His Conundrums

Chapter 17

A Flower like Jasmine

"Did Mr. Arzon Schither showed any signs that day, something unparticular?" He asked the woman who was wearing a gray shirt and a pair of jeans. She's been there for 3 days, under observation.

"Therese?" Sirius called her again.

"He was having a fever that late morning. I made him took some medicines, but it never goes down. He was vomiting and couldn't eat his lunch and dinner." She said.

"Why he's in the kitchen? He was supposed to be in his bed." Sirius asked him.

"He keeps on insisting on finding him something to make him feel better, but I couldn't bring him to the hospital, knowing he's a bad guy. So I helped him go down from the stairs, but he pushed me when we were in the living room," Therese replied.

"He is indeed a bad guy. Why did you choose to work with him?" He asked, made Therese wonder why he asked her that question.

"I don't think you have the right to ask me about my personal matters, Mr. Welsch." She answered.

"Of course, I'm just asking how much he paid for you making you bought that limited edition perfume that smells like jasmine." He said.

-0-0-0-

They were waiting for the autopsy result. They had all the details they found scattered on the table. They were in Joe's apartment. Trying to figure out what could have made him die and did Therese really killed this man, if not, who? They were in pure silence when Joe was about to say something, but suddenly, George's phone rang.

He took the call while Sirius and Joe patiently waiting for him to tell them it was what they were waiting for.

"It's out," George said as soon as he ended the call. Sirius moved up to his feet and hurriedly reached the door, making them stumbled to their feet because he was too fast.

-0-0-0-

"He was poisoned. Chemical poisoning through inhalation but substance is unknown. How could be the substance remains unknown?" George said when he read the autopsy result.

Joe snatched away the paper from George's hands. Sirius was in his deep thoughts, knowing he smelled something from Arzon's room. He dashed out from the place, leaving the two behind.

"He really needs to learn how to ask permission before he leaves us behind," Joe said in a tired tone making faces.

-0-0-0-

"Cover your nose before you enter the room," Sirius said as they wore their gloves.

"Why?" George asked.

"Chemical poisoning through inhalation." He answered.

"Oh, I forgot," George said while quickly took his handkerchief from his pockets.

"Find something that could find a lead to that chemical," Sirius commanded.

They entered and searched every corner of that room. What could he possibly inhaled, and in what way? Sirius paused for a moment and closed his eyes, trying to remember something before.

"A chemical, poison, inhalation..." He mumbled, searching from his mind.

He remembered being in a case once finding out how London's prime minister died in his room. The prime minister was alone in his room when he saw a small bottle of an unknown chemical and accidentally inhaled a chemical substance called...

"Ricin." He said.

"Ricin?" George asked, copying what Sirius just said.

"It's a byproduct of castor beans, and it is highly toxic which can be formed as a powder, mist or pellet," Joe said and scanned the letters at Arzon's table.

"I know," George said.

"Oh! In case you don't know."- Joe said, smiling at George.

"If he died through inhalation of a chemical, Ms. Therese must also show the same symptoms," Sirius stated.

"Something, only Arzon, can inhale..." He mumbled while trying to connect all his findings.

"...letters. Find anything unusual in those letters." He said.

They quickly scanned every letter, and George found something peculiar on the floor.

"Here." He said, showing them a letter he picked up from the floor.

"Wicked, looks like it is scented," Joe remarked.

The letter was already open. It seemed like Mr. Arzon already saw this before. The paper is not an ordinary type of scented paper. It is a special one and looked like it was manufactured solely for one person. It also has a jasmine flower marked at the center. It was such a good paper just to waste it for sending hatred and resentment. Now it seemed like everything is connected.

"Arzon Schither likes jasmine." Sirius started.

"He died from a chemical poisoning by inhaling ricin mixed in this scented paper." He added.

"Just like how the terrorists attacked the President of the US along with his subordinates at the white house before," George said.

"Inhaling this toxic can show symptoms like difficulty in breathing, fever, and vomiting in early 4-8 hours. I presumed death is within 36-72 hours." Sirius said.

"Since he likes the smell of jasmine flowers, he can't resist inhaling this one without knowing it was a poisoned." He added, showing them the letter.

"I saw him having jasmine scented candles on his bathroom, an air freshener, and a perfume." He said.

"Perfume?" Joe asked.

"I didn't saw him having one," George stated.

"It's not him," Sirius said.

-0-0-0-

"I don't like the scent he gave you." He smelled her hair slowly down to her neck and planted a sweet little kiss on her shoulder.

"That's the only scent I could use to cover up yours." She faced him slowly, and he pulled her closer to his chest.

"I'm sorry we've gone this far." He said with those honest almond eyes making you rest with ease, knowing you'll be safe in his arms.

"What can we do? We were born in the rotten part of this city, crying out of hunger, eager to fly away from a cage of poverty." Blaming the place for the twisted fate they have to live.