They ripped the coffin open.

Emily gasped for air.

Her eyes barely opened.

The maid reached inside.

“I’ve got you.”

The man stepped closer.

“Emily…”

She saw him.

And immediately began shaking.

“No.”

The maid looked at him.

“Why is she afraid of you?”

He backed away.

“She’s confused.”

Emily grabbed the maid’s wrist.

Her voice was almost gone.

“He gave me something.”

The room fell silent.

“What did he give you?” the maid asked.

Emily pointed weakly toward her husband.

“Drink…”

The man shook his head.

“She was sick.”

The maid reached into her apron.

“I found this beside her bed.”

She held up a small empty vial.

His face drained of color.

Emily whispered,

“He said it would help me sleep.”

The maid looked around at the mourners.

“She wasn’t dead.”

Then back at him.

“She was drugged.”

Emily’s husband started toward the exit.

Two family members blocked him.

He stopped.

Emily began crying.

“You tried to bury me.”

He looked at her.

“No.”

The maid stepped closer.

“Then why did you rush the funeral?”

Nobody spoke.

Emily lifted one trembling hand.

“There’s a safe in his office.”

Her husband froze.

The maid noticed.

“What’s inside?”

Emily looked directly at him.

Then whispered,

“The reason he needed me dead before midnight.”