Chapter 23
“There were high levels of calcium oxalate crystals in Liam’s kidneys,” Brenda said. “I ran some additional testing and found something that was missed on the initial tox screen.”
“I’m listening.”
"Liam was poisoned with ethylene glycol sometime earlier in the day, maybe the day before. Most likely, it would have felt like a bad hangover. It was a lethal amount. If he wasn't bludgeoned to death, he would have died anyway. You’re looking for two killers, and one of them is still out there.”
"Thanks for the heads up.” My mind raced as I tried to remember the crime scene. Images flashed in my head.
I caught Jack up to speed on the situation.
"That doesn't surprise me. Liam was a popular guy," Jack said. "In all the wrong ways. Not shocking that more than one person wanted him dead."
"There is a possibility that John Wescott poisoned him earlier and got frustrated because it wasn't working fast enough,” I said.
We took the van to the station, and I checked with the property department. “Did anyone log a thermos with the Prescott case?”
The clerk tapped the keys. Her eyes surveyed the screen, and she frowned. “No. Just a watch, keys, a wallet, a necklace, and a cell phone. No thermos. No drink bottle.”
A frustrating grimace tugged my face. The forensic guys hadn’t paid any attention to the thermos. At that point in time, nobody was thinking Liam had been poisoned. Everyone was too preoccupied with the obvious.
We went back over to the club and caught up with Bill Warren in his office. I asked him about the thermos.
"Yes, we picked up a few of Liam’s belongings that were left behind. We put them in a box, and I believe they’re in the storage area. I wasn't sure what to do with them. I know he's got a sister, but I have not spoken to her.”
"I need to see all of his personal belongings that you have. I also need to speak with anyone who handled the thermos.”
Mr. Warren picked up the phone and dialed an extension. “Lindsey, I need Mr. Liam’s personal effects. Could you get them from storage and bring them here?”
She responded, and Warren smiled. He hung up the phone and said to us, “She’ll be right here.”
Lindsey showed up a few minutes later, carrying a cardboard box. She stepped inside the office and set it down on Warren's desk. "Is there anything else you need?"
"I need to know who touched the thermos," I said.
Lindsey said, "Well, I picked it up from the tennis court and put it in the box. I don't think anyone else has touched it since then. I can't say who touched it before I got to it.”
"I need to get a set of elimination prints from you."
"I'm not going to end up in a database, am I?"
I nodded.
She frowned. "You can't compel my fingerprints, can you?”
"Not without a court order," I said.
Lindsey smiled. "I don't mean to be difficult, but you need to get a court order. I value my privacy."
Mr. Warren glared at her. "Lindsey, just cooperate with the deputies. We do want to find out who killed Liam, don't we?"
"I'm within my rights to refuse."
"You like your job here, don't you?"
Lindsey glared at him. "Are you threatening my job?”
Florida is an employment-at-will state. Bill could fire her for any reason or no reason as long as the termination is not discriminatory.
"There's no need for that," I said. "But it would help our investigation.”
“Sorry, I’m not doing it.”
I didn’t push the issue. I figured we could circle back around at some point if need be. “We may have more questions for you later.”
Lindsey frowned, then excused herself.
"I'm sorry about that," Warren said.
"That's okay. We’ll work around it.”
“I like her, and she’s good at her job, but I will not have a criminal in my employ.”
“I’ll keep you posted as this develops.”
I pulled on a pair of nitrile gloves and rummaged through the box. It was hard to miss the stainless steel thermos.
I thanked Mr. Warren for his cooperation. I grabbed the box and carried it back to the van. We drove back to the station and logged everything as evidence. The lab could test the thermos for residue.
Daniels caught up with us in a hallway. “I need you two nitwits to get over to the Delphine and talk to Tracy Vaughn. She called in a missing persons report on her roommate, Riley Reynolds.”
“We’re on it,” I said.