"My friend was just eating, minding his own business, then suddenly he collapsed, started foaming at the mouth and shaking all over. If that isn't food poisoning, what is it?"
The woman's voice was sharp and loud. Her outburst had people spilling out from other private rooms to see what was happening.
"Did anyone call an ambulance yet?"
"Should we call the police too? I never thought something like this would happen at Hearth & Kettle."
"No way, Hearth & Kettle is supposed to be really reputable. There's no way they'd actually poison someone."
"Maybe their ingredients weren't clean enough?”
Everyone started talking over each other, and the whole place turned into a mess.
After a quick word with a waiter, the manager stepped forward, trying to calm everyone down. "Please, everyone, don't worry. We already called emergency services as soon as it happened."
"If there's a problem with our food, Hearth & Kettle will take full responsibility."
“But if it turns out to be a medical issue with the guest, we'll work with the hospital and make sure everyone knows what really happened."
"We're truly sorry for ruining your meal. To make up for it, we're giving everyone here a fifty percent discount today."
“Hold on!” The woman who started everything wasn't having it. “You're telling me someone got poisoned here and you still expect us to pay?"
"You better get ready for the police!"
She was so worked up, the manager nearly got spit on.
Jennifer, who'd been listening from her private room, couldn't stay seated any longer.
"Pandora, I'm going to see what's going on."
Pandora nodded calmly and looked over at Claire. "Claire, go with Jennifer and check things out."
"Okay," Claire said right away.
Jennifer tried to refuse. "Pandora, let Claire stay. The signature roast won't taste the same if it gets cold."
"Claire's studied medicine. Let her go with you — maybe she can actually help."
Jennifer felt a little awkward.
Pandora really seemed to trust
.n
Claire's medical skills, maybe a bit too much. Claire was barely old enough to be a college freshman. Even if she'd studied medicine, much could she really know?
Still, Jennifer brought Claire with her.
How
As soon as Jennifer showed up, the manager looked a lot less stressed.
"Ma'am, I promise, if your friend's illness was caused by our food, Hearth & Kettle will take full responsibility."
“But if it turns out we weren't the cause, I hope you'll help clear things up so nobody gets the wrong idea."
The woman took one look at Jennifer - who was prettier than her — and instantly hated her.
She glared. "Who even are you? Just because you say you'll take responsibility, I'm supposed to feel better?"
"If something happens to my friend, do you even have what it takes to pay for it?"
"This stupid restaurant charges a fortune, and you still let things like this happen? You're running a scam, aren't you?"
Jennifer frowned just a bit. "I'm in charge here at Hearth & Kettle, so yes, of course I'll take responsibility."
“But most of our customers have been regulars for years. Everyone knows we only use the best, all-natural ingredients."
"So please, don't accuse us without any proof."
While Jennifer was talking, Claire had already slipped into the private room and
knelt down beside the young man lying on the floor.
His face had gone bluish and pale, there was foam at his mouth, and his whole body was shaking.
"These symptoms do look like poisoning, but honestly, they look
even more like a seizure," Clair iket
said
suddenly cutting into the woman's rant.
IMS
"What did you say?" The woman's head snapped around toward Claire, her voice rising even higher.
could he possibly have pow