Coroners in Paradise
In memory of David McCallum and Al Eben
"And that, my friend, was another fascinating case for our team."
The old Scotsman turned to the man seated beside him, certain that he would not be able to top that story.
The park bench shared by the two men looked out on the Celestial City – a most beautiful sight. Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard straightened his bow tie then tugged at his white robe, a garment he was not yet used to wearing.
"It's really quite comfortable once you get used to it," commented Dr. Bergman, who usually answered to "Doc." His own white robe bore a very subtle print of plumeria flowers and palm leaves.
In Heaven there is no more death, so what's a pair of coroners to do? Harp lessons? No, Ducky played the oboe and English horn. Doc favored the piano, an instrument he had picked up during his retirement.
"I must admit it, Ducky, that last case of yours was quite interesting, but you and your team at NCIS had DNA testing and all manner of instantaneous information at your fingertips on those fancy computers of yours," Doc remarked. "In my day, our computer was an IBM mainframe that took up an entire room. Arriving at cause of death took a lot more old-fashioned book research and in-person consultations, not to mention hours at the microscope."
"I'll grant you that," agreed Ducky. "So…what was your most challenging determination?"
Doc didn't have to think for long to offer his answer.
"Conus Textile Linnaeus …or more precisely, the venom thereof."
The Scottish ME raised an eyebrow. "You have me intrigued, Dr. Bergman. Please continue." Dr. Mallard was in the habit of addressing others, even close friends, very formally.
"The victim was a man in his late thirties. There were no signs of death by natural causes, but it was clear that he had suffocated. The question was why. I looked at a sample of his blood under the microscope and found foreign matter – an alkaloid – some sort of ammonium compound."
"Ah, so he was poisoned!" Ducky concluded excitedly, "With something that would cause paralysis and suffocation. Several species of insects and spiders have venoms that contain alkaloids as major components."
Doc nodded in agreement. "The thing I couldn't fathom was how it got into his bloodstream. There was no evidence of the compound in the stomach contents. On a thorough examination of the body, there were no wounds or skin abrasions of any kind."
"Strange," Ducky commented. "If it were an insect or spider bite, that would have been apparent on the body somewhere."
"I had hit a dead end on the means of entry," Doc continued, "so I decided to concentrate on investigating the chemistry of the poison. I took some spectrophotometer readings and found traces of N-methylpyridinium, homarine and γ-butyrobetaine. The effects of that combination are similar to those of the South American poison, curare."
"Curare," repeated Ducky. "That would cut off the nerve function at the myoneural junction, paralyzing the muscles responsible for respiration."
"Exactly! So, I knew in detail what had happened internally, but I still didn't know the source of the poison nor how it had entered the body. In the meantime, a second victim was delivered to the morgue…"
"With the same cause of death, I'd wager," Ducky surmised. Donald Mallard loved a good mystery and this one was proving to be top-notch.
"Right!" replied Doc. "The next clue came from Che Fong, our forensic scientist. He had collected and analyzed items from the scene that were near each victim at time of death. One item was a pillowcase, the other, a note found in a birthday present. Both were damp with sea water according to Che's findings. That discovery prompted our detectives to consult with Dr. Pell, a biologist at Sea Life Park."
"Conus Textile Linnaeus, I presume," concluded Ducky.
"Otherwise known as Cloth of Gold. Bingo!" Bergman grinned broadly. "A beautiful little marine gastropod mollusk – a sea snail – and deadly as it is beautiful."
"That's the source of the poison, but how was it administered?" Ducky asked.
"Dr. Pell explained that the Cloth of Gold is armed with a harpoon-like projection that it uses to immobilize its prey. It releases a poison-filled dart, needle if you will, from the anterior end. The needles are only five one-thousandths of an inch in diameter. I had been scratching my head ever since the first body came in but there was no way to find point of entry of something that small."
"I doubt if our NCIS lab could have found it either, modern equipment, not withstanding," admitted Ducky. "Were the deaths accidental?"
"No, and sadly, before the end of the case, there were two more victims, the last, a suicide," Doc added.
"Murder by mollusk," Ducky mused. "That is immensely fascinating, Dr. Bergman. I believe that you win!"
So engrossed had the pair of coroners been with Doc's story, they didn't notice another approaching the bench with an easy, casual amble.
"Say, what are you fellas talking about?"
"Quince, you old devil," Bergman greeted the new arrival. "Dr. Mallard, have you met Dr. Quincy?"
PAU