“Let’s hope we don’t get kicked out again.” Olivia’s words mimicked her thoughts.
“I hate that we have to be here,” Bel said as she climbed the front porch. “We’ve put this family through enough.”
“But if we never arrest men like the mermaid killer, they disappear, alter their M.O., and continue stealing innocent lives. If we don’t find this guy, he’ll never stop.” Olivia raised her hand, her knuckles grazing the door. “It doesn’t matter if Ariella isn’t connected to the mermaids. We can’t let her fate befall any other girls.” And with that, she knocked on the front door.
And no one answered.
“Mr. and Mrs. Triton?” Bel pounded on the door after two silent minutes. “It’s Detectives Emerson and Gold. Is anyone home?”
Nothing.
“They did just lose their daughter,” Olivia said. “Maybe they’re still sleeping.”
“Good point. I guess we can swing by on our way home.” Bel knocked on the door one more time for good measure without expecting an answer, so both detectives flinched when it flew open.
“What’s going on?” Mrs. Triton slurred as she swayed unsteadily over the threshold.
“Mrs. Triton, are you all right?” Bel extended a hand to catch the woman.
“Who are you?” The grieving mother stared at the officers as if they hadn’t stood in her living room a few nights ago.
“Mrs. Triton, it’s Detective Isobel Emerson and Olivia Gold.” Bel gently gripped the woman’s elbow to stop her from swaying.
“Oh… do I know you?” she asked, and the detectives exchanged a concerned look.
“Mrs. Triton, did you take something?” Bel slipped an arm around her waist and guided her into the house. “Why don’t you sit down?”
“Okay.” The woman let Bel settle her on the couch, and as she released the mother, Bel subtly sniffed her. No alcohol on her breath. She must have swallowed pills.
“Mrs. Triton, what did you take?” Bel repeated.
“I didn’t take anything,” the woman insisted. “Why are you here? Do I know you?”
“Some sleeping pills like Ambien can cause memory loss,” Olivia whispered, “especially if taken in high doses.”
“I didn’t take anything,” Mrs. Triton reiterated. “I don’t take things.”
“Okay. How about I go make some coffee?” Bel asked. “Does that sound good?”
“Yeah…” Mrs. Triton leaned her head on the cushions as she muttered unintelligible words.
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Olivia whispered, the color drained from her face at the woman’s unnatural behavior. “Should we call the EMTs in case she took something serious?”
“Let’s see if coffee helps first. She might be on heavy medication that hasn’t worn off yet,” Bel said.
“I didn’t take anything,” Mrs. Triton moaned.
“Okay.” Bel gripped the woman’s hand with gentle comfort as she and Olivia shared a wordless conversation. “I’ll be quick.” She rushed into the kitchen, finding the coffee and mugs with ease. It took her seconds to start the brew, and while she knew she should return to the living room, her intrusive thoughts won control of her actions. Scanning the hallways, she slipped into the bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. This wasn’t an investigation. This wasn’t an illegal search. It was just one woman showing concern for another. If she found what their host had taken, she’d know how to help her.
To her expected dismay, the hallway bathroom held no secrets. If Mrs. Triton had swallowed any pills, they’d most likely be hiding in the privacy of the master bedroom, but to venture into someone’s sanctuary uninvited was a line not even her curiosity would cross. So Bel shut the cabinet doors and turned around.
“Mr. Triton!” She flinched at the sudden appearance of the imposing man. “I…” she trailed off because what could she say? He’d caught her snooping red-handed, and as a cop, she should know better.
“Sorry if I scared you,” he said, his mass still barring the doorway. “My wife.” He looked at her with intent. “She just lost her daughter.”
And Bel understood. Mrs. Triton had swallowed pills before she’d gone to bed, but based on her husband’s reaction, they were either drugs not prescribed to her or drugs that she hadn’t known she’d ingested. Triton clearly didn’t have any intention of elaborating, telling Bel all she needed to know about how his wife had consumed the drugs, but she also had no interest in pushing the issue. Grief was a wicked master, and the Tritons had lost their entire world. Their lives would never be normal again.
“I didn’t realize you were home,” Bel said, and the man moved aside as if he suddenly realized he was blocking her in the bathroom.
