attorney for managing finances and assets to Gregory in case anything happened to her.<\/p>\n
In the evening, when Nathan came home, Eleanor was already in bed, pretending to sleep. She heard him moving around the apartment, looking for something in the kitchen, then stepping into the bedroom and standing at the door for a long time, watching her. She didn\u2019t move, clutching her phone under the blanket. On the screen was an open message from David: Tomorrow, we\u2019re submitting a request to the store with the receipt. We\u2019ll try to find out who bought the dress.<\/p>\n
Nathan lay down beside her but didn\u2019t touch her. He lay silently, breathing evenly, but Eleanor felt tension emanating from him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not asleep?\u201d he suddenly asked.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you\u2019re not asleep.\u201d His voice was quiet, almost indifferent. \u201cYou always do this when you\u2019re angry.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Eleanor opened her eyes and turned to him. \u201cI\u2019m not angry. I\u2019m trying to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstand what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy you lied about the dress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan sighed heavily. \u201cI didn\u2019t lie. I asked an acquaintance to buy it because I didn\u2019t have time. What difference does it make who bought it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is this acquaintance?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA colleague at work. Vanessa. She understands fashion. I asked her to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVanessa.\u201d For the first time he\u2019d named a name. \u201cHow long have you known her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA few years. Ella, what\u2019s with these questions?\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor sat up and turned on the nightstand lamp. \u201cBecause this dress almost killed your sister and could have killed me. You know about my allergy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan sat up too, his face tense. \u201cI didn\u2019t check the fabric composition. It was a mistake, I admit. But you\u2019re turning this into some kind of conspiracy theory.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen give me Vanessa\u2019s contact. I want to talk to her. Find out where she bought the dress, whether she checked the composition.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m not going to drag her into our family squabbles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause it\u2019s stupid.\u201d He raised his voice, then restrained himself. \u201cElla, calm down. It was an accident. Clare is better. You\u2019re fine. Throw away this damn dress and forget about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor looked at him and felt the puzzle pieces clicking into place. He didn\u2019t want to give the contact. He was protecting this Vanessa. He was nervous.<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t throw away the dress,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cI\u2019ll keep it, just in case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan got out of bed and paced the room. \u201cYou\u2019re going crazy,\u201d he threw out, then left the bedroom, slamming the door.<\/p>\n
Eleanor sat in the darkness lit only by the lamp and thought: Vanessa\u2014a colleague who \u201cunderstands fashion,\u201d who bought the dress at his request, whom he protected so fiercely. Tomorrow David would request data from the store. Tomorrow she would know the truth. For now, all that remained was to wait and hope she wasn\u2019t mistaken\u2014that this wasn\u2019t paranoia but an attempt to protect her life.<\/p>\n
Outside the window a light wind blew, swaying the branches. Eleanor lay back down, pulling the blanket up to her chin. Sleep wouldn\u2019t come, but she closed her eyes, counting the beats of her heart. Somewhere out there in this city was a woman named Vanessa\u2014and tomorrow Eleanor would find out who she was.<\/p>\n
Tuesday began with David Harper calling Eleanor at nine in the morning. She was already sitting in her office at the main pharmacy, going through documents for the upcoming inspection, but her thoughts were not about work.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Mitchell, there\u2019s news,\u201d the lawyer said briskly. \u201cI sent a request to the store with the receipt. The response came faster than expected. They have a loyalty system, and the purchase was registered with a card.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor felt her pulse quicken. \u201cAnd the buyer\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVanessa Pierce. Thirty-three years old. Registered at an address in the Riverside District. Works as a stylist consultant at a company that supplies clothing to retail chains.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa Pierce. So Nathan hadn\u2019t lied about the name\u2014but everything else.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs she really his colleague?\u201d Eleanor asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cChecking now. Give me a couple of hours. I\u2019ll try to find out more details. But the fact is, she registered the purchase in her own name and used her loyalty card. This is documented.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood. What next?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we need to connect everything together. Do you have the medical report on Clare?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. She gave me a copy yesterday evening. The doctor documented a contact allergic reaction with an indication of the item as the probable source.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExcellent. Your medical record with allergy history?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we\u2019re going to the police today,\u201d David said decisively. \u201cWhile the trail is fresh. The longer we drag this out, the harder it will be to prove the connection of events.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor froze. Police. Official report. This was no longer preparation; it was real action.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure this is necessary?\u201d Her voice trembled.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Mitchell, look at the facts objectively,\u201d the lawyer replied, firm but not harsh. \u201cYour husband brings you an item potentially deadly for you. He knows about your allergy. He lied about where it was purchased. He involved a third party\u2014a woman who understands fabrics and has access to suppliers. He has a financial motive: your assets. If you were my client in any other case, I\u2019d say this looks like preparation for a crime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Preparation for a crime. For her murder.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll right,\u201d Eleanor exhaled. \u201cWhat time are we meeting?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt two at the police station. Bring all documents: receipt, medical reports, and prepare to tell everything in detail.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the call Eleanor sat motionless, staring out the window. Outside, ordinary city scenes drifted by\u2014pedestrians, cars, pigeons on the sidewalk. Life went on as usual, and her world was collapsing.<\/p>\n
Her phone vibrated: a message from Nathan. Coming home late tonight. Don\u2019t wait for dinner. Short, without explanation. Before, she wouldn\u2019t have paid attention. Now every word felt suspicious.<\/p>\n
At one-thirty Eleanor went home to get the dress. The apartment greeted her with silence. She opened the closet and took the bag from the top shelf. The dress lay inside, still emerald and beautiful\u2014deadly beautiful. Eleanor put the bag into a large tote, added a folder with documents, and left.<\/p>\n
On the way to the station she stopped more than once, doubting herself. Was she doing the right thing? Maybe this was paranoia. Maybe Nathan had simply made a mistake\u2014hadn\u2019t thought. But then she remembered his face when he refused to give Vanessa\u2019s contact, his irritation, his defensive reaction, and the doubts receded.<\/p>\n
David was waiting at the entrance to the station. The building was typical\u2014gray, with metal doors.<\/p>\n
\u201cReady?\u201d the lawyer asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Eleanor answered honestly. \u201cBut let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
They were met by Detective Marcus Reed, a man about forty in uniform. He led them to an office, offered them seats, and placed a blank protocol form on the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m listening,\u201d he said, looking at Eleanor.<\/p>\n
Eleanor began slowly, trying not to miss details: her husband\u2019s return, the gift, Clare trying it on, the terrible attack, her own allergy, Nathan\u2019s lie, the oddities with the purchase. David periodically supplemented, clarified legal moments, laid documents on the table.<\/p>\n
Reed listened, taking notes. When Eleanor finished, he looked thoughtfully at the bag with the dress.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou understand the accusations are serious?\u201d he asked at last. \u201cYou\u2019re essentially claiming your husband tried to harm you using your allergy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m claiming the facts look suspicious,\u201d Eleanor corrected quietly. \u201cAnd I\u2019m asking for an investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat specific harm was caused?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo his sister\u2014an allergic reaction documented by medical examination. To me personally\u2014none yet, because I didn\u2019t wear the dress. But the potential threat is obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reed nodded. \u201cAll right. We\u2019ll need to conduct an examination of the item\u2014check the fabric composition, presence of chemical substances. Also question witnesses: your relative, the doctor, the store salesperson, and your husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe denies everything,\u201d Eleanor said. \u201cSays it\u2019s an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll check that.\u201d Reed took the bag. \u201cI\u2019ll send the item for examination to the crime lab. It will take time\u2014one to three weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
David handed him a list of questions for the examination they had prepared. Reed scanned it and nodded approvingly. \u201cCompetently compiled. We\u2019ll use it as a basis for the order.\u201d<\/p>\n
The next hour was paperwork. Eleanor signed protocols, gave explanations, answered questions. When everything was finished, Reed walked them to the exit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll take this case to work,\u201d he said in parting. \u201cBut be prepared: the investigation can go either way. If the examination doesn\u2019t show anything criminal, the case will be closed. If it does, interrogations will begin.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand,\u201d Eleanor nodded.<\/p>\n
Outside, she felt a strange relief. The first step was taken. Now she wasn\u2019t alone with her suspicions; now the system was working.<\/p>\n
David walked her to the car. \u201cYou did great,\u201d he said. \u201cHang in there. And one more thing\u2014I strongly recommend blocking your husband\u2019s ability to make transactions with joint property.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do I do that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough court. You can impose a security measure\u2014a ban on alienation of property until circumstances are clarified. This will protect your assets during the investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo it,\u201d Eleanor decided.<\/p>\n
That evening she came home and found Nathan in the living room. He sat on the couch staring at his phone, but when she entered, he looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere were you?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had things to do,\u201d Eleanor answered shortly, taking off her jacket.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat things until eight in the evening? My things?\u201d Nathan stood and came closer. On his face was irritation\u2014and something else, too: anxiety. \u201cElla, what\u2019s going on? You\u2019ve been acting strange the last few days, avoiding me, not talking normally.\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked him in the eyes. Once she had loved this man. Eleven years ago they had married, dreamed of children, made plans. What went wrong? When did he start seeing her not as a wife but as a source of income?<\/p>\n
\u201cI was at the police station,\u201d she said calmly. \u201cI filed a report.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan\u2019s face went pale. \u201cWhat? What report?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout a possible attempt to cause harm to health through the dress you gave me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you serious?\u201d Nathan\u2019s voice trembled. \u201cYou filed a police report against me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI asked for an investigation. If everything is clean, as you say, you have nothing to fear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan ran a hand through his hair, turned away, then turned back sharply. \u201cYou\u2019ve lost your mind. Because of some allergy of Clare\u2019s, you decided I want to kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou lied about the purchase. You involved Vanessa, who understands fabrics. You know about my allergy and didn\u2019t check the composition. All this looks suspicious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis looks like paranoia,\u201d he snapped. \u201cElla, come to your senses. I\u2019m your husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s exactly why I\u2019m so scared,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n
Nathan froze, staring at her. Then he turned and went into the bedroom, slamming the door. Eleanor stood in the living room, listening to him throw something around, curse under his breath. Ten minutes later he came out with a small bag.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m leaving,\u201d he said. \u201cCan\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo a friend\u2019s. Or a hotel. I don\u2019t care. I need to think.\u201d<\/p>\n
He left, and the apartment plunged into silence.<\/p>\n
Eleanor sank onto the couch. A shiver ran through her\u2014fear, relief, fatigue all at once. She dialed David.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Mitchell, what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNathan found out about the report. He left.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExpected,\u201d the lawyer paused. \u201cThat\u2019s even good. Less risk for you\u2014but be careful. He might try to withdraw money, sell something. I\u2019ll file a motion for security measures tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHang in there. You\u2019re doing everything right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor hung up and lay down on the couch without undressing. She was alone in the apartment that no longer seemed safe, but now she had protection\u2014legal, medical, documentary\u2014and it gave her strength.<\/p>\n
The next day David filed a motion in court to freeze the spouse\u2019s joint property: the apartment and accounts, securing property interests. The judge would consider the application within three days.<\/p>\n
Nathan didn\u2019t appear. He called once, spoke dryly, demanded she stop this circus. Eleanor replied there was no circus\u2014there was a lawful investigation\u2014and hung up.<\/p>\n
Clare came that evening. They sat in the kitchen, drank tea, and Clare cried quietly. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s my brother,\u201d she whispered. \u201cWe grew up together. He was good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople change,\u201d Eleanor said, hugging her. \u201cMoney changes people. If it\u2019s true, if he really wanted to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Clare didn\u2019t finish. \u201cI\u2019ll never forgive him.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Friday the response came from the court: the motion was granted. The apartment and accounts were frozen for three months, until the investigation was completed. Nathan couldn\u2019t sell, gift, or mortgage the property. He had lost his main leverage.<\/p>\n
When Eleanor called to inform him, he was silent for a long time, then said only, \u201cYou\u2019ll regret this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that a threat?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fact.\u201d Then silence.<\/p>\n
Eleanor stared at the phone screen with his name and felt something finally tear inside. Eleven years of marriage\u2014hopes, plans\u2014had turned into a cold war where everyone defended their territory. But she wasn\u2019t going to give up. Her life was at stake, and no threats would make her back down.<\/p>\n
The motive had disappeared. Nathan would no longer get anything, even in case of her death. The scheme\u2014if it existed\u2014had collapsed. All that remained was to wait for the examination results and learn the truth.<\/p>\n
The examination took two and a half weeks. Eleanor lived as if on a volcano, every day expecting a call, every night waking at the slightest rustle. Nathan never returned home, but he called regularly\u2014sometimes with demands to stop the spectacle, sometimes with attempts to make peace, promising he would explain everything. Eleanor didn\u2019t believe a word.<\/p>\n
David worked on all fronts: requested surveillance video from the store on the day of purchase, got documentation for Vanessa Pierce\u2019s loyalty card, pulled information about her workplace. The picture was gradually coming together\u2014and it wasn\u2019t rosy.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, seventeen days after filing the report, Marcus Reed called. \u201cMrs. Mitchell, we have the examination results.\u201d His voice was serious. \u201cCan you come to the station, preferably with your lawyer?\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor\u2019s heart stopped. \u201cWhat did they find?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter discuss it in person. Will an hour work?\u201d<\/p>\n
The hour dragged painfully. Eleanor called David and they agreed to meet at the station. In the taxi, dozens of scenarios tore through her head. What if the examination showed nothing? What if she\u2019d been wrong? But when she and David entered Reed\u2019s office and saw his face, it was clear the results were serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cSit down.\u201d Reed pointed to chairs and laid a thick folder in front of him. \u201cThe examination report is ready. I\u2019ll read the main conclusions.\u201d He opened the folder, took out stamped pages, and began in a professional, detached tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe subject examined was an item: women\u2019s dress, emerald green color, size six, manufacturer: luxury-class brand. During chemical analysis of the fabric, it was established: traces of an azo group dye were found in the material fibers\u2014specifically Disperse 17, as well as its derivatives. The concentration of the substance exceeds regulatory indicators for textile products by three times.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor felt her blood run cold. Azo dye\u2014exactly the group she was allergic to.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition,\u201d Reed continued, \u201ctraces of additional treatment with an antiseptic compound based on formaldehyde were found on the fabric surface. The distribution of the substance is uneven, which indicates secondary treatment of the item after production.\u201d<\/p>\n
David frowned. \u201cYou mean the dress was treated additionally after it was manufactured?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly. The experts note such concentration and method of application are not characteristic of factory treatment. This looks like deliberate enhancement of the fabric\u2019s potentially dangerous properties.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence filled the office.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does this mean legally?\u201d David asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means we have grounds to suspect deliberate actions aimed at creating a threat to life and health,\u201d Reed said, closing the folder. \u201cThe qualification is preliminary so far, but we\u2019re considering charges of attempted grievous bodily harm\u2014possibly even attempted murder if we prove awareness of consequences and direct intent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor closed her eyes. Attempted murder. Her husband\u2014the man she\u2019d lived with for eleven years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat next?\u201d Her voice sounded hollow.<\/p>\n
\u201cNext, we summon your husband and Vanessa Pierce for interrogation. We need to establish who exactly treated the dress and for what purpose. We have video from the store cameras. Pierce bought the dress personally. This is documented. We\u2019re also checking her work contacts. She really works as a buyer\u2014has access to fabric and chemical suppliers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo she could have gotten these substances,\u201d David clarified.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheoretically, yes. She has connections in the textile industry. She knows where and what to buy. But we must prove she really did it and that she acted on your husband\u2019s instructions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eleanor lifted her head. \u201cWhat about the connection between Nathan and Vanessa?\u201d<\/p>\n
Reed opened another folder. \u201cWe checked. Phone records show regular contact between them over the past eight months: daily calls, correspondence. We requested a phone data dump. There are many personal conversations there. They were formerly colleagues, but the nature of communication goes beyond work relations.\u201d<\/p>\n
A mistress. Eleanor had suspected it. Now she had confirmation: eight months\u2014almost a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also checked the financial side,\u201d Reed added. \u201cYour husband has no property of his own. The apartment, business shares, main accounts\u2014everything is in your name. In case of your death, he would receive the inheritance as a first-priority spouse. The motive is obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n
David wrote, nodding. \u201cWhen are the interrogations scheduled?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll summon Nathan Mitchell tomorrow. Vanessa Pierce the day after. We want to hear his version first, then compare it with her testimony.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leaving the station, Eleanor couldn\u2019t hold back. She stopped by the building wall and cried quietly, restrained, but tears rolled down her cheeks anyway. David handed her a handkerchief without a word.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re holding up well,\u201d he said. \u201cThe worst is behind us. Now we have evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe really wanted to kill me,\u201d Eleanor whispered. \u201cMy husband\u2014for money and a mistress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll prove it, and he\u2019ll answer,\u201d David said.<\/p>\n
The next day Nathan appeared for interrogation at two. He came thinner, confused, in ordinary jeans and a shirt, looking tired and nervous. Marcus Reed sat across from him, turned on the recorder, and began formalities\u2014date, time, identity.<\/p>\n
Nathan answered monosyllabically, staring at the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Mitchell, are you aware of the reason you\u2019ve been invited for interrogation?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. My wife filed a report.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrect. Please tell us how you acquired the dress you gave your wife on September twenty-first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan licked his lips. \u201cI asked an acquaintance to buy it. Vanessa Pierce. She works as a stylist, understands fashion. I was busy. Didn\u2019t have time myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy specifically a dress? Why specifically this brand?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to do something nice for my wife. She hadn\u2019t bought anything for herself in a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you know about your wife\u2019s health condition? About her allergy?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause. Nathan looked up. \u201cI knew, but I didn\u2019t think the dress could be dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you check the fabric composition before purchase?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDidn\u2019t think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reed leaned forward. \u201cMr. Mitchell, the examination showed the dress fabric contains a dye in high concentration\u2014exactly the type of substance your wife has a severe allergy to, with risk of anaphylactic shock. Also found was additional treatment with formaldehyde. Can you explain this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan\u2019s face went pale. \u201cI\u2026 I don\u2019t know. I didn\u2019t treat the dress. Vanessa bought it at the store, handed it to me in the box. I just gave it to Eleanor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen did Vanessa give you the dress?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThursday evening. I came back from the business trip on Friday, but met with her before that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you were in the city already on Thursday?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan hesitated. \u201cI came back earlier. A day earlier. But I didn\u2019t go home right away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was tired. Stopped at a hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich one?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOn Riverside Avenue. Don\u2019t remember the name.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reed wrote. \u201cDo you have a receipt from this hotel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Paid cash.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Mitchell, what is the nature of your relationship with Vanessa Pierce?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWork. We\u2019re colleagues.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly colleagues?\u201d<\/p>\n
The pause dragged. \u201cWe are friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour phone records show daily communication. Is this usual for colleagues?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a close relationship, but this has nothing to do with the dress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does,\u201d Reed said firmly. \u201cBecause we\u2019re considering the version that the dress was deliberately treated with dangerous substances for the purpose of harming your wife. And you and Vanessa Pierce are the only ones who had access to this dress before it got to the victim.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is absurd.\u201d Nathan jumped up. \u201cI didn\u2019t treat any dress. I just wanted to give a gift. Then Vanessa did it. I don\u2019t know. Maybe she bought a defective one. Maybe they made a mistake at the store, but it wasn\u2019t deliberate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey made a mistake at the store?\u201d Reed repeated. \u201cDo you understand that if intent is proven, you face charges of attempted murder?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan lowered his head, his face gray.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want to kill her,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you wanted to get her property,\u201d Reed said.<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Mitchell, answer the question.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had financial problems,\u201d Nathan finally admitted. \u201cI was in debt. Needed money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty-five thousand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCredit cards? Private loans?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you decided your wife\u2019s death would solve your problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d Nathan hit the table with his fist. \u201cI wasn\u2019t planning to kill her. I just\u2014\u201d He fell silent, realizing he\u2019d said too much.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou thought what, Mr. Mitchell?\u201d<\/p>\n
A long minute passed. Then Nathan said quietly, \u201cI want a lawyer. I won\u2019t say anything more without a lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n
The interrogation ended there.<\/p>\n
The next day they summoned Vanessa Pierce. A woman about thirty-three entered the office\u2014slender, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, dressed stylishly but conservatively, beautiful and self-confident. Only her eyes betrayed nervousness.<\/p>\n
Reed completed the formalities and began.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Pierce, are you acquainted with Nathan Mitchell?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. We work in the same field.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat field exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a stylist consultant. He\u2019s a financial analyst at a trading company. Our companies cooperate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you communicate closely?\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa paused. \u201cWe are dating. We\u2019re in a relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA romantic relationship?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout a year. Maybe a little less.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNathan is married.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know his wife?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. We\u2019ve never met.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you know he\u2019s married to Eleanor Mitchell, who owns a pharmacy business and an apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Vanessa said. \u201cHe told me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reed flipped through papers. \u201cOn September twentieth, you bought a women\u2019s dress at a boutique on Madison Avenue for six hundred dollars. Correct?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt whose request?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNathan asked. He said he wanted to give it to his wife.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDidn\u2019t this seem strange to you? A lover asking you to buy a gift for his wife.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa shrugged. \u201cHe explained he wanted to make amends, improve relations. I agreed to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you choose the dress yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Nathan showed me a photo. Said it had to be exactly like that. I found it in the store and bought it. And then\u2026 then I gave it to him. He picked it up that same evening.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Pierce, you work with fabrics. Do you know what azo dyes are?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause. Vanessa tensed. \u201cYes. It\u2019s a group of dyes used in textiles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know some of them are dangerous for people with allergies?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes. I\u2019ve heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know Nathan\u2019s wife has a severe allergy specifically to azo dyes?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Vanessa went pale. \u201cNo. Nathan didn\u2019t tell me that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDidn\u2019t tell you,\u201d Reed echoed. \u201cOr do you prefer to forget?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know,\u201d Vanessa repeated firmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll right. Then explain. Why does the dress contain azo dye in triple concentration and have traces of additional formaldehyde treatment?\u201d<\/p>\n
Vanessa\u2019s face twisted. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I bought it at the store. It was in a box with tags. I didn\u2019t do anything to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have access to chemical substances for fabric treatment?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have contacts with suppliers, but I don\u2019t do treatment. That\u2019s not my specialization.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut theoretically, you could get the necessary substances.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTheoretically, many people could,\u201d Vanessa said. \u201cBut I didn\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reed wrote, then lifted his eyes. \u201cMs. Pierce, do you understand you\u2019re under suspicion of complicity in attempted murder?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her hands trembled. \u201cI didn\u2019t do anything. I just bought a dress at the request of a man I love. If it turned out to be dangerous, I didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eleanor Mitchell stood by the living room window, gazing at the empty street. The evening was quiet, almost windless\u2014one of those rare autumn nights when the city seems to freeze in anticipation of something. She was thirty-seven, and for the past five years she had been running the family business, a small chain of pharmacies her late mother had founded. Three locations in different parts of the city brought in steady income, and Eleanor was proud that she had managed not only to preserve the business but to expand it.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7344,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"gutentor_comment":0,"yoast_head":"\n