Chapter 6
A week had passed by without incident and James thought that things were getting back to normal. Sandie seemed happy, although she was struggling with withdrawals. Greg on the other hand was struggling with not being able to see or talk to Sandie, James had warned him that if he contacted her again, that he would have him arrested and Greg knew that he would have to put his plan into motion sooner rather than later.
He reached into his bag and pulled out a small vial of liquid. He rolled the bottle in his hands before placing it on his desk, all he had to do was add a few drops into his friend's drink and that would be the end, then Sandie would be all his. Greg was taking a huge risk with his plan but in the end, he'd sure it would be worth it.
The next day, Greg decided to put his plan in motion. He met up with James for lunch and when he excused himself to use the restroom, Greg put a whole dropper of liquid into James's drink. When he returned, the two friends chatted and Greg pretended to be happy for his friend, even offering a fake apology for going after Sandie. James accepted and finished his drink, then they headed back to work.
Later that day, James felt strange, like he was high but he didn't take anything. As he was trying to write, his hands started shaking and he felt sick to his stomach. He thought maybe he was coming down sick, so he took the rest of the day off. When he arrived at home, Sandie looked up from the book she was reading.
"James," she said, "what are you doing home so early?"
"I think I'm coming down sick," he replied.
Sandie frowned, although she was still having withdrawals, she was feeling better than she had, so she got up and made her husband a cup of tea and helped him to bed.
"You're the best," he told her as she kissed him on the forehead.
"Get some rest," she told him.
She closed the bedroom door and went back to reading her book when her phone rang. She was hesitant to answer it when she saw it was Greg calling.
"What do you want?" She answered.
"I just wanted to check in on James," he lied, "I heard he went home sick."
"He's fine," Sandie told him, annoyed that he even called.
"How are you doing?" Greg asked her, acting like what he did to her never happened.
"I'm fine," she told him, "If you don't mind, I have to go."
Before he could respond, she hung up, leaving Greg speechless on the other end.
The next day, James barely made it out of bed.
"Maybe you should just stay home," Sandie suggested.
"I'll be fine," he said, trying to convince himself more than anything.
He stumbled into work, still feeling the effects of whatever Greg had doused him with.
"You look terrible," Greg told him as they both made their way up to their offices.
"Thanks," James replied sarcastically.
"Let me get you some coffee," Greg told him, then slipped away. He arrived a moment later with a fresh cup of coffee mixed with his secret ingredient.
James took the cup and sipped the hot beverage, not realizing he was being drugged at the same time and once again, he had to head home.
Over the next few days, James would arrive at work, Greg would get him some coffee and again, James would end up going home.
"Maybe you should see a doctor," suggested Sandie, but James was being stubborn and refused to do so.
Days turned into weeks and James kept getting worse. Sandie was worried, she sat by his bedside watching her husband get weaker and sicker. Sandie held his hand and placed a cold washcloth on his forehead.
"I'll be right back," she told him when she heard a knock on the door.
She left the room, closing the door behind her. She opened the front door to find her sister standing there.
"How's he doing?" Lisa asked.
"He's getting worse," Sandie told her, "I'm worried."
"Maybe you should bring him in," Lisa suggested.
"He won't go," Sandie told her, "he's too weak to even get out of bed."
"Then we should call an ambulance," Lisa told her.
Sandie refused, "If push comes to shove, I want him home."
The sisters argued over this decision, Lisa suggesting that they could help if they brought him in but Sandie kept refusing, making Lisa think that she was the one causing all James's pain.
"How can you think that?!" Sandie exclaimed. "I think you need to leave."
No sooner did Lisa leave, Greg arrived at the condo.
"What are you doing here?" Sandie snapped.
"I just wanted to check in on the two of you," he lied, "how's he doing?"
Sandie begrudgingly let him and closed the door behind them.
"He's getting worse and I don't know what to do," Sandie cried. "He's always been the one to take care of me."
"Everything's going to be fine," Greg told her and took her in his arms to comfort her. Surprisingly, she didn't resist and melted into him. Greg smiled, his plan was coming along just nicely.
The following day, Greg stopped by the condo to help Sandie take care of James, little did Sandie know that Greg was the one poisoning her husband. He would cook for them and always added his secret ingredient to James's food. Weaker and weaker he became and Sandie couldn't take it anymore. She finally called nine one one and had her husband transported to the hospital.
Day after day, Sandie sat by James's bedside as multiple doctors came in and out of his room running test after test. Finally, Sandie received some good news, or so she thought. When the doctor told her it was cancer, part of her was relieved, at least now they can start making him feel better.
The next few days, James was started on chemotherapy and other medications to help get him back to his old self and before too long, he was able to go home. He felt better but something in the back of his mind kept bothering him. Something didn't seem right with his test results, he kept going over them but he just couldn't put his finger on what was wrong with them.
"What's wrong, baby?" Sandie asked James one day.
She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him, kissing the back of his neck. He turned to face her and ran his finger down her cheek to her lips, then he kissed her. He pulled her close and held her tight.
"Baby, you are so good to me. You stuck by me this whole time but I can't help feeling like something's wrong," James told her.
"What do you mean?" Sandie asked, breaking out of his embrace.
"I was looking at my test results," James started, "and it says I have cancer but I don't remember ever having a tumor or a biopsy."
Sandie knew that he was right, he wasn't sick prior to finding out, it was like it just happened overnight.
"Don't worry," Sandie told him, placing her hands on his chest. "You're going to be fine now."
She kissed him and he kissed her back. She unbuttoned his shirt and he removed hers. She ran her hands down his chest, it's been a while since they made love and both of them were horny as hell. They wasted no time making their way to the bedroom, James pushed his wife onto the bed and climbed on top. He kissed her neck and made his way down her chest to her perfectly round breasts, then continued down her belly to her thighs, he felt her body tremble. He worked his magic on her and when he knew she couldn't handle anymore, he entered her, making her moan. He made love to her, slow and steady because he knew that if something were to happen to him, that they would have this moment forever.
Afterwards, they lay together, wrapped in each other's arms. Sandie lay her head on his chest, his arms around her.
"I've missed this," James told her.
"Me too," Sandie said, kissing his chest. "I love you."
"I love you too," James told her.
Greg stomped around his apartment, angry that James was feeling better. How can this be? He thought, he doesn't even have cancer! How can the chemo be curing his poisoning? Dammit! He tossed the glass he was carrying across the room. "Shit!" He said, as he went to the closet to get the broom and dustpan. I'm going to have to double up this time.
The next day, James was back at work and once again, Greg was up to his old tricks and before long, James was feeling sick again. He couldn't understand why whenever he was at work, he would come down sick, but he was starting to suspect Greg was involved. He picked up his phone and made a call.
Days turned to weeks and James became sicker and sicker. The doctors just kept telling him it was the cancer but he knew better. Sandie stayed by his bedside worried about her husband. She held his hand as he whispered something in her ear. She nodded as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Greg would cautiously make his way into Sandie's life, comforting her and bringing her food and anything else she needed. She was vulnerable and he took advantage of that. He would switch all of James's tests and meds so that he would not get better this time, he would be sure of it.
One afternoon while doctors were running more tests, Sandie paced the hall outside James's room. Greg watched from nearby as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Immediately he felt a wave of guiltiness wash over him. Was he really doing the right thing? Did he really want to be with her that much where he was willing to kill the one man she truly loved? And what would happen if she found out that he was involved? He had all these thoughts running through his head and now he wasn't sure what he should do. Continue with his plan or stop it all and save his friend? Shit! He thought.
He walked over to where Sandie stood watching her true love through the window of his room.
"How's he doing?" Greg asked her.
"Not so good," she replied. She turned to face him, "Greg, please, you have to help him."
She buried her face in his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. He held her tight and kissed the top of her head. Guilt washed over him and he felt torn, but holding his grief stricken friend's wife made him realize that he was making a huge mistake. He loved her and wanted to be with her but not enough to destroy her life.
The doctors left the room, Sandie broke from Greg's embrace and went back to her husband's side. He followed her into the room and flipped through his medical chart, then he left the room to try and help his friend.
Greg sat down at his desk and ran a hand through his hair. He opened the drawer of his desk and retrieved several empty vials. There was no label and he already destroyed the receipts stating where he purchased them from. He wasn't even sure what the substance was that he used or if there even was a cure. Dammit! He tossed the vials across the room where they shattered onto the floor.
He stood then headed back to James's room, where he went to draw some blood. Sandie watched him through her tears, hopeful that he might save him. Greg glanced at her then said,
"Don't worry, I'll do my best to help him." Then he left the room.
The next couple of days became a blur as Greg tried to make things right. He switched back all of James's test results stating that he did not have cancer, that he indeed was poisoned.
When one of the other doctors found out, he got the cops involved. Sandie's past came back to haunt her as they questioned her, thinking she was the one poisoning her husband.
"How the fuck can you say that?!" Sandie exclaimed. "I love James, I would never, ever hurt him!
"You have quite the history," the cop told her. "Going over your file, you've killed your ex-boyfriend, Jake."
"That was self-defense!" Sandie argued. "I did not hurt James!"
Sandie had enough of their questions, she stood and left the room. She returned to James's room, he was sitting up, awake.
"Hey, baby," he croaked when he saw her.
"James!" Sandie exclaimed, "How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been hit by a bus," James told her.
"I'm just glad you're awake," Sandie told him, as she kissed his forehead. "I was really worried."
"I saw the cops out there," James mentioned, "what are they doing here?"
"Babe," Sandie sighed, "they think I tried to kill you."
"Why would they think that? I have cancer, don't I?" James asked.
Sandie hesitated on telling him the truth.
"Baby?" He asked.
"You don't have cancer, James," Sandie started, "you were poisoned. Greg found out your test results were switched. He's trying to help you."
"What? Poisoned? How?" James had a lot of questions.
"I don't know," Sandie told him.
Just then Greg entered the room,
"Sandie, can I speak to you?"
The two of them left the room and James could see them talking, then he saw his wife place her head in her hands and Greg placing a hand on her shoulder. He pulled her close and held her for a moment before she pushed him away and went back into the room.
"Baby, what's wrong?" James asked, reaching for her hand, but she just shook her head.
Over the next few days, Greg and the other doctors tried everything they could to reverse the effects of the poisoning. Test after test, medication after medication, nothing seemed to be working and James just felt sicker and sicker.
Greg was beginning to feel awful, he just could not find a cure to that damn poison. He was frustrated and sick to his stomach. He vowed to take care of Sandie regardless of the outcome.
It wasn't long before things took a turn for the worse, James suffered a seizure and ended up in a coma. Sandie was heartbroken but she refused to leave his side.
"You have to eat," Greg told her.
"I'm not hungry," she told him.
Greg placed the bag on a nearby table in case she changed her mind. He placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered,
"I'm sorry."
He left the room. Back in his office, he told his staff that no one sleeps until they find a cure for James. He heard them all moan, glared at them, then left the room. He grabbed his things and left the hospital. He found himself at a bar, getting drunk, trying to drown his anger and frustrations in alcohol.
The next morning, Greg arrived at work late and hungover. He walked past James's room, glancing through the window, he saw Sandie sleeping on a nearby chair. James lay lifeless, no thanks to him. He walked in and placed a hand on Sandie's shoulder. She awoke, rubbed her eyes, looked around and saw Greg standing by her.
"I brought you a coffee," he told her, handing her a cup.
"Thanks," she whispered, taking the cup.
"Any changes?" Greg asked her.
Sandie shook her head, no.
Just then, buzzers and alarms went off.
"We need a crash cart in here," Greg yelled.
"What's going on?" Sandie cried.