HM-025

Chapter 25

Commissioner's Office, Port Charles Police Department

Robert stood up and faced the others gathered in his office. Frisco and Chief Lewis came in last. Handset against his head, Sean waited on the phone for Tiffany to answer. The rest milled about picking out chairs.

"I've got us all together because all our projects and cases overlap. This may be the last time that we can all work together because I've been given a mayoral mandate to concentrate ALL, and I do mean ALL, police resources on the so-called rat vector epidemic," said Robert.

"The Montfort case is dead in the water?" asked Sean. He left a message. "Honey, I missed you at the station. I'm at PCPD in a meeting. I'll be home as soon as I can. Don't worry. I feel fine. Love you."

"As far as the department is concerned yes. Your private investigation may continue sans any involvement from yours truly," said Robert. "All my actions will be duly recorded and reported to City Hall."

"Information keeps them happy," groused Frisco. "You can take this project plan off my hands anytime. My cast comes off in a few days. I want back on my beat not sitting staring at a computer screen playing cute with City Hall."

Robert shook his head. "No can do. The mayor's office LOVES your work. I wouldn't dream of depriving you of an opportunity for some official and personal networking. Consider your desk as your own custom beat, officer."

Frisco groaned. "You can't mean that."

"Think of it as, ah, polishing your rough edges," said Robert.

"I like not having to worry about you jumping from desk to desk and breaking another leg," said Felicia.

"Take one for the department, Frisco," said Anna with a grin that matched Robert's. She moved to sit on the couch and crossed her legs.

Robert noticed everything she did. He realized that Anna was in a playful mood. Well, two could play better than one.

Sean sat in the armchair Anna had vacated. "Isn't having a baby enough excitement for you, Frisco?"

"Ganging up on me? Okay, I know how it is now," said Frisco. "I can play in the big boys playground, too. You'll see."

"Think of it as part of your professional development," said Robert.

"I learn better by watching. Why don't you show me how a master project manager works, Robert?" asked Frisco.

Anna plumped the red pillow on the couch and put it behind her back. "Robert's rusty. Leave it to me. I'll make sure he gets a refresher course. Soon. Really soon."

"I'm no more rusty than you are, luv. It's a lack of motivation. Motivate me," said Robert

Sean had been following the Scorpio exchange. Knowing them as well as he did, Sean rolled his eyes and whispered. "Newlyweds." He cleared his throat. "Can we please get started with why we're really here?"

Robert straightened in his chair. "Right! Alan tells me that he's made some key discoveries on the analysis of Daria Merritt and Nicole Rohmer's physical remains. I'd like him to share that information with the group. Afterwards anyone can pipe up with any updates or new information they think would be useful for the group at large. Alan, over to you."

Alan stood up. He passed a series of pictures around. "I know it's late and this was short notice. I'll make it quick. I'lll have a fuller report later tomorrow. My initial analysis was centered on the items in Daria Merritt's apartment that were not included in a detailed forensics check. Because of the nature of their injuries and bodies, I leaned towards things that they could have touched or put on their bodies not anything that they had ingested. I collected linen, a Bible, cosmetics, combs and brushes and lotions. It was on my second analysis that I examined the bodies. I didn't find a plague. I didn't find a rare disease. I found a murder weapon."

Donely Penthouse

Tiffany stretched a hand to snatch the wineglass perched at the edge of the tub. Soap bubbles slid along her sleek arm. She took a sip.

"The only thing missing is Sean and some TLC," sighed Tiffany.

Commissioner's Office, Port Charles Police Department

"The roughened skin of the victims obscured puncture wounds on the hand and fingers. They're tiny and already healed. If I wasn't looking for them I would have missed them. I've circled the areas on the photos," Alan held up one close up picture. "Under a microscope, it's obvious that there are two puncture wounds. Very nearly healed though. Another two weeks and the marks would be invisible."

Sean looked closely at the picture. "The spacing between punctures look like … bite marks."

"Rats with fangs?" guessed Robert.

Alan shook his head. "Snakes."

Everyone reacted. Some with grimaces of distaste. Some with all over body shivers.

"Weaponized snakes? That's what we're dealing with?" asked Robert.

"The snakes didn't kill them. The snakes aren't the weapon. I believe the snakes are the … the delivery mechanism."

"Delivering what?"

"Here's where it gets into theoretical territory I'm afraid," said Alan almost apologetically.

Robert nodded. "This group has experience with stranger things than snake bites. Go on."

"At least snakes come from the earth," murmured Frisco. "You know, natural."

"The punctures were made by fangs. Only snakes that secrete venom have fangs. The distance between punctures indicates a small snake under 30 centimeters or under a foot long. A snake doesn't have to be long and large to be deadly," explained Alan.

The spies in the room nodded.

"The strange part that I have no explanation for yet is the fact that the bites or rather the venom in the bites was not the cause of death for either victim. Venom in the system causes an immediate reaction and death is usually within hours or one day. There are snakes with slow-acting venoms. An African boomslang's venom acts slowly. After a bite a person doesn't experience any serious symptoms so they think they're all right. Six hours later, they've died from a cardiac arrest or a cerebral hemorrhage," said Alan. "Based on the fact that the punctures were closed and the area healing, I would say that the bites themselves occurred well over a week before death. My research hasn't found any venom that acts that slowly."

"If not the venom, what did kill them? What caused the other symptoms?" asked Felicia as she scribbled notes on her pad.

Donely Penthouse

Tiffany opened the bottle she had found in her purse. "Oh, it's a lotion."

She took a full whiff. "Pretty!"

Commissioner's Office, Port Charles Police Department

Monica held up two transparent plastic specimen bags. Inside each was a bottle of perfumed lotion and a sealed petri dish containing a white paste. Wisely, no one tried to open the bags. One bag was marked with an "A" and the other with a "B." The bag went around the room.

"One of these is a genuine bottle of Giuseppe Guerra Envy body lotion. The other one is a fake," said Alan. Monica handed one bag to Anna on the far couch and another bag to Chief Lewis.

"It's one of the top luxury brands. One small bottle is more than a hundred dollars." said Felicia.

"It's a fantastic fake, too. The smell, color and texture is nearly identical," said Alan. "This is Monica's favorite scent. I buy her a full set twice a year. I'm very familiar with how its supposed to smell by itself, to clothing and when applied to human skin. I love how it smells on Monica." He flashed his wife a smile. "Can anyone tell me which is the real one?"