Page 100 of Backwater Justice

“Or someone can call Milton and tell him when the DEA agents arrive at his facilities. Then he can call Oliver and insist he come over to the house. Something this serious can’t wait until morning. He won’t need an excuse to get people out of bed.”

“Chris, you can arrest someone for murder, correct?” Maggie asked.

“If I have reason to believe a crime has been committed, yes.”

“Great. Then we’ll all go over to Milton’s,” Annie said.

“And you have the evidence?” he asked.

“Fingerprints on Milton’s glass, traces of foxglove, and foxglove plants,” Myra repeated. “Plus, we expect a confession.”

“That should be enough to detain someone,” Chris noted.

“What about the rest of us?” Maggie asked.

“You will break the story of Patricia’s arrest. Call your pal at the station when we give you the go-ahead,” Annie said.

Chris stared at the floor.

“Something wrong?” Myra asked.

“Are you sure you’re not part of a special forces organization?” He smirked.

“Yes and no.” Annie raised an eyebrow.

“Better I don’t know.” He looked around the room.

Izzie and Kathryn were standing by to hear from Pearl. The plan was for them to meet up with her people at the office complex and help implement the gas-and-grab. Three unconscious adult men would require some heavy lifting.

“Ready?” Chris asked. Chandlerwoofed. “I mean everyone?”

“Whatever it takes!” they all shouted.

“I am going to hate myself for this,” he muttered under his breath.

“Nah.” Annie gave him a friendly push.

Myra phoned Milton. “We’re on our way.”

“What do you meanwe?” Milton asked. “You’re coming here, too?”

“Milton, we have some serious things to discuss.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“I’ll explain everything when we get there. See you in a few minutes.”

* * *

When Myra, Annie, Christopher, and Chandler arrived at Milton’s, Patricia answered the door with the most unpleasant expression on her face. She said nothing, turned, and walked everyone into the study, then left.

Myra gave Milton a hug. Then it was Annie’s turn. They introduced him to Chris. Myra went to the sideboard and opened a fresh bottle of brandy. She knew Milton would need something to steady his nerves, and she wanted to be sure there weren’t any additives in his drink. She handed him the glass.

“Please explain before I have another heart attack,” Milton asked politely.

“That’s one of the reasons we’re here,” Chris began to explain. “We have evidence that shows you received a mild dose of digitalis poisoning. It was obtained from the glass you had been drinking from, and a small piece of carpet that was tested.”

Milton looked down at the rug. “Where?”

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