Chapter 4 #3
“The bite itself. Even when a black widow bites, they only inject venom when they feel truly threatened, meaning lots of noise, hectic movements. Reaching into a drawer to get a knife out is not something you usually do in haste, even when you’re tipsy.
And there was no mention of a fight or that the apartment was in disarray, which brings us right to the next point.
Why was the spider inside the drawer? Yes, they do like dark places to retreat, but a drawer is not a good place to hunt.
Where would the net be? In the past decade, the venom of black widows has evolved so rapidly and to such an extent that they are crafting stronger nets to handle bigger prey.
What kind of prey do you expect to find in a drawer? It just doesn’t make sense.”
“Do you think there is more?”
“I can’t tell. But I’d strongly suggest another autopsy performed by somebody who’s aware this might not be as clear cut as the coroner doing the initial examination thought. Let’s not forget Thomasin was a small-time criminal with a police file.”
George reached for his cell on the pillow next to him. “I’m texting Luke. Do you think we can have Evangeline do it?”
“I’d much prefer it. She knows how we work.”
“Yes, I’d prefer getting chastised by her for finding her more work than by somebody I don’t know.” George grinned. “It also helps avoid animosities if we keep this close to our chests.”
“It’s probably unrelated to the judge’s death anyway.
I can’t see how there could be a connection between these two.
” If Andi had been a superstitious man, he would have tried not to jinx themselves.
Since he never had the time to develop superstitions, he saw no reason to be careful.
Following the facts was usually adventure enough.
“And done.” George put his cell back on the mattress next to his thigh. “I suggest we visit Thomasin’s apartment later.”
“Yeah. Good idea. Let’s check when Rosalie Byrnes is back from work.”
George got on his cell again, no doubt texting Luke.
Andi wondered how long it would take until the agent found them an officer here to take care of the legwork.
Apparently not even five minutes because both their cells chimed with an incoming text, informing them that Officer Randy Kaustrowitz was their new liaison for these types of requests.
They both saved the contact information and then George sent his query to Kaustrowitz, no doubt with some nice words to ensure the man’s goodwill.
George was a good man who did not think of such mundanities, while Andi, had he been alone, would have just been cranky because he had to deal with yet another stranger. “Now on to Judge Dunhill’s file.”
Andi put the report about Jagger aside to look at the police file they had gotten at the precinct.
It wasn’t much—just the coroner’s report and a few notes from the detectives working the case.
The comments made it clear neither Detective Michael Shaw nor Detective Rosa Smalton saw a reason to investigate more deeply than the preliminary fact-checking like when the judge and his friend arrived in Spartanburg, where they came from, and a rough timeline of what they had been up to on the day they died.
“Well, that’s at least one thing that fits.
” Andi pointed at the time of death. The two men had been attacked and died in the evening, around seven p.m. “Hornets hunt the entire day, but you can see an increase in activity at dusk, especially when it’s very hot.
I don’t know much about fishing, but I think the best times are early morning and late evening? ”
George checked his phone. “You’re right.
There’s a rather alarming amount of information about seasons, moon phases, and air pressure as well, still early morning and evening seem to be always winners.
It says in the file that Albert Dunhill and Trevor Asten spent the day at their cabin, probably drinking a bit because there were traces of alcohol in their blood but not enough to make them more than a bit tipsy.
They didn’t have any alcohol with them on the boat, just two bottles of water, the bait for the fish, and two baskets, presumably for the catch.
It’s also noted here that nothing was found that could explain why the hornets attacked. ”
Andi sighed. He hated it when things got complicated. “Do hornets attack just out of the blue?” His man looked at him, waiting to be enlightened. It was a strange feeling being asked about things he had always tried to hide from the world.
“No. They never do. They’re actually pretty peaceful as long as you don’t disturb the nest. And they can’t be trained like honeybees.
Although training is a big word. Some tests have shown that honeybees react aggressively to certain scents, and spraying something with such a scent can lead to an attack. No such thing is known with hornets.”
“And when they sting? Is it the same as with the black widow?”
“No. When a hornet stings, there’s always venom.
And they can sting multiple times. The venom they produce is called acetylcholine, and it’s an organic chemical that functions as an especially powerful neurotransmitter, meaning the stings hurt like a bitch.
Too many of them and you die of circulatory collapse, which seemed to be the case here.
” Andi tapped the file. “The coroner actually did a few more tests than we’ve seen with Thomasin.
However, the cause of death could also be drowning.
It says here they were found in the water, not far from the shore.
I assume they either jumped or fell in. There was water in both their lungs, but it’s not clear if they died from the effects of the venom or if they drowned.
” He shrugged. “I guess it doesn’t matter since the outcome is the same. ”
“Hmm.” George was drumming his fingers on Andi’s thigh, a gesture that would have been unthinkable only a year ago.
Now it soothed him in a way he never would have thought possible.
“I don’t like this, Andi. We have nine deaths by arthropod in total to check, and the first three are already suspicious? ”
“I know. Technically, Thomasin’s death isn’t a confirmed death by arthropod yet. I hope Evangeline can clear that up. But yes, three deaths, all of them suspicious.”
“Do I even want to look at the rest?” George groaned while already reaching for the next report. “A woman named Suzie Monahan died of anaphylactic shock in May after being bitten by red fire ants.” George looked confused. “I didn’t know we had fire ants here in the US.”
“We do, but red fire ants aren’t indigenous.
They come from Brazil, and the living conditions here allow them to survive.
” Andi scanned the report. In this case, the coroner, not the same one who had done Jagger’s report, had gone to the trouble of doing an extensive blood test. The results were clear.
“It says here she was found in her garden. The ants’ mound was close by.
This looks pretty clear-cut. The bites from red fire ants aren’t lethal unless you are highly allergic, which seems to have been the case with Suzie Monahan.
Also, she wasn’t wearing proper shoes and was only in shorts.
The ants swarmed her legs and bit her all over.
” The pictures of the victim’s legs were a gruesome reminder to always wear long clothing when gardening.
“And that is something that happens naturally?” George shuddered a bit when he pointed at the swollen, red skin with blisters all over.
“Yes, red fire ants aren’t super aggressive, but they aren’t exactly calm either.
If she got too close to the nest, it’s entirely plausible they attacked her.
The vibrations from her steps would have put them on alert, and when she was close enough to be considered a threat, the ants would have started fighting.
The bites sting, so she starts hopping around, swatting at her legs, creating more vibrations, which, in turn, makes the ants more aggressive.
Then they attack more viciously, she swats more, and now she’s fighting for her life because the anaphylactic shock sets in.
She thrashes around, falls, and the huge impact sends the ants into overdrive, finishing her off. ”
A gentle touch on his arm brought Andi back from a memory he hadn’t thought of in a long time.
“Unsolved case?” George’s voice was soothing, keeping the flood of images at bay.
“Not a case per se. A homeless person in an abandoned property. My guess is he wanted to rest for a bit, probably because of the deformation of his legs, which was also the reason his steps were heavier than those of a healthy person. He’d been there for over a year.
Nobody had known. I had to get creative as to why I had been snooping around on a property that had nothing to do with any of my cases at the time. ”
“Oh, Andi. It hurts me knowing what you went through, and I know you don’t want my pity, but damn. How many bodies are out there that never got reported?”
With a sigh, Andi snuggled against George’s broad chest. This was new as well, comfort coming from contact instead of not at all. “Too many. I try not to think about it too often.”
“I hate this for you, my dear. Hate it so much.”
“And that alone makes it better.” Andi allowed himself to enjoy George’s warmth for a moment longer before he sat up again, reaching for the next report.