Imperious

by C. M. Sutter

  An idea popped into my mind when I thought about the social media angle Jack had talked about several days ago. The parents didn’t know the social media log-ins, so our tech department was trying to gain access. “Cell phones are a wealth of information, you know. There’s the contact list we’ll work off of, but there’s also pictures in the gallery that might be separated into folders.”

  Amber filled a water glass and took her seat. “Not a bad idea. Let’s make the calls and then start looking through the pictures.”

  “Good, tear your sheet in half. Daphne knew more people than Becca did.” I tapped Becca’s gallery to take a look before I started on the calls. She had four folders and dozens of recent photos that hadn’t been placed in the folders yet. “Here’s a good example,” I said. “Becca had a few folders—home, school, sports, and miscellaneous, and I bet some of those pics will come in handy.”

  Amber and I dug in with phone calls, each taking eight, while the guys went over the interviews from yesterday to tighten down comments from peers along with names of classmates and classes they had in common. I got through to four of the eight names I called and left messages for the rest. Of Becca and Daphne’s personal friends, no one reported that either girl talked about unusual medical issues they were experiencing. One new name popped up, and that was from Becca’s friend Jodi Prentice. She said Becca had mentioned a Mike and how he had a thing for her. She couldn’t wait until summer break so she wouldn’t have to see him again until the fall semester began—if he was still there. I jotted down that information and went back to Becca’s picture gallery while Amber finished her calls.

  I’ll start at the beginning and work my way through the folders.

  I opened the folder that said “Home” and began browsing the photographs. I felt as if I were spying and looking at a private part of her life, but it was necessary, and I swiped left as I went through her very personal images. The photos from home were just that, pictures of Becca with her parents and little brother, Brent. Swimming in the family pool, on camping trips, working in the yard, and at barbecues. It appeared to be a happy home life. I tapped the “School” folder and began paging through the contents. Dozens of outdoor and indoor pictures of the campus popped up along with a picture of Becca and Brent standing on the soccer field. I swiped again and saw a picture of Becca’s parents, each with an arm around her shoulder—they looked proud.

  That must have been orientation day.

  I continued through the school photographs when one in particular caught my eye. I backed up, tapped the picture, and spread it with my fingers to enlarge it.

  What the heck?

  Amber had just ended her last call, and I motioned her over. “Hey, take a look at this.”

  Chapter 30

  He glanced in Naomi’s direction every so often and watched as she seemed to struggle with the two-hour botany final. He’d find an excuse to talk to her after the exam and arrange something for later that night. Her grade was hanging in the balance, and she wouldn’t dare stand him up.

  At his desk, he paged through the hardcover book that contained every species of plant life found in North America. A specific plant came to mind, and in his fenced backyard, he had many varieties to choose from. He ran his finger down the table of contents and turned to page eighty-seven.

  Here we go, deadliest plants of North America.

  He had harvested and preserved many plants over time. Nicotine extract from the leaves of one plant could be added to a beverage. Fresh salads might include the berries from the doll’s eye plant, castor beans, or deadly nightshade, and dried and ground roots from the water hemlock could be added to any meal he decided to prepare. As a chemist, he had even more opportunities to be inventive. He’d have no problem coming up with the perfect chemical cocktail as he had in the past. Naomi’s last chance to make the right decision would come that night.

  Nah, she has to die, anyway. Can’t have any loose lips.

  Chapter 31

  “What have you got?” Amber rolled her chair over to my desk.

  “I was checking Becca’s photo gallery from school and look who’s in the background of this picture.” I passed Becca’s phone to Amber. “Go ahead and enlarge it.”

  She did. “Isn’t that—”

  “Mmm-hmm. Mr. Morton in the flesh. Why do you think somebody who owns apartment buildings is at what looks to be orientation day at UWWC?”

  Amber shrugged. “We didn’t ask if he was married or had kids. He could have a daughter or son who started college last fall. His age seems right.”

  My shoulders dropped. “I guess so. It’s probably because we just met him and his demeanor irritated me. I think he actually gave me that headache.”

  “Maybe. So did you get anything from the phone calls?”

  I had almost forgotten about Jodi’s comment. “That’s right. Nobody had anything to say about new health issues, but Jodi told me that Becca mentioned a Mike and how he had a thing for her. It didn’t sound like the feelings were reciprocated.”

  “I’m assuming the Mike was somebody from UWWC?”

  “That’s what she said.” I turned to Clayton. “Did you guys interview any students named Mike the other day?”

  Billings paged through his notepad. “I didn’t.”

  Clayton took a look too. “I had a Michael Taylor, an acquaintance of Daphne’s from her botany class. I called him Mike, and he corrected me, saying he goes by Michael, not Mike. Does he need a second interview?”

  “Maybe. Run it past Jack and see what he thinks. If he knew Becca too, we could be onto something, I’m just not sure what.”

  I heard footsteps coming from the hallway. I looked over my shoulder to see Lena entering the bull pen. Something was up. She never came upstairs unless she had something to share with all of us.

  I checked the time. There was no way she could have any results from toxicology yet. It was way too soon.

  Jack saw Lena from his half-opened office door and came out. “Lena, do you have something?”

  She glanced at me then pointed at my guest chair. “May I?”

  “Of course. Sit down, please.”

  “I have the initial tox results for Daphne. The standard tests were run before I asked the lab to check for poisons, and it appears that she had fentanyl in her system.” Lena frowned at Jack. “Did her parents mention she was a drug user?”

  Jack rubbed his forehead. “To be honest, I think I only asked about heart problems, and they told me she didn’t have any.”

  “Fentanyl is fifty times stronger than heroin, Jack. There’s a reason it was in her body. My question is, was she taking opioids for pain, or was she a drug abuser? The tox lab can’t distinguish between pharmaceutical fentanyl and the black-market versions of the drug. Either way, I’d venture to say we just found out what killed Daphne.”

  Jack pushed off the doorframe. “Anything on Becca yet as far as the standard screening?”

  “Nothing that they’ve found as far as drugs or alcohol. They’ve moved on to the poison screening for both girls.”

  Jack groaned. “Okay, thanks, Lena. I need to call the Coles and find out if Daphne was taking recreational drugs or had prescriptions for opioids, and if so, why. Maybe foul play wasn’t a factor in either death. Becca could have been texting while driving like we originally thought, and Daphne could have overdosed—accidentally or deliberately. I’m sure those kids feel like they’re under a lot of pressure during finals week.”

  “The tox lab is working hard to finish the screening. Here you go.” Lena handed a copy of the report to Jack. “I’ll let you know when I know more.”

  “Appreciate it.” Jack jerked his head at us. “Keep doing what you were doing while I get to the bottom of this.”

  “Boss?”

  Jack loosened his tie as he turned toward Clayton. “Yep?”

  “There’s a kid named Michael Taylor that Daphne knew, and I’d like to question him again. Maybe he knew Becca too.” />
  “Question anybody who raises a red flag with you, once, twice, or a dozen times. While you’re at it, find out if Mr. Taylor peddles drugs at the campus.” Jack raked his hair. “Better yet, find out who the offenders are at UWWC and where they’re getting the drugs. Pull the jackets from anybody in the county who has been arrested for dealing, especially narcotics, and have a chat with them. I have more questions for the Cole family.” He walked into his office and closed the door behind him.

  I slapped my desk. “Come on, guys. We need a lead, and this Michael could be a good place to start.”

  Clayton rose from his desk and tipped his chin at Billings. “We have today and tomorrow before finals week is over and the students are done for the summer. Let’s find Michael Taylor and have a sit-down with him again.”

  I fired up my laptop. “I’ll see what the known drug dealers in the county have been up to lately. Amber and I may have to pay them a visit. If the fentanyl wasn’t a prescription, Daphne got it from somebody.”

  Amber reached for her desk phone. “I’ll call upstairs and see who we have in lockup.”

  Chapter 32

  He recognized the cops as the same ones who had been sniffing around on the day Daphne was discovered. Along with other professors and students, he had been questioned about Becca and Daphne as standard procedure. He walked to the window, separated the slats, and peered out. Below was the faculty parking lot, filled with cars as if nothing eventful had happened there. He remembered watching the coroner load Daphne’s contorted body onto the gurney.

  “Shit happens when you don’t comply.” He heard a knock on the doorframe.

  “Excuse us.”

  Mike Morton turned to see those very cops standing at the door’s threshold.

  I need to stop thinking out loud, damn it.

  “Can I help you?”

  Clayton cocked his head. “Did we already meet?”

  “Possibly, and you are?”

  “We’re Detectives Clayton and Billings. We interviewed a number of professors and students the other day in reference to the deaths of Becca Morbeck and Daphne Cole.”

  “Of course, I remember now. Such a tragedy.”

  Billings raised a brow. “Aren’t you a chemistry professor?”

  “I am. Sometimes botany and chemistry cross over. What can I help you with, Detectives? I have exams in”—he checked the time on the wall clock—“twenty minutes.”

  Clayton took over the conversation. “We’re looking for Michael Taylor. We were told he and Daphne were in the same class. Has he already taken his finals?”

  Professor Morton nodded. “He finished up yesterday. I don’t know if he has more finals this week or if he’s done for the summer.”

  “Sure thing. Do you know if Michael and Daphne were close, as in a tight friendship?” Billings asked.

  The professor took a seat at his desk.

  I have to divert this conversation and quick.

  “They seemed to know each other well. I have a lot of students, Detectives, so I couldn’t possibly tell you what any of them do once they leave my classes.”

  Clayton and Billings turned toward the door. “One more thing, sir,” Clayton said. “Do you know if Michael Taylor knew Becca Morbeck or if he’s local to the area?”

  He shrugged. “I have no idea on both questions. Check with the admissions office.”

  “You bet. Thanks for your time.”

  He watched as the detectives walked out.

  I have to make sure I don’t leave any loose ends. Naomi is the only girl left who can point a finger at me, and she’ll meet her fate tonight.

  Chapter 33

  Jack tapped his pen against the notepad as the phone rang at the Cole residence in Manitowoc. He assumed the family took time off work to grieve even though they couldn’t make funeral arrangements until the cause of Daphne’s death was known and her body was released from the morgue.

  Mrs. Cole picked up on the third ring. “Hello.”

  Jack pressed Speakerphone and placed the handset back on the base. He tried to roll the kinks out of his tensed shoulders. “Mrs. Cole, it’s Lieutenant Steele calling.”

  “Have you found out anything new, Lieutenant?”

  Jack heard the hope in her voice, yet the only news he had to tell her was bad and would likely raise more questions. “Ma’am, the initial toxicology report for Daphne came in. Those results tell us if alcohol or drugs were found in her system.”

  “Yes, and?”

  Jack sighed. “Fentanyl was discovered.”

  “Fentanyl? I don’t even know what that is, Lieutenant.”

  “Fentanyl is a very dangerous opioid if used recreationally. It’s far stronger than morphine and heroin and causes many fatalities every year. Was Daphne taking any prescription pain medications?” Jack heard Mr. Cole tell his wife to click over to Speakerphone so he could add to the conversation.

  “Lieutenant?”

  “Yes, Mr. Cole. I need to know if Daphne has been on or had a reason to take prescription pain medication recently.”

  “No, not at all. Her medical bills would come to our home even if she went to a doctor in North Bend. There hasn’t been anything. What are you saying?”

  Jack had to ask the difficult question. “So if she wasn’t taking pain meds out of necessity, do you have any knowledge of her abusing narcotics?”

  “Of course not! Daphne was a good daughter who focused on her studies.”

  Jack thought about Vince and his questionable background. “Has Daphne ever mentioned a young man named Vince Meroni?” Jack heard the couple discuss it with each other.

  Mr. Cole answered for both of them. “We aren’t familiar with that name, Lieutenant.”

  “According to Jennifer Tenley, Daphne’s roommate, Vince was Daphne’s boyfriend. He’s not the most upstanding citizen according to North Bend PD.” Jack jotted down a note to himself to talk to Billy Bachaus about Vince and his arrest record. “Long story short, Mr. and Mrs. Cole, Daphne may have died from fentanyl poisoning. The lab is still working to see if the amount in her bloodstream was a lethal dose. I’ll keep you updated as information comes in.” Jack hung up and cracked his neck. He picked up the phone again and dialed the North Bend PD. “Hey, Emily, it’s Jack Steele. Can you connect me to Billy Bachaus? I have some questions for him about Vince Meroni.”

  Chapter 34

  Clayton and Billings walked out of the admissions office with the most current address for Michael Taylor. He rented a one-room efficiency apartment at the back of a storefront in Allenton.

  Ten minutes later, Clayton parked the cruiser in the gravel parking lot, and they walked to the rear of the building.

  “Here it is,” Billings said as he double-checked the slip of paper in his hand. He balled his fist and banged on the door.

  The door opened seconds later, and Michael stood on the other side. A look of recognition and surprise covered his face. “Detective Clayton, what are you doing here?”

  “Hey, Michael. Sorry to barge in unannounced, but we have a few questions for you. This is my partner, Detective Billings.”

  Michael tipped his head toward the door. “I was about to leave for work.”

  His khaki pants and navy-blue polo shirt with the store logo embroidered on the chest told the detectives he likely worked at the big-box electronics store in North Bend.

  Clayton pointed toward the living room. “We only need five minutes of your time.”

  “Okay, I guess.” Michael scratched the top of his head and took a seat on the couch. The detectives remained standing. “So, what is this about?”

  “Daphne Cole and Becca Morbeck. You and Daphne had chemistry lab together?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Were you close?”

  He shrugged. “We were classmates and knew each other, but close? Not really.”

  “Have you ever been arrested, Michael?”

  “Hell no. I’m a responsible guy who’s just trying to work my wa
y through college and land a decent job.”

  Clayton wrote that down. “Good for you, but you know we’ll check, right?”

  Michael nodded.

  “Did you know Becca Morbeck?”

  “Not personally, but I heard about her death like everyone else did.”

  “Have you heard of anyone at school selling fentanyl?”

  “No, but I think Cory Norman sells OxyContin. Please don’t mention my name. I have another year to go at UWWC.”

  “Does Cory live in North Bend?”

  “Yeah, at the Trace.”

  Clayton raised a brow at Billings and glanced at his notes. “I think that should do it for now.” He handed Michael his card, and they thanked him for his time.

  Billings climbed into the passenger seat and fastened the belt over his expanding belly. “Do you think there could be a connection between Vince and Cory Norman?”

  Clayton huffed. “There has to be. Everyone at the Trace knows each other. Maybe Vince found out Daphne was seeing somebody on the side and got Cory involved. If he already sells OxyContin, it isn’t that much of a stretch to find somebody who will land him some fentanyl.”

  Billings did a search for the surname Norman in North Bend on the cruiser’s computer. “Here we go. Jane Norman is listed at 107 East Decorah Road, North Bend. That’s likely Cory’s mother. I’ll try that number.” Billings dialed the number and hit Speakerphone. A female voice answered on the second ring.

  “Hello.”

  “Is Cory home?”

  “Yeah, hang on.”

  Billings heard her yell for Cory to come to the phone. He hung up and dialed the city PD. “This is Detective Billings from the sheriff’s office calling. I need an officer to meet me at 107 East Decorah Road. Yes, at the Trace. Word came in that the tenant living there may be dealing drugs at UWWC, and my partner and I need to question him. Right, we’ll be waiting in the parking lot.”

  Clayton lifted his right hip and fished his cell phone out of his pocket. He pressed Jack’s name in his contact list. “I’ll let Jack know what’s going on. It could boil down to Vince being the culprit after all.”