“No sign of any prescription drugs or OTCs.”
“None.”
“What do you want to do with these?” Hunter held up the empty jars.
“Toss them here,” Liam caught the jars and put them in the bag. “I don’t know why, but I have a feeling keeping these might be the right thing to do.”
“I always say go with your gut, even when it doesn’t make sense at first,” Hunter agreed. “It’ll never steer you wrong. Anything else we should look for?”
Liam shook his head and grabbing the duffle they headed up the stairs, turning out the light as they exited.
“What’s that?” Hunter pointed at the duffle.
“Reilly’s dirty workout clothes” Liam said. “I’m going to leave them in the laundry for Harley instead of her finding them weeks later when they are really ripe.”
“Eww. Yea.” Hunter’s features folded into a mask of disgust at the smelly suggestion. “Good idea.”
“I’ll mention it to Ms. Fiona before we leave so she can tell her,” Liam said and dropped the duffle on the folding table. They headed to the living room where they found a crying Harley sitting beside her neighbor.
“Did you find anything?” Harley asked, pointing at the plastic bag.
“Empty peanut butter jars. I collected them to get them out of the room,” Liam explained. “I also left a bag of his dirty work out clothes in the laundry room.”
Harley sniffed and wiped her nose with a tissue. “But no drugs or meds to explain what was in his blood?”
“Not that we found downstairs,” Liam said. “Can we look in the cabinets here? I know you already did, but just for our report?”
“Go ahead.” Harley waved them in the direction of the cabinets.
Hunter stepped forward and extended his hand. “I’m Hunter West. We haven’t met yet. I wish it weren’t under these circumstances.”
Harley accepted his hand as she stood. “So nice to meet you. Carly and the girls were telling me about you and Maggie on Friday before …” her voice broke and it was a minute before she said, “I was looking forward to meeting you both. Maybe after everything settles down we can all get together?”
“That would be great,” he agreed. “Maybe Fiona and her husband can join us.”
“So sweet of you to want to include us old folks,” Fiona said. “But Howard and I don’t go out much anymore. Not like you young people.”
“Hunter, I found more peanut butter,” Liam said, coming in with a full jar and one that was almost empty. “Do you eat it, Harley?”
“No. Never acquired the taste like Reilly.”
“I’ll take these along with us then,” Liam said. “Like I told Hunter, I have this gut feeling it might be important. If it isn’t and you want them back…”
She laughed and held up her hands in protest. “No, thank you.”
“Then we’ll get out of your way,” Liam said. “I hope our search didn’t upset you too much and your headache is gone.”
“It’s not, but I’ve taken medicine for it,” she told them. “But it should be better soon.”
“We’ll be in touch,” Liam said.
“Thank you for everything you’re doing to figure out why my brother died,” she said.
“Of course,” Hunter said. “You take care now.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. There was nothing else she could do, so in silence, Liam and Hunter left.
Harley triedto relax after the men left but Fiona stayed, crocheting and chattering about nonsense until she wanted to pull her hair out. Finally when she couldn’t take it a moment more, she said, “I really need to lie down again. Would you mind terribly going home?”
