Julian: Clara, are you okay? Your face is bleeding pretty badly.
Clara: I'm fine, Mr. Vance. The cut isn't deep, it just stings.
Julian: I can't thank you enough. If you hadn't stopped me, I would have taken a sip in front of everyone.
Clara: I saw her slip the white packet out of her purse when you looked away to call the waiter.
Julian: Why didn't you just scream before she poured it?
Clara: Because I knew she would deny it. I needed undeniable video proof so she couldn't blame the restaurant or the kitchen staff.
Julian: You're smarter than half the executives on my corporate board, Clara.
Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder until bright red and blue lights flashed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the dining room.
Two police officers rushed through the front entrance, their heavy boots thudding against the white marble floor.
Officer Vance: What's the situation here? We received an emergency call regarding an attempted poisoning.
Julian: Officer, thank goodness you're here. My name is Julian Hayes, CEO of Hayes Financial Group.
Officer Vance: Mr. Hayes. Who is the accused party?
Julian: My wife, Vanessa Hayes. She put a lethal compound into my wine glass during our lunch.
Vanessa: Officer, he's delusional! He's suffering from a nervous breakdown! Ask anyone in the city!
Officer Vance: Ma'am, stay calm. Is there any evidence to support these claims?
Clara: Officer, I recorded the entire incident on my phone from ten feet away.
Clara stepped forward, holding her phone out toward Officer Vance.
Officer Vance: Let me see that screen, miss.
The officer zoomed in on the video file, watching as Vanessa carefully opened a white foil packet and dumped the contents into Julian's wine glass.
Officer Vance: That's pretty clear video evidence. Partner, secure that wine glass and the decanter on the table immediately.
Officer Davis: On it, boss. Placing it into an evidence container now.
Vanessa: That video is a deepfake! She used an AI app on her phone to put my face on someone else's body!
Officer Vance: Ma'am, we're also going to need to search your handbag for any remaining empty packets.
Vanessa: You don't have a warrant for my purse!
Officer Vance: Under exigent circumstances involving a severe felony in progress, I don't need one. Hand it over.
Officer Vance reached out and took the designer purse from Vanessa's trembling hands.
He unzipped the main compartment and pulled out a small black velvet pouch.
Inside the pouch lay two identical white foil packets with red hazard warnings printed across the front labels.
Officer Vance: Potassium cyanide powder. Restricted pharmaceutical grade.
Julian: Cyanide?! You tried to give me cyanide?!
Vanessa: No... no! That isn't mine! Someone planted that in my purse when I was in the restroom!
Officer Vance: Vanessa Hayes, you are under arrest for attempted first-degree murder.
Vanessa: Julian, tell them to stop! Tell them you made a mistake!
Julian: The only mistake I made was marrying a cold-blooded monster five years ago.