“Technically, yes. Digitalis is a drug used to treat certain heart conditions,” Brian lectured.
“So maybe he accidentally took more than he was prescribed,” Kellen argued.
“Except Titus Strubinger didn’t have a prescription for digoxin,” Josie pointed out smugly.
“Common garden plants like foxglove and oleander contain chemicals similar to digitalis and are poisonous to humans,” Brian continued.
Kellen sighed. “So what you’re saying is the murder weapon could be growing in anyone’s backyard?”
“Essentially. But that’s not the most interesting part.” Brian’s fingers flew across the keyboard, and he turned the screen around to face them. “Four weeks ago, user GunsNAmmoMurica made this comment on a video on Channel 50’s YouTube channel.”
Riley leaned in. “I hope you die alone in your mother’s basement, and no one cares,” she read aloud. “Wow. Friendly guy.”
“So are you telling me that this GunsNAmmo guy is our killer?” Weber asked.
“Nope,” Josie said with a sassy swing of her ponytail.
“Those are the words of our victim,” Brian said triumphantly.
“Either this guy predicted his own death or someone decided to give him a taste of his own medicine.”
“Tell me you got this information legally,” Kellen said, tugging on his tie.
“Everything except the coroner’s report, which by the way they’re holding because they’re pissed at you,” Brian told Kellen cheerfully. “Anyway, you have a copy of my report in your email. Here’s a hard copy with screenshots of some of our victim’s more creative online insults.”
He handed over a thick pack of papers.
Riley peered over Weber’s shoulder.
“Guy was a straight-up troll,” Josie said.
“With atrocious spelling,” Riley observed.
“Seems like he spent a lot of time on Channel 50’s social media being a dick,” Nick noted.
“Wait. Go back,” Riley said, holding a hand to her nose.
Kellen paged backwards, and she stabbed a finger at one of the screenshots of a news story about a clothing drive for a homeless shelter shared to Channel 50’s Facebook page.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Kellen said.
“RealBarbie: I’d rather choke on my La Perla than let my kids wear hand-me-downs. What kind of pathetic parent can’t buy their children brand-name clothing? Ugh. Who are these people, and why are we letting them in our towns and schools? I don’t know about you, but I’ll be keeping my money and my clothes,” Riley read.
“She sounds nice,” Josie said dryly.
“That’s someone who comments on all of Bianca Hornberger’s content agreeing with everything she said,” Riley told her.
Kellen crossed his arms and rubbed his chin. “Coincidence?”
“Could be,” Riley admitted with a shrug.
“Your nose is twitching,” Nick pointed out. “It’s no coincidence.”
“Two online assholes end up dead in ways they or other followers predicted while insulting others,” Brian mused.
“It’s pretty fucking poetic,” Josie said.
“Just because they were assholes didn’t mean they deserved to die,” Riley pointed out.
