Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4567 | Page 14

“Digoxin, Digoxin!” Lee’s cries startled Wei.
“Care to let me in on this."
“Digoxin a chemical isolated from foxglove, a flower with a beautiful shade of purple. In excess Digoxin can cause
a heart attack. Most likely dispensed through injection."
“Why didn’t the victims cry out for help?” Wei asked.
“The attacker knocked them out using chloroform. You can see evidence of it from the bruising around the mouth.
They were most likely injected with the digoxin while unconscious. The consistent trident symbol was also carved into their
backs while they were unconscious. They were then dumped back on the street from where they were picked up," Lee
explained.
“How do you know it was digoxin?”
“The most recent victim, Wang Qiang, the police took more effort to document his death. They took pictures of
him at the crime scene. What they did not realize was an area on his chest was covered in thicker than normal veins, a
symptom of digoxin poisoning."
“Well, that certainly must narrow it down."
“Yes, it does. Wait a minute how long were you gone?”
“Five hours,” Wei said very nonchalantly.
“Five hours! What took you so long? Your wife’s grave is right around the corner,” Lee said astonished.
“My wife loved a specific type of rare flower. I thought it would be fitting to put on her grave,” Wei explained.
“What type of flower?” Lee asked. Wei was about to answer when the phone rang. Wei rushed to the phone to stop
the ringing from driving Lee crazy as it's done in the past. Wei held the phone to his head and then immediately dropped it
in fear.
“There's been another murder!”
“Well, that does fit the pattern. We were too late,” Lee said as he put his hand to his face, he then looked up with
new determination.
“This latest death might be the final clue we need to catch this man."
When Wei and Lee arrived on scene it was surrounded by the press who demanded answers. Police stood lined up holding
back the crowd. The officers conducting the investigation were distracted by the roar of the people and the flash of the press
cameras. Lee and Wei pushed through the crowd to see Zhang.
“You two get in here,” Zhang urged Wei and Lee. Zhang lead them into a messy building littered with tools and
parts. Everything smelled of oil and was covered in grease.
“It seems the police could not keep this story hidden for long,” Wei said.
“Apparently we had a major leak. The entire file was dropped on a reporter's desk this morning,” Zhang
complained.
“Well, it wasn’t us.” Lee counterer.
“We eventually got the file back. It looked as if someone spent the time to make an exact handwritten copy."
“Interesting. Well, let's see the body, Zhang,” Lee said. Zhang lead them to a body covered by a large sheet. Lee
kneeled down and lifted the tarp slightly off the body. Around his mouth was subtle bruising. Lee continued to pull the sheet
off of the victim and found, he was wearing a gray jumpsuit covered in dirt and oil.
“A man whose body is found in a mechanics shop wearing, old dirty clothing. Does he seem like a rich man?” Lee
asked as he looked to Wei.
“I wouldn’t think so,” Wei answered.
“So it's not part of the trident case,” Lee said hopefully.