When they reached the car, Phire exhaled. “LT was right. I should have left it alone. Lauren is a bitch on wheels.” She unlocked the car then got into the driver’s seat. When Opal closed the passenger door, Phire sat back. “Do you think I should still invite the others?”
“I don’t see why not,” Opal said. “They all came to support LT when he was sworn in as Mayor. They have kept a line of communication open with him and you. Don’t hold what Lauren did against them. I’m not sure you should even hold it against Lawrence either. She may not represent his feelings at all.”
Phire stared at Opal for a long moment. “You know, I think you are right.”
“Of course, I am. I’m your big sister. I’m always right.” Opal laughed. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Phire started the vehicle then turned onto Route 5 heading back to Richmond. They were discussing the wedding when suddenly Opal groaned.
“What’s wrong?” Phire chuckled. “You got to pee after drinking all that tea?”
“No.”
Phire looked over to see Opal rubbing her stomach. “Opal.” Phire looked back at the road, then back to Opal. “What’s happening, Opal?”
“I’m cramping,” Opal moaned.
“You’re on your period?” Phire asked, checking the road and glancing at Opal.
“No…” Opal moaned again. “It’s something else.”
“Genevieve, check Opal’s vitals,” Phire ordered. Since starting her new position with The Administration, Phire had access to equipment others did not, such as Genevieve, the vehicle computer system built for covert operatives. The vehicle was equipped with evasive maneuver capabilities, weaponry, and medical assistance. Phire would never reveal her access to anyone, however, she was also not going to crash the vehicle while trying to administer first aide to her sister who appeared to be getting worse by the minute.
“Low blood pressure, sweating, body temperature decreasing. Navigation to the nearest hospital has been implemented,” Genevieve responded. A drawer on the dashboard popped out. “Administer counteractive for ingested poison.”
“Poison?” Phire gasped. “Genevieve, are you sure?”
“I was programmed by Adam Lassiter.”
“Right.” Phire checked the road then pulled the tablet from the drawer. “Opal, take this…now!”
Opal slowly turned her head towards her sister. It looked as if all the blood had drained from her face.
“Open your mouth, Opal! NOW!”
Opal did as she was instructed just as the phone in her purse buzzed. Phire did not have time to search in Opal’s purse to answer it. She pushed the button on her dashboard then hit the gas.
“Phire, what’s up?” Grant’s voice filled the air in the vehicle.
“I’m en route to the emergency room at the hospital on Broad. Something’s wrong with Opal.”
“What?”
Phire heard the fear in his voice and the phone in Opal’s purse buzzing again. “What the hell is happening?” Phire screamed. “Hold on, Opal…hold on.” She did not waste any time. “Genevieve, initiate emergency maneuvers. Get us to the hospital, now.”
“Affirmative.”
The vehicle’s steering was taken over by the computer as Phire reached for Opal’s phone. “Timothy.” She shook her head. She should have known. He was Opal’s twin, if she was hurting he would know. She answered the call. “I can’t talk right now, Timothy, I’m trying to get Opal to the hospital.”
“Where?’ Timothy demanded.
“MCV on Broad.”
“I’ll meet you there,” he replied.
“Get Sally.”
“On it.”
Thank goodness he did not ask any questions. She disconnected the call. “Genevieve, call LT.”
Before she finished the order the phone in the vehicle sounded. Phire pushed the button to answer the call.
“What happened, Sapphire?” LT’s voice filled the vehicle.
“I don’t know we just left the restaurant from lunch and we were talking and she started moaning. I think she has been poisoned.”
“Poisoned?” She heard Grant’s frantic voice.
“Listen, we are pulling up to the emergency room now,” Phire stated. “Get here as quick as you can.” She disconnected the call.
“Dr. Amber Lassiter has been contacted,” Genevieve announced. “You will be met at the door by Dr. Austin. He will oversee her care until Dr. Lassiter arrives.”
“Thank you, Genevieve,” Phire responded as the car came to a stop. She jumped out of the vehicle then ran to the passenger side. A team of people dressed in blue scrubs were bursting through the door.
“Are you Sapphire Lassiter?”
“Yes,” Phire confirmed. “This is my sister Opal Hutchinson. I’m not sure but I think she has been poisoned.”
“I’m Dr. Austin. Do you know what she took?”
Phire leaned into the vehicle. “Genevieve?”
“Bromethalin,” the vehicle advised.
“Rat poison?” Phire frowned then stood back up to follow the doctor inside. “Bromethalin.”
The doctor nodded. “We will take it from here.”
Phire watched as they wheeled Opal to the back. She stood there for a moment as a nurse approached her.
“The doctors will take care of her. We need you to stay here and fill out this paperwork on your sister.”
Phire looked at the nurse as if she was crazy. “Like hell I will.” She rushed past the nurse, following the doctor to the back. “I’m here, Opal. Grant is on his way.”
“Call Sally,” Opal called out.
“Done.” She walked over to take her sister’s hand. “Still cramping?”
“We need a moment to examine her,” Dr. Austin spoke to Phire. “I know you are concerned. If she ingested poison we need to work quickly. I can assure you she is in good hands. Please let me work.”
“Go, Phire. I’m going to be okay. Go.”
Phire was torn between concern and following her sister’s request. She knew the pill she gave Opal would counteract any serious damage. It was just the thought of Opal being in pain that cut deep. “Okay.” Phire nodded. “I’ll be right outside this door, Opal.”
“I know.”
Phire walked into the waiting area to see Grant running through the door.
“Where is she?” he demanded.
“Right behind the doors,” Phire replied, relieved he had arrived. Now, she knew Opal wasn’t alone.
“Sapphire.” LT walked in the door. She walked into his open arms, ready for his comfort. He kissed her forehead. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Only Opal got sick.”
He took her hand as they stepped to the side. “Tell me what happened.”
“I’m going to tell you what happened. Somebody at the restaurant put poison in our…” Phire stopped mid-sentence. “Wait, we never ate. We got into it with Lauren before the food came. It had to be the tea.” She thought. “It’s the only thing we had. Lauren did not drink the tea. She had a special order brought out to her. I did not drink the tea.”
“Did Opal?” LT asked.
“She did when she came back.”
“Came back from where?”
Phire thought. “She walked back inside with Sarah.”
“Who is Sarah?”
“The hostess at the restaurant. Opal went back inside to give me time alone with Lauren. When she came back out she finished my tea.” Phire looked away, thinking back to everything that was said and happened. Her head snapped back to look at him. “LT, that heifer tried to poison me.”
“Is that a leap, Sapphire?”
“No.” She stepped back. “Listen, Opal walked back inside. That’s when I let go of the pretenses. I did not like her and she clearly did not want to be a part of our wedding. I stepped away from the table to keep from smacking her. I turned my back. Don’t you see that’s when she did it? I did not drink the tea after that. Opal did. Opal took my glass and finished it off. That heifer was trying to poison me.”
“Phire. Where is Opal?” Timothy and his wife Denise arrived.
“She’s with the doctors. Grant is back there with her,” Phire replied.
“How is she doing?” Denise asked.
“Not sure. They haven’t come back out to advise us yet,” LT replied as Diamond and her husband Zack came through the doors.
“Phire.” Diamond ran over to her. “How is she?”
“We’re still waiting for the doctors…” Phire began when her cellphone buzzed. She pulled it from her pocket. It was Adam. “Hold on everyone. Adam, is Amber with you?”
“Yes, she’s on speaker,” Adam replied.
Amber chimed in. “I received Opal’s vitals from Genevieve. The counteractive should have stopped the poison from progressing. But she is going to be nauseous for a while. Grant has given the administrator permission to talk to everyone as soon as he has all the details. I understand the family is descending on the waiting room. He will move everyone to a secure location.”
“Phire.” Luke and his bride Sasha walked in the door. “Some fool is trapped inside your car trying to get out. I think he was trying to steal Genevieve. Do you want me to handle it?” Luke asked.
“Please.” Phire nodded then looked at the crowd gathering around them. “Adam, get the administrator down here before this becomes a situation. None of us need the publicity.”
“Pearl has already called ahead,” Adam said. “Someone is on their way downstairs. Are Joe and Sally there yet?”
“They are walking in the door now, with Ruby and Devin,” Phire answered.
“Good. We will talk when I get there.”
Phire disconnected the call from Adam just as her parents reached her.
“Phire, where is your sister?” Sally asked.
“In the examination room. Grant is with her.”
“Are you okay? Do you need to be checked out?” Joe asked.
“No, Daddy. Whatever Opal digested I did not,” Phire replied.
“Do you know what happened?” Ruby asked.
“Why don’t we all take a seat away from the crowd of people gathering so we can talk?” LT suggested.
“Excuse me. Is there a Sapphire Lassiter here?”
“I’m Sapphire Lassiter,” she replied to the woman dressed in a navy blue suit and white blouse.
“Ms. Lassiter.” She extended her hand. “My name is Ann Jewel. I’m the Assistant Administrator for the hospital. “I received a call from the Press Secretary’s Office of the White House indicating you need assistance. I am here to help in any way that I can. But first we need to get you into a more secluded area. Will you all follow me?”
“Yes, thank you.” Phire nodded in agreement.
“Mayor Palmer,” Ms. Jewel asked, “are you a member of this family as well?”
“Yes, I am,” LT responded.
“Very well.” Ms. Jewel opened a door to another section of the waiting room. “There are refreshments and a communication center if needed while you wait. I will get an update on Mrs. Hutchinson’s condition and return with whatever information is available.”
“Thank you,” Phire replied then turned to the family as they filled the room.
“Phire, tell us what happened,” Sally asked as she eased her down into a seat. “Why would someone poison, Opal?”
“I don’t think it was meant for Opal.” Phire exhaled. “I think it was meant for me.”