Page 45 of Sinful Promise
“Yes.” Licking her lips, Minka sits back again so her chair creaks. “Doctor Torres should be able to approximate that for you.”
“So, depending on the answer to that question,” he continues, “we could ascertain if we have two people working together, or two separate killers, though the second would have happened across an already-dead man.”
“And, what?” Aubree counters. “Shot him anyway?”
He only shrugs. “Just making sure, I suppose. People are angry. It’s human instinct to protect children, and regardless of alibis and the law, the second his face ended up on the news, most of Copeland had already decided what they thought of him.”
“So…” Aubree draws a deep breath. “I guess you need to go back and see Torres. Find out if you have two people working together, or two who just had the same idea.” Then she scowls. “Man, I regret not wanting the case for ourselves now. I don’t wanna wait for Torres to get back to you.”
“And the fact you’re so entertained,” Minka grumbles, “is the very reason we passed on the case.” Bringing her gaze to Fletch, she pastes on a fake smile and waits for him to turn. “Jason Patterson’s stomach contents and bloods came back. Seems he’s been fed arsenic in regular, low doses, over several months.”
“Excuse me?” Fletch shoves to his feet and slams his hands on her desk. “Arsenic? What the fuck?”
“I suggest you go back and talk to the wife. Becausesomeonehas been feeding that guy poison. Not enough to kill him,” she clarifies. “But enough to build up in his system.”
“He died of a hit-and-run!” It’s almost comical the way Fletch rejects this new information. “I repeat:what the fuck?”
“The hit-and-run might’ve been a last-ditch attempt to off the guy,” Aubree murmurs. “Whew… this is a woman’s crime if I ever saw one. Some chick isbigmad at Jason Patterson.”
“You’re sensationalizing,” Minka drawls. “Arsenic can be found in many standard, everyday foods. But not at the level that came back in Patterson’s labs. Not only that, but there are markers for long-term exposure, and increased dosage over time. Whoever your killer is, they wanted him gone, but they didn’t have the guts to stab him in the heart. So they started small.”
“And kept building.” Intrigued now, and at least momentarily pulled away from Fentone’s case, I fold my arms and consider. “She starts small, but nothing happens. Builds it up, but still, this asshole isn’t dying.”
“Arsenic can be detoxified out of a body using sulfur,” Minka muses, “since it encourages the liver to purify itself. And foods like garlic and onions contain high levels of sulfur. So if she—whoever your killer is—is serving up arsenic, but it’s mixed with a full plate of Italiano garlic spaghetti and meatballs, she’s nullifying the effects she’s looking for. She’s poisoning the guy, but it’s going to be the world’s slowest death.”
“Something brings this relationship to a boiling point, though.” Dropping back in his seat, Fletch raises his hand and rolls his bottom lip between his teeth. “Maybe they fight, or he breaks up with her, asks for a divorce, or she finds out he’s having an affair… whatever it is, it escalates things.”
“Hence,” Aubree concludes with a grin. “Hit-and-oops, my bad.”
“The wife’s car is intact.” I run through the list of everything we’ve done so far. “Both her SUV, and his sedan. Neither hit anyone this week, neither have a busted windshield or bumper. Their oldest kid is almost old enough to have his own car, but so far, he doesn’t. There are no other vehicles connected to this family.”
“Whitney has no alibi, though,” Fletch rumbles. “She dropped the kids off at school, came home, and was going about household duties until we knocked. Neighbors were at work, so no one can confirm she didn’t leave.”
“But even if she did,” I insert. “Her car is clear. If she ran him down, she didn’t do it in her SUV.”
“Canvassing also tells us the Pattersons don’t argue.” Fletch glances across to Aubree when she scoffs. “What? No one has said shit about them except they seem to be a solid family.”
“Not everyone fights out loud,” she counters through flattened lips. “Neighbors don’t know what happens behind closed doors.”
“Have you found the girlfriend?” Minka asks. “If,” she amends, “there is, in fact, a girlfriend to be found?”
“Nope,” I shake my head. “Whitney swears they were happy. She’s certain there can’t possibly be a girlfriend. The son says the same. Neighbors say the same, too. We’ve sent Patterson’s laptop and cellphone off for analysis to see if our tech guys can find anything, but at this point, theonlyreason any of us are considering a girlfriend is because he wasn’t wearing his wedding ring.”
“You’re not wearing a wedding ring.” Fletch stares across the desk at Minka and studies her hand. “Married, but no ring. Doesn’t mean you’re fucking around.”
In response, she reaches up to her chest and fingers the chain hung delicately around her neck. “But I have it with me every day.” With a gentle smile, and a touch of the ring beneath her blouse, she pushes back from her chair and stands.
Our sign to get the hell out.
“Seems the existence—or not—of a girlfriend is what will make or break your case, Detectives. Statistics for poison death lean toward women.” Then she looks my way and smirks. “It’s clean and economical.”
Fletch chokes out a fast laugh. “You’ve been put on notice, Malone. Don’t piss her off, or she’ll turn homicidal in her spare time.”
“Heh.” Bringing her gaze back to Fletch, she adds, “Hit-and-run is less specific, in regards to data. Could be a man, could be a woman. But link the arsenic in, and I’d say you’re looking for a woman. Find the girlfriend, you probably find the answers you’re looking for.”
“Easier than finding three million switchblades, one million uses for cornstarch, and a killer in a city filled with folks who wanted Fentone dead.” Pushing up to stand, Fletch pats his jeans and glances around with a grin. “Miss Sera around? I was hoping to—”
“Ms. Lewis is working.” Minka uses her Chief Mayet tone.And fuck, but she does it so well.“While you’re on the clock, Detective, and she’s working inside my building, I suggest you stop trying to accost her into a sexual relationship she’s not interested in entertaining.”
