July Prompt: Toxic

The man arrives at 1.14pm and shows his badge without prompting. "Good afternoon, Mrs Parker."

Astrid dries her hands on her skirt and smiles as she unlocks the door. "My husband said you'd be here today," she says, stepping aside to let him in. "Agent Delancy, is that right? Sorry, I was sorting laundry last night when Brendon told me, and he never mentioned a time."

"I am Agent Delancy. Where would be a good place to chat?" Agent Delancy puts away his identification. They shake hands. Her hand is cool and strong.

After a glance at the clock, Astrid says, "The kitchen, if you don't mind? I'm making dessert for a dinner party tonight."

The kitchen is humid. Assorted bags and containers clutter the kitchen table. Cut glass bowls are lined in a row on the countertop next to the stove, where a pot is simmering. As she clears the table's surface, Astrid pulls out a chair and invites the agent to take a seat.

"Brendon didn't say exactly why you wanted to talk to me so urgently." She pours tea into two mugs, one a pastel pink with gold trim, the other a plain white.

He thanks her as he takes the white mug. "I understand Mr Parker is your third husband," he says.

She is at the stove, checking on the pot and stirring now and again. The liquid within is thickening up nicely. "Yes," she answers, sighing wistfully. "Brendon and I met just before Jack died, actually -- Jack's my first husband -- and we became friends. And after Jack passed, I started dating again and got married very soon after. Leon liked him."

"Leon... That would be Leon Kingsley, your late second husband?"

"Mm hmm. When Leon died, I was so devastated, I barely ate or drank... The food in the house were left to spoil. Brendon came to help me clean it all out. He was... He was a source of comfort and our love blossomed from that." She sweeps the steam from the pot towards herself and breathes in deeply. "And now he's my husband."

Agent Delancey clears his throat. "Did Mr Parker tell you that he has in our custody?"

She looks over her shoulder, her eyebrows raised. Brushing a hand over the flyaway strands of hair clinging to her brow, she asks, "Why? What has he done?"

"You misunderstand, Mrs Parker-"

"Astrid. My name is Astrid."

"Mrs Parker. Your husband, Brendon Parker, surrendered himself into our custody this morning." Agent Delancy opens his briefcase and retrieves a stack of papers, followed by a pair of handcuffs. "I suggest you do the same."

With a huff, Astrid turns off the flame on the stove before she turns around, arms akimbo. "Why would I do that? Also, I don't believe you. Brendon would never do something so, so monumentally idiotic without talking it over with me. Our marriage is built upon open communication, Agent Delancy." She pauses and tilts her head to study him. "Do you lie often, Agent Delancy?"

Agent Delancy slides the stack of papers across the table. "Take a look. Mr Parker initialled all the pages."

Her eyes remain on his face as she approaches him, and then she snatches the papers off the table. As she skims through the pages, her face becomes more and more pale. Then she slumps onto the other kitchen chair and a hand flutters to her agape mouth.

"He wouldn't," she murmurs as she turns the page again. "He wouldn't."

"He did." Agent Delancy exhales heavily. "Come along quietly, Mrs Parker."

"But... but th-the dinner party," she starts to cry.

He stands. "They will just have to miss out on it, I'm afraid. Do come along without... w-without..."

Peering up at him, Astrid reaches out a hand to touch his elbow. "Robert. Are you alright?"

"How do you-" He blinks and shakes his head to clear it. "Wh... what's..."

"How do I know your name? Robert, you silly man. You showed me your badge." Astrid rises from her chair and helps him back into his, before she hands him the mug of tea again. He takes a large gulp and then leans forward as his stomach convulses. A cool hand pats the back of his neck. "Don't worry. It'll be over soon."

"Wha-what've... The tea?"

"You're not a good liar, Robert. Robby? Bob?" Astrid shrugs. "This document isn't signed by my husband. Awfully good forgery of his signature, however. I'll have to show it to him. But if you did have him in your custody, if he really did surrender himself, you'd have known not to drink from his mug." Leaning in close enough to press her lips close to his ear, she adds, "And you'd know that my name is not Astrid, and he's certainly not Brendon."

He can't uncurl his fingers. He can't even open his jaw anymore.

"Just follow the darkness, Robert. Follow it down. It won't hurt for much longer. You can go ahead and wait for the rest of the guests at tonight's dinner party."

Her hands are cold as ice.

"Do you know what's for dessert?" she asks.

He topples out of the chair. His lungs refuse to expand. His vision is sparking with static and he tries, he tries, he tries.

"Almond jelly." She beams at him, her expression soft and gentle. "Brendon suggested it."