"Congrats on opening your gallery", Sandra said, congratulating Mitchell. It was Mitchell's art exhibition, the gallery was filled with people that admired Mitchell's painting. "This is a unique masterpiece", a man commented. Mitchell showed her guests around and answered some questions that was raised. "Why is Joan not here yet", she thought to herself. The art exhibition went smoothly while Joan went to get the test report with Fred.
"You're right, the juice is indeed toxic", Fred said. "I knew something was off when I saw the chairwoman adding some stuff, making a vegetable juice shouldn't be tedious", Joan replied. "What do we do then? Expose her?", Fred asked. "I'm confused as well. How about this? You can tell the family doctor to check on the chairman and find a way to change the prescription", she replied. "The doctor already scheduled a date for the checkup", Fred said. "I don't get this right. He knows something is off with the juice the chairman is taking, and yet he insists on not checking on him immediately. What if he's working for the chairwoman?", she asked. "You have a point. Williams had been our family doctor for a while now. He's one of the privileged students that my father offered scholarship and funded him till he graduated. I don't think he'll betray dad though", Fred answered. "What's his reason for delaying then. You should find another competent hand. You can't be too careful", Joan warned. "Mitchell's arts exhibition is today. We're running late", she added. "Thanks for reminding me. I nearly forgot about it. Thankfully, I picked a gift earlier", Fred answered. Fred went to the exhibition with Joan and arrived some while later.
"You're here Fred. Joan came too", Mitchell said. "I'm sorry for showing up late", Joan said. "It's alright. I was expecting you guys. Mum didn't show up cause she's taking care of dad. He's ill. I only have my guests here", she replied. "What happened to dad", Fred asked. "He's down with fever, for some days now", Mitchell answered. "We visited him two days ago, you weren't home. Dad look pale and coughed a few times. I didn't expect he was sick", he said. "Why didn't the doctor check on him then?", Joan asked. "I don't know. But I called him a few times", Mitchell replied. She was still talking with Fred when her friend, Sandra called her. "I'll be right back, feel free to look around. I wanna check something with Sandra", Mitchell said and left. "The chairman's condition is worsening. I didn't expect the doctor to be working with the chairwoman. I even took the sample to him", Fred said to Joan. "You shouldn't feel guilty at this moment. She already discovered we know something about the juice and tried to get rid of the chairman at once. The doctor told her we came to him already", Joan replied. Fred took out his phone and called Josh, "proceed with it as planned", he ordered. "I'll get on it", Josh answered and hanged up.
The man that complimented Mitchell moved around the corridor and sensed smoke coming out of the inner studio. "The corridor is on fire!", he screamed. The guests ran around while Fred called for help. The security men tried to extinguish the fire but it got bigger. Joan looked around for Mitchell while Fred got some people out of there. The fire was finally put out but the place had turned to a mess burning most of the paintings there. The people that passed out due to smoke was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. Fred looked for Joan after then but couldn't find her. "I think there's a woman inside", one of the rescue team member said. "Haven't we rescued the people inside", his colleague replied. Fred looked around and saw Joan's phone in a corner on the floor. "She's inside", he said. The rescue team members looked at each other in a confused manner and rushed in with Fred. They checked every corner of the gallery but couldn't find her. Fred moved in deeper to the studio that was destroyed by fire and saw a locked door. He tried opening it and eventually force the door opened, the lock was destroyed and he went in. He looked around and found her lying on the floor with a faint breath, holding on to an artwork. He carried her outside and rushed her to the hospital.
At the hospital
Joan fell unconscious while Fred stayed by her side. Josh entered the ward to check on him some moments later. "How's Joan?", she asked. "The doctor said she was hurt by the smoke, her breath just became stable. She's still unconscious", Fred answered. "Any news about Mitchell?", he asked. "Sandra lured Mitchell outside and used knock drops on her. She was caught at the underground park taking her away. Thankfully, you plant someone to look after her in secret. He rescued Mitchell, and Sandra has been arrested", Josh answered. "Joan looked around for Mitchell at the scene. Unknown to her, Mitchell wasn't in the gallery. I guess she held on to her unfinished painting when she couldn't find her", Fred said sadly. "Sandra is being interrogated. We need to visit the police station", Josh reported. "I sent a text to Maggie with Joan's phone. She should be here soon. We'll head for the station when she's here", Fred replied. He held Joan's hands gently and placed his head on the bed. Maggie arrived with Annie and Tracy some while later. "What happened to Joan?", Maggie asked. "She was hurt in the smoke at the arts exhibition, the place caught fire. I'm sorry I failed to protect her", Fred explained. "It's alright Fred. You didn't hurt Joan. I'll take over from here, you can carry on with your work", Maggie replied. "I'll bother you to help me look after her for a while. I'll be back soon, I need to visit the station now", he said. "Rest assured, we'll take turns and look after Joan", Annie said. "Yes, you can carry on with your work now", Tracy said. Fred nodded and left with Josh. "Fred was hurt in the gallery too. He looked after Joan and has to visit the station. He's pitiful", Annie said. "His sister and lover was hurt. He has to care for them both. The news even talked about the fire incident", Tracy said. "I heard Mitchell is missing. She disappeared in the fire accident, her whereabout is still unknown", Maggie said. "Fred indeed has a lot to attend to. His sister is missing, while his lover is unconscious. When everything is clear, we can ask him about it", Tracy said. "I hope Joan wakes up soon", Maggie said and sighed.
Fred arrived at the station together with Josh, while Jay, a policeman talked with them. "Sandra has been interrogated and her statement has been recorded. She testified the chairwoman of BET group ordered her to do take Mitchell away. According to her, she knows nothing about the fire incident, her only task is to take Mitchell away when the plan is being carried out. She named her accomplice, he's likely the culprit that set up the fire. His name is Cobbs, the fishy thing is the dispatch rider at the accident site some months ago is also called Cobbs. The police is on it, we'll catch him soon", Jay reported. Fred opened his eyes in disbelief and said, "I still can't believe the chairwoman tried to burn me alive in the gallery. She destroyed Mitchell's works and harmed many people. Joan was hurt in the fire and fell unconscious. I'll support the police with whatever I can, I had Josh look into the chairwoman. She's in an extra marital affair and also fed the chairman with poison everyday, laced as vegetable juice. My family doctor, Williams, is an accomplice". "I hope these evidences can help you in your investigation", Fred said and handed some documents to Jay, together with a flash drive. Jay collected it and said, "thank you for assisting in the investigation". "How's Joan now?", he asked. "Her condition is quite stable now. You can visit her later when she recovers", Fred replied. Jay nodded and talked with him a while longer before Fred left.
"What're we gonna do about the chairman?", Josh asked him on their way back. "Head to the chairman's mansion. I need to speak with my dad", Fred answered. "Alright", Josh answered and went in the direction. "Did you purchase what I asked you to?", he asked. "Yes I did. It's in the back seat", Josh replied. "Good", Fred said. They arrived at the chairman's mansion not long after and he went in with Josh. "Why are you here?", the chairman asked. "I came to see you. What about mum, where's she?", Fred asked. "She went out long ago, I told her to attend Mitchell's art exhibition in my place. I couldn't attend because I'm not feeling weak", his dad explained. Fred got shocked and looked at Josh. He went closer to his dad and said, "Mum wasn't there at all. Did you watch the news this morning. The gallery caught on fire, Joan and some other people were hurt. Mitchell was nearly abducted by her friend, Sandra but she was caught. Mitchell is fine now and is in our vacation house, while Sandra has been arrested. She confessed that the chairwoman made her do all of that". The chairman opened his eyes in disbelief and said, "I don't believe this". Josh opened the news on his phone and showed it to the chairman. The chairman looked at it while being in so much shock. "I'm still confused here, my wife really set the place on fire?", he asked. "Dad, there's another thing I want to show you", Fred said. "Bring it closer", Fred said to Josh. Josh removed a white mice from the box he carried and fed it with the juice sample. The mice took it and its hairs came off, it passed out after losing much hair and it became swollen. "What's the meaning of this?", the chairman asked Fred. "That is the result of the vegetable juice your wife feeds you everyday. It's a deadly poison that acts slowly, she's been giving you little doses for over six months, your personal doctor, Williams, is in cahoots with her. I've handed the evidence to the police before coming, you need to cooperate with me dad", Fred explained. The chairman opened his eyes wide while his hands were shaking. "Your wife is also in an extra marital affair with an old employee in the company. His name is Robbins. I don't know if you remember him", Fred said. "Robbins! I know him. I thought he was chased out of the company six years ago!", the chairman said. Fred opened his phone and showed his dad the photos he took when he saw the chairwoman with Robbins. "I took this picture the other day I saw them together at the restaurant. Joan was even the one that took the photos. I had Josh look into this. Robbins displaced the company's fund for personal benefits some years ago, he was indeed chased away. But the chairwoman transferred her 16% shares to him which made him come back to the group. He has been laying low since then and has been meeting with the chairwoman privately", Fred explained. The chairman staggered and asked, "what do we do next?". "I can't believe this is the other face of the woman I married for so many years", he added. "I'll have a doctor treat you privately, don't let the chairwoman find out. You also need to put on an act. You should make her believe your condition is getting worse, then we strike back", Fred answered. His dad nodded and Fred left.