The Cold Case Page 7

  “How did you know?” Carla asked.

  “I already had my suspicions before we went here. All the past victims were poisoned by someone who slipped the norepinephrine, into their systems. So they didn't know that they were being poisoned. The killer had to be someone whom they knew, someone they trusted. Someone who could slip the deadly cocktail into their drinks unnoticed because they were trusted. And someone who was good at chemicals and mixing stuff. Before you went into real-estate, I remembered that you had a degree in Chemistry. And I did a little checking too. All of them had met you previously before their deaths. You visited them all shortly before they died so you could have easily found an opportune moment to poison them. That was also why you were so eager for this little party to push through. You were looking to poison all of us! And I just managed to film you mixing the norepinephrine into the drinks!”

  My voice was really loud now. And I was holding back the tears.

  “Why Carla? Why?” I demanded.

  “What's going on?”

  Jason and Steve ran into the hallway to check on us.

  “Not you, just them! I wanted to kill just them!” Carla said.

  “I wanted to kill them all because I wanted you all to myself. I always did, Dick. When you left town, I told you, I was devastated. I could not wait for you to return. I missed you so much. When I heard you would return, I was overjoyed. But I wanted to erase everything about your past, everyone. All so that we could both be together again. I just didn't want to lose you again.” Carla said.

  “Good Lord.”

  “My God.”

  Jason and Steve were shocked and speechless. I was too.

  “Carla.. you're sick. I.. you need help.”

  Those were the only words that I managed to stammer out of my mouth.

  We were three men and we had her surrounded and she was caught in the act. It was really over now. Carla dropped the tray and the beer glasses shattered on the floor. She knelt on the ground and wept.

  Epilogue:

  “Take care of yourself son.”

  “Come back and visit again.”

  I hugged Ma and Pa. I would definitely visit again, but I really hoped it would be under better circumstances. The days had now passed rather uneventfully. Carla had been arrested, the killer had been found. That was the most difficult part, turning her in. But it had to be done. Now, all that was left to do was just to say goodbye.

  “I will Ma, Pa. I love you guys.” I said.

  I boarded the car and waved to my parents. They waved back. I had already told Jason and Steve that I would leave. We had said our goodbyes much earlier. At least now the town was really safe from the killer. There would be no more killings in Tiny Town anymore.

  I drove away. Slowly, the town disappeared behind me, and all that was left was the wide stretch of highway that lay ahead of me. It was time to get back to the big city and my life.