Anna waved the balding man over, "The body's here, Mr. Moseley."

The jittery man walked toward her, holding a case under his arm, and placed the box on the table, "I never thought someone would die in a nice place like this."

"People die every day in every way." Anna opened the case, "Thank you for bringing this and for coming since Doctor Clarkson was occupied."

"It's no trouble. Gave me a chance to bring this out since you haven't needed the poison box in some time." Moseley opened the box, sorting through the bottles to draw out two. "What signs have the body showed?"

"I want to guess but we need to be sure."

"Alright," Moseley bent next to the body, "What conclusions do you draw?"

"Administered through ingestion." Anna pointed to the cup on the table and the plate. "Poisoning is usually ingested and I've not seen any signs on his body that he did anything else to get poisoned."

Moseley tipped a few drops into the dead man's mouth and waited, "Belladonna poisoning."

"Fast acting if I remember correctly." Anna squinted into the man's mouth. "When would he need it administered?"

"What have you heard about the event?"

Anna frowned, "Why would that matter?"

"If he died quickly then it means he consumed more. If it was slow then he's been poisoned for some time."

"I doubt someone makes a scene here if they were slowly poisoning someone." Anna stood, gathering her things. "We need to gather all of this as quickly as possible."

"We can get it packed up quickly." Jane marked a few of the items. "I'll get William and Alfred in here to collect it all."

"And I'll update our DCIs on the poison. It might help guide their investigation." Anna pointed to the body and then to Moseley. "Would you get the body to the mortuary? We need to see what they used for the delivery system."

"I'd put my bets on the wine." Moseley sniffed at the cup, nodding. "Someone dropped belladonna in his drink."

"Would we know who did it?"

"There's no visible skin contact, unlike hemlock, and if they used liquid in a vial for administration then there's nothing to tie them to it." Moseley packed up his case. "I'd suggest we get someone to start looking for a vial or other kind of container."

"Nothing too large."

"I'd guess it all comes down to whether or not they can hide the vial somewhere." Moseley shrugged, "It depends on what the investigators find."

"Or what we get Andy to find." Anna patted Jane on the shoulder. "Make sure the autopsy doesn't start without me, if Doctor Clarkson can afford to wait."

"I'll tell William and Alfred to ask him. He shouldn't have an argument with it. He usually doesn't."

Anna left her team and proceeded up the stairs toward where the DCIs had their interviews. She knocked on the door, entering the Grey Room and motioning for DCI Bates. He smiled his apologies to the woman sitting across from him as he broke off their conversation. Clapping his hands together he nodded to her.

"How can I help Doctor Smith?"

"I've had our expert test the body for poison and he determined belladonna poisoning."

"What else about it?"

"He suggests that we look for a vial." Anna waved a hand toward the individuals in the room. "It might sound a bit impertinent but I'd suggest you think about checking everyone and their pockets."

"I'll look into it." He went to turn around when both heard shouting from the other end of the hall. "What?"

A younger man tumbled out of the room, falling into the wall before raising his hands in defense. Anna ran toward him, hearing shouting from the room he just vacated, and stood in front of him with her hands up. DCI Crawley exited the room with a red face but stopped when he saw Anna.

"Get out of the way Doctor Smith. This doesn't concern you."

"If you injure one of the people you interrogate you'll be in more trouble." Anna warned, turning to DCI Bates, "Perhaps DCI Bates here could handle this interview."

"I don't need someone to step in to stop an interview with my son-in-law."

"Robert," DCI Bates intervened, "You just tossed this man out the door. I don't think you're in your right mind."

"All I did was say that maybe the bloke deserved it." The man on the wall pulled his vest straight, brushing off his jacket sleeves. "Being loud and obnoxious and ruining everyone's night."

"The man died, Branson."

"My name's Tom, as Sybil and I remind you every time you seem to forget." Branson nodded toward DCI Bates. "I agree with Anna's proposal. I'll answer every question DCI Bates has for me but I won't take any more of your accusations that I had anything to do with the death of that cocky bastard."

"You ungrateful-" DCI Crawley charged forward but DCI Bates stopped him.

"Robert, I'm taking Mr. Branson's statements now. It's late and these people want to get home. They need to get home and we need to finish these interviews."

"I'm fine to finish this interview John."

"No, you're not." DCI Bates took a deep breath, "I'll interview Mr. Branson here and you can go and interview my ex-wife."

"Vera's here?" DCI Crawley groaned, "I detest that woman."

"She'll be less antagonistic with you." DCI Bates pushed DCI Crawley toward the Grey room. "Go on. I want to get home before it's daylight outside and you're wife'll thank me for that."

DCI Crawley gave Branson a final scowl before walking toward the Grey Room. DCI Bates rubbed at the bridge of his nose before massaging his eyes. He clapped Branson on the shoulder, "Go back in and I'll finish your interview in a moment."

Branson slumped back into the room he exited and Anna put a hand on DCI Bates's arm. "Thank you for stepping in on behalf of Mr. Branson."

"It's more selfish than that." He pointed back at the Grey Room. "I don't want to talk to my ex-wife."

"That would be awkward." Anna held her arms close to her body, biting on the back of her jaw. "Was she with you, in Singapore?"

"No," DCI Bates shook his head. "She was in Australia at the time, visiting a sister. At least that is what she told me."

Anna frowned then looked at the ground. "She was visiting someone else wasn't she?"

DCI Bates nodded, "I don't know who but I don't think she was even in Australia." He cleared his throat, "I didn't find her again until after the Japanese were forced to release us but by then she'd already taken steps toward our divorce so it didn't matter."

"Then I respect that you have the clarity of thought to now how you would or wouldn't react to seeing that woman."

"I'm not strong enough to handle her, if we're being honest." He checked his watch, "But we're running late and I was serious about the need for sleep."

"I understand." Anna nodded at him, "I also hope the information about the poison helps guide the questioning."

"It'll do more than you know." He bowed his head to her, "Have you found anything else, Doctor?"

"I'm having Jane and our two assistants, William and Alfred, collect the evidence we need for further testing. Mr. Moseley and our other assistant, Andy, already made arrangements to remove the body to the mortuary for the autopsy."

"Have you arranged the time for that?"

"As soon as Doctor Clarkson and I make a time to do it. I would imagine it'll be later this afternoon."

"Will you be up for it?" Anna raised her eyebrows and he stumbled to speak. "I mean, will you have the energy? If you're up all night now how will you make time this afternoon?"

"I'll manage, Mr. Bates." Anna motioned toward the room, "Mr. Branson's waiting for you to finish his interview so he and his wife can go home."

"And I'm sure the remainder of your staff would like you present when you finish in the dining room."

"Let me know if there's any more information you need from us."

"Once we finish the interviews I'm sure the autopsy will give us some other information." DCI Bates stepped away from her, "Thank you for your help in this Doctor."

"I'm looking forward to working with you, Mr. Bates, and the help is a byproduct of our association."

"An association I'm looking forward to continuing."

"As am I, Mr. Bates." Anna winked, "But for now, back to work."

"Needs must." He vanished into the room and Anna smiled to herself.

"Yes they must."