Chapter 3 - THE MEDICINE
The bottle was not poison.
That mattered.
It was a prescription antihistamine Rosie had been given months earlier for occasional hives.
The label said:
use only as directed.
Rachel kept it in the diaper bag.
Natalie knew.
Why give it now?
She said Rosie had a rash.
There was no rash.
Then:
“She was overstimulated.”
That was not an indication.
Then:
“I thought it would calm her.”
Rachel stared.
“You drugged my daughter because an investigator was coming?”
Natalie snapped:
“I did not drug her.”
Erin did not argue.
She photographed the bottle.
Rachel took Rosie to urgent care.
No overdose symptoms.
No respiratory problem.
No serious harm.
The physician documented:
unnecessary administration suspected,
forced oral medication,
child distressed.
Police were called because of the bottle incident and Natalie’s raised wine bottle.
Natalie hired attorney Lauren Pierce before midnight.
Lauren’s first statement was careful:
Natalie denies any intent to sedate or harm Rosie.
She believed the child was experiencing an allergic reaction and administered medication previously prescribed to her.
The confrontation escalated after Rachel assaulted Natalie.
Rachel had slapped her.
True.
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And Susan had seen that.
The case would not become simple.
