“Are we operating on the theory that the gunman on Monday night was the same person responsible for the attempted poisoning?” Serenity asked.
“Where are we with Dino and the lab report?” Stone asked, before I could answer Serenity.
“Yes, and I’m not sure.” I glanced at my phone, willing Dino to call. “It makes perfect sense that there is one person or group trying to eliminate me, and they’re also responsible for the attack on Julia. But it’s true we haven’t heard from Dino.”
As if by magic, my phone rang. It was him. “Dino, I’ve been expecting your call. What’s the news?”
“It was in the cherries.”
“So, poison.” I met Stone’s gaze. I hit the speakerphone button. “Dino, I have you on speaker with Stone and Serenity. Go on.”
“The poison is succinylcholine. It’s used to cause short-term paralysis when putting people under anesthesia. The dose was in the cherry. Once ingested, it would likely cause death in a few minutes.”
“Shit.” I looked at Serenity who’d saved my life. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Dino, any leads on where this might have come from?”
“It’s not something you can walk into a pharmacy and purchase. But a hospital would have it.”
Stone cleared his throat, and I motioned for him to go ahead and speak. “Dino, Stone here. Any more info on this hitter from New York we told you about?”
“Nope. Nothing. But, you know, if this guy came from New York, it’s anyone’s guess as to where he could have picked up this drug. It’s tasteless, odorless, and colorless. And very little is needed per dose, so he could’ve put an ounce or two in a perfume or cologne bottle, and literally carried it with him on a flight.”
Stone grunted. “That doesn’t get us anywhere.”
“No, it doesn’t. Sorry. My suggestion, Vanetti, don’t eat anything unless it’s out of a can you open yourself. Look, I’ll talk to a friend in the robbery division. If everyone in the bakery isclear, it might mean someone with B&E skills got into the place the night before and swapped out the cherries. If the place, or one of the neighbors, has security video cameras going through the night, maybe we’ll see someone on video breaking in. It won’t solve the case, but it’ll at least answer where the poison came from.”
“That’s a good plan.”
“If you’ve got nothing else for me, I’ve got two homicides on the board that are giving me fits, and I’ve got to get to work at my real job or there’s going to be hell to pay.”
“Thanks, Dino.” I hadn’t finished saying his name before the line went dead. I sat back, processing. The cherries. Someone had targeted my Friday routine specifically—knew exactly when and what I'd order.
I'd still take Julia to dinner tonight as planned. The poisoning was targeted—my predictable Friday tradition. But a restaurant chosen at random, at the last minute? Much harder to compromise. I wasn't going to let fear dictate my entire life.
I turned to Stone. “So, we don’t have any leads. This guy could be anywhere. What could Serenity touch that might give her a vision? There’s got to be something.”
“Not sure.” Stone shook his head.
Serenity’s eyes widened. “I’ve got an idea.”
“Go ahead.”
“Maybe one of the bullets?” She met Stone’s gaze. “Is Quentin’s car still in one piece?”
“No.”
“I’ve got another idea.” I did my best to remember the positions of the cars during the fight. “I was at an angle to the shooter who tried to take me out through the passenger’s side window. Of course, it’s bulletproof, so—”
“I’m on it. I’ll get a crew out there with metal detectors.”
“They should also look downrange, although that’s more of a long shot.”
“What about Julia’s car?” Serenity asked.
Stone shook his head. “Long gone. But I don’t think there were slugs left behind. One shot ricocheted off the roof, just above the driver’s door. She’s lucky to be alive.”
