CHAPTER III
Bitter – almond?
Meanwhile, Dylan helps Evangeline in a nearby chair. "You could use this." He said as he gave her his handkerchief.
"Thanks." The girl said.
He then enters the room to see what he could find out.
This place is cluttered and has been turned upside down. Can this lead to the possibility of a struggle? He then examines the windows. All the windows are close. Of course, to trap air from the air-conditioning device. But the bathroom door is open? He then examines Mr. Smith to see how he died.
Cyanide! He could smell the bitter-almond scent of the drug as he move closer to the dead body. No wonder he died looking like this. Mr. Smith's face showed signs of fear and difficulty the moment he died. His body has also started to
become rigid and firm. His hands are clutched on his chest. He surely cannot breath.
Soon, people were crowding at the faculty.
"Please everybody step back!" said one police.
"I'm sorry but nobody is allowed to enter here." said another.
Inspector Norbert the leader of the Investigation Unit finally came at the murder scene. He has been working in the field for 8 long years. And he considered them as the most successful years of the force. "Nothing has been move, sir." an officer saluted him.
"Good." the fat inspector answered.
"And Mr. Dylan Aiken is here, sir." the officer continued.
"Really? Oh, yes! This is his school, right? Good." the inspector said with a pleasing tone. "It's nice that he's here. He's been a great help for the force." He continued as he enters the room.
"Mr. Aiken!" he greeted the boy. "So what did you find out?" looking at Dylan who is still beside the dead man's body.
"Cyanide has killed him, sir." Dylan replied. Courtney, who is accompanying Evangeline, stares blankly at Dylan. How did he know that?
"But the analysis on his body has not yet come out. How can you be sure about that?" the inspector said. He was amazed as Courtney.
"His body smelled like bitter almond. A positive sign of Cyanide has that smell. And the way his hands are clutched on his chest-his hands showed that he had difficulty in breathing the moment he died. Cyanide is known to be fatal to humans because it blocks the oxygen from reaching the body." Dylan continued. He slowly examines every inch of Mr. Smith while talking that he almost forgets that he has company.
"So you think that maybe the reason why his hands are
clutched like that?" the inspector asked.
"Yes. I'm almost positive." Dylan nods.
"Don't you think that the killer used his hands in cutting the oxygen supply of the poor man?" Norbert has asked.
"No, I don't think so. If he did that he should have leave signs here in his neck. His neck doesn't have any." Dylan explained.
"He?" Courtney asked with a curious tone.
"He?" repeated the inspector. "You believe that the killer is a man."
"I'm not quite sure. But at the look of this room, a struggle between Mr. Smith and the killer is possible. Since a woman can't possibly win to a man like Mr. Smith." Dylan replied while examining the whole place.
"So you suggest that a man came here and have a fight with Mr. Smith. And when the killer sees the opportunity he sprayed Cyanide to Mr. Smith. And thus causing his death." Norbert suggested.
Dylan thought when he saw that Inspector Norbert got his point. But who could possibly do this?
Suddenly a voice of a woman shouting at the police can be heard outside. "What are you doing? Let me through. Didn't you know that I'm a teacher here? Let go of me." Mrs. Yazzie, their history teacher, then enters the room. Her face suddenly becomes pale when she saw the room. Her eyes were filled with fear and surprise.
"I'm sorry ma'am but we're still under investigation." the inspector said with obvious respect.
"Mr. Smith? How could this happen? I was just here a moment ago." the teacher said as she falls on her knees.
A moment ago? this statement caught Dylan's attention. This also caught the inspector's attention.
"When exactly did you last see him here?" the inspector cried.
"About 25 minutes ago." the woman replied.
How is that possible? At the rigidity of his body, he maybe dead for about - 30 minutes! Dylan thought.
"That can't be true!" the inspector said.
Dylan looks at him. Inspector Norbert is busily looking at some papers an officer just handed him.
"The reports just came. It clearly said here that Mr. Smith has been dead for 20 minutes. It's been 10 minutes since the alarm is given by this lady here. All in all, he's been dead for almost 30 minutes." He said looking at Evangeline who looks better this time.
"But I saw him!" the teacher cried insisting her first statement.
"What is he doing when you came here?" Dylan asked.
"He's sleeping." she said with a peculiar tone. "I was about to give him some important papers. But since I saw him sleeping I just put it there in his desk."
"Do you notice anything strange in this room when you got here?" Dylan continue asking her.
"No, there's nothing strange here. In fact as I told you he was soundly asleep with his head on the table." the teacher insisted.
"This doesn't make sense. It only make things worst." Courtney burst. What is really happening here? I can feel my stomach turning upside down. she thought. This conversation sends her mind whirling.
"Inspector Norbert, what do you -?"Dylan was about to ask the inspector when he is interrupted by a sudden outburst.
"Wait a minute! Did I already mention that when I came here, I saw Mr. Willis?" the teacher said with a worried voice. "I just remembered that he was just about to enter this room when I left. I even told him that he must not disturb the professor."
"Mr. Willis?" the inspector asked.
"Yes, he was the school janitor." she replied.
"Then what are you still doing here?" the inspector asked the officer beside him. "Go! Fetch the janitor!"
"Yes, sir!" the officer ran tumbling in his way.
"What do you think, Dylan? I guess that that janitor may have all the answer we need." the inspector laugh, knowing that now he hold a very important evidence.
The janitor? He's maybe able to do this but I can feel that we're still missing something here. Something that is very important. But what? Dylan thought.