They documented the crime scene thoroughly, photographing Janet's body and the scattered flowers, collecting samples from the dispersal device, bagging the letter for analysis.As they worked, Stoller and another cop came in both donning masks.“The ME is on the way,” Stoller said.“You guys good here, or do you need more time?”
Before either Miles or Vic answered, Vic looked through the front window and could see the back corner of the ambulance, still parked by the fire engine.Miles knew they needed to speak to the customer who had found Janet… and doing that now before the paramedics transported her to the hospital would make things much easier.
“I think we’re good for now,” Miles said, Vic nodded in agreement and let Stoller and the other cop have the floor.
They left the flower shop and Miles took several strides away from the shop before removing his oxygen mask.Vic followed suit and they then made their way to the ambulance.There, an elderly woman sat on a gurney receiving oxygen treatment.She looked pale and shaken, but alert enough to notice them when they came to the back of the vehicle.
“I'm sorry to bother you,” Vic said gently, showing her badge.“I'm Agent Stone with the FBI, and this is Dr.Sterling, a forensics specialist.Can you tell us what happened when you came to the flower shop?”
The woman removed her oxygen mask briefly.“I come here every Tuesday to pick up flowers for our church service.Janet always has them ready...knows exactly what I want.”Her voice was hoarse and strained.“The front door was unlocked, but nobody answered when I called out.”
“Did Janet know you were coming?”Miles asked.
“Yes, like I said… I came every Tuesday.It’s been that way for… oh my, for at least three or four years.”
“Did you notice any unusual smells or sensations when you entered?”Miles asked.
“Oh yes,” she said, coughing a bit and then drawing in a shaky breath.“It was… sweet but clearly fake.I knew it wasn’t a flower.Sort of chemical.Reminded me of cleaning products.Made my throat burn and my eyes water.”The woman coughed and pressed the oxygen mask back to her face for a moment.“I found Janet in the back room and called 911 immediately.”
“Did you fully enter the back room?”Miles asked.
“Oh, no… no.I saw her even before I stepped into the room.I screamed, I think.And then I ran out of the store.I felt like a coward because I should have checked on her.But I…”
“Don’t think that way,” Vic said.“If you’d done that, you’d be dead now, too.”
“Did you see anyone strange around the shop recently?”Miles asked.“Anyone asking questions about Janet's business or showing unusual interest in the building?”
The woman shook her head weakly.“Janet was well-liked in the neighborhood.Regular customers, church groups, people planning weddings and funerals.I can't imagine anyone wanting to hurt her.”
A paramedic stepped up beside Vic, looking a bit embarrassed.“Sorry… but we should get her to the ER.She’s fine, but she needs proper treatment.
“Of course,” Vic said.Miles and Vic stepped back as the ambulance pulled away, its lights flashing but sirens silent.
Standing on the sidewalk outside Petals & Stems, Miles felt the weight of two senseless deaths pressing down on him.Sarah Morrison had died preparing lessons for kindergarten students.Janet Reilly had died arranging flowers for church services.Both had been targeted by someone who believed their normal business practices constituted chemical contamination worthy of death.
“The killer is moving fast,” Vic said, echoing his thoughts.“Two attacks in less than twenty-four hours means they have multiple targets identified and ready to hit.Those damned devices could already be planted in ventilation ducts all around the city.”
It was a harrowing thought, but it had crossed Miles’s mind, too.Before he could comment, his phone buzzed in his pocket.It was a text from Elena.And when he unlocked his phone, he saw that he’d missed two other textsanda phone call.The texts were brief, but they indicated that she needed to speak with him to finalize a wedding detail.
“Shit,” he said.
His guilt returned with overwhelming force.While he'd been investigating fluorine murders and climbing into ventilation systems, she'd been wondering why he wasn't answering her texts.
“I need to call Elena,” he said quietly.There was no sense in putting it off any longer.
“Go ahead.I'll coordinate with local PD about the evidence transfer.”
Miles walked away from the crime scene activity and made the call.She answered on the first ring.
“Miles?Where are you?I've been trying to reach you for the past half hour.The stupid band called me and said they somehow got overbooked and now we need to get a backupquick.”
“I'm sorry.I'm working a case in Georgetown.”The wordcaseseemed harmless enough, but it wasn’t one he used often.He knew she’d understand what he meant.
“Acase?”
“Yeah.Sorry.It’s the—”
“Is it the elementary school thing?I saw it on the news and thought of you… a chemical attack, right?”
