Chapter 8
Jessica had just informed Seth and Mort at the hospital that she knew how Seth had been poisoned.
"Go on, Mrs. F," Mort encouraged.
"No, first we must get a rush order on the tests for Seth," she insisted, "we need to know if he had really been poisoned. Then they can take the appropriate measures."
Mort nodded, "I'll get right on it!"
#
The blood tests for poisons didn't take long for they now knew what they were looking for. The results were what they expected; there was a dose of thallium found in Seth's system. The next step was that Nurse Ruth efficiently rushed to the drug dispensary where the hospital kept a poison control cupboard and retrieved an airtight canister of Prussian blue, the antidote to the poison.
Seth was administered four of the blue-hued pills and it was only when they took effect that the nurse left. By now it was almost 2 am so everyone was pretty exhausted.
"Come on Mrs. F," Mort said, "I'll take you home so the Doc could get some rest."
"No, wait!" Seth stated abruptly as he turned to look at Jessica, "Jess, you had stated that you knew how I'd been poisoned. I won't sleep well until you tell me."
"That's right," Mort realized, "in all the chaos of de-poisoning the Doc, we never did hear your theory, Mrs. F! How do you figure the Doc and Bert Bradley were poisoned?"
Jessica explained, "Actually, the method didn't occur to me until I saw you, Sheriff, place your hat on your head."
"And?" Seth asked impatiently, "Not to be grumpy, Jess, but I've already been pricked and drugged to the high heavens, and it's about to be lights out for me soon, so do you think you can more it along a little faster?"
"The poison was in the hats!" she bluntly announced.
"What?" Seth looked incredulous.
"The hats?" Mort asked, confused.
"Yes!" she wholeheartedly responded, "The killer must have used the thallium poison in powder form and then applied it to the inside of Bert and Seth's hats in order to poison them!"
"You mean," Seth looked skeptical, "I was actually wearing the poison on my head and didn't know it?"
"It's a brilliant plan, actually," Jessica commented, "using that method, the poison could slowly kill the individual and the killer wouldn't even need to be nearby the intended victim when the poison took effect!"
"Would that really worked?" Mort wondered, "I mean, putting the poison in a hat?"
Seth considered it, "Medically, yes. Once the hat was placed on the head of the target, the powder would then be released and can be either inhaled or absorbed into the skin."
"And here's the really clever part," added Jessica, "when the victim showers and washes his hair, all the remaining evidence would literally go down the drain!"
Seth looked puzzled, "but why would the killer want to poison me?"
Mort stated sardonically, "Is that a trick question, Doc?"
"I wished I knew the trick to make you disappear!" Doc gave him a scornful look.
"Speaking of which," Mort turned to Jessica, "So, Mrs. F., now that the Doc will be sleeping, you ready to go?"
"Yes, I am," she said.
Seth touched her arm, "Actually I'd like you to stay, Jess, if you don't mind."
Jessica looked unsure.
"But Seth, it's early morning, and after all that you've been through, you must be exhausted!" she stated, "You don't need company; what you need is some good sleep!"
"What I need is some love and comfort, Woman!" he exclaimed.
That comment made her smile.
"Alright, I'll stay, but just for a little while," she promised. She then turned to Mort, "Go home to Adele, Mort and I'll talk with you tomorrow."
"Sounds like a plan," Mort acknowledged, "And I'll also make sure to have Andy tail Beth a bit to see if something is going on between her and Logan McIntosh."
"Speakin' of the illustrious detective," Seth declared, "you think we should discuss with Logan our theory regarding the method of poisoning?"
"Hey, we already gave him the autopsy results for Bert," Mort had a mischievous smile on his face, "I'd say we already did our due diligence!"
Seth broke into a big smile, "I do believe you're right, Sheriff!"
Jessica looked from one man to the next.
"Did I hear correctly?" she playfully asked, "you both plan to withhold information from the lead detective on the case?"
"Sounds about right," Seth said.
"You make it sound like a bad thing," Mort commented.
Jessica berated them, "Despite Detective McIntosh being a bit...difficult...you know we should give him any information that might help him solve the case. And this includes telling him about how Seth had been poisoned!"
"We will, Mrs. F., believe me," Mort promised with a mischievous wink, "alllll in due time!"
Then he bid them good night (or actually morning), and he was gone.
#
Seth and Jessica were alone. At last.
Scooting a chair over, Jessica sat next to Seth. She smiled as she held onto his hand. Their familiarity was comforting yet thrilling.
What Jessica always loved about Seth was how strong yet how caring he could be at the same time. And though his body was weak at this moment, he was looking at her with an intensity that made her feel breathless all of sudden.
They small talked for some time.
"Oh Jess, how I wished we could have gone to the dance at the country club for our first date!" he was telling her, "I know you would have been the belle of the ball!"
He reached out and she felt his thumb touching her cheek lightly and that small gesture caused her to become weak with excitement and desire.
"There will be other times, Seth," she promised.
*YAWN!*
Seth unexpectedly opened his mouth for a big yawn.
"Oh Seth, you are tired!" tsked Jessica.
"It's that dang medication that's wearing me out, is all!" he insisted.
"Still," Jessica told him, "according to the doctor, it'll take at least a day before the poison will be completely out of your system."
"Doctors!" Seth whined, "Most of 'em are quacks!"
Jessica smiled and then stood up and lowered his bed for him. Next She pulled the covers higher on him and gave him a short kiss on the lips.
He looked lost and distressed at the thought she was leaving.
"You're not leavin' NOW are you, Jess?"
She sat back down and gave him a comforting look as she patted his hand.
"I'll stay until you fall asleep."
Now satisfied, he closed his eyes and with a smile on his lips, he quickly fell asleep.
#
The next day Mort and Jessica had arrive late morning back at the hospital. Seth had already been given his medication. The room looked different this morning for there were several bouquet of flowers throughout the room.
"How are you feeling, Seth?" Jessica asked.
"Impatient!" Seth said, "I don't know what it is I want, but whatever it is, I want it NOW!"
"At least you're popular," Mort observed, as he viewed all the arrangements around the room, "since yesterday, this place has become a bustling flower shop!"
"Caught me by surprise, too!" Seth acknowledged, "I've had people visitin' me ALL this hours this mornin'!"
"Uh, I don't think attending doctors and nurses count as visitors, Doc," Mort jested as Seth scowled.
"Well, I definitely know of ONE visitor who isn't highly welcomed in my room!" Seth commented, looking directly at Mort.
"Oh yeah?" Mort countered, "welllll... it just so happens that I bought some rhubarb earlier and had left them in the squad car. I could always bring them up, all wrapped up pretty in a nice pink bow...what do you think about that, Doc? You think you'd like a fresh 'bouquet' of rhubarb from me?"
There was no chance for a response, for the hospital door abruptly opened.
And in strolled Detective Logan McIntosh, carrying an envelope in his hand.
"I can't believe I was the last to know about Uncle Seth being here!" he immediately complained.
No one seemed happy at his presence while Seth murmured sarcastically under his breath.
"And JUST when I THOUGHT my day had started out right!"
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