“Two components of the herbal mixture are ginseng and aconite,” Sujin began.
“Which means what?”
“Ginseng is a common herbal remedy and has many positive effects including being an antioxidant and improving mental and physical activity for people who feel tired. But some people do suffer from negative effects from taking it, including headaches, insomnia, blood pressure fluctuations and rapid heartbeat,” Sujin explained.
“Do you think it could have killed Daisy?”
“Not from the little she consumed, but it could be a contributing factor. And then there’s aconite.”
“Isn’t that a poison?”
“It is.”
Ryan entered the room and slid quietly behind his desk as Sujin continued, “But some people take it to combat asthma, inflammation, or high blood pressure. Its side effects are severe and include nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, heart problems, and ultimately death.”
Keya considered what Sujin had told her. Nobody had mentioned Daisy vomiting, but she had felt the need to sit down. Had she suffered any more side effects? And had others smoked similar cigarettes? There hadn’t been reports of anyone else being seriously ill.
“But why Daisy? Not anyone else?” she asked out loud.
“Her cigarette could have contained more aconite than the ones other people smoked. Or she could have smoked others. One of my jobs today is to examine all the cigarette butts Warren separated from the main rubbish.” Sujin sounded dissatisfied.
“But you’re not certain this is the cause of death, are you?” Keya asked.
“I’m not saying it isn’t, and I’ve asked the lab to test specifically for aconite in her blood, but it just doesn’t sit well with me. I know that’s not very scientific,” he apologised.
“We’re strong on gut feeling in this team,” Keya encouraged him. “So if not the cigarette, what else?”
“That’s it. I’m fresh out of ideas. It’s so frustrating.” Sujin pushed his black-framed glasses up his nose.
“It’s not your fault,” Keya commiserated. “You can’t manufacture a reason. Just as I can’t make people tell me if they killed her. I’ve been through all the witness statements, and I’ve drawn a blank. I can’t find a single person who wanted Daisy dead.”
Silence filled the room and Sujin shuffled from one foot to another.
Ryan smiled and asked, “Do you want to know how the Volunteer Police Cadets went last night?”
“Yes,” Keya and Sujin chorused. Laughing, they looked at each other and Keya suddenly felt the world right itself.
“The inspector was surprisingly good,” Ryan started enthusiastically.
“Surprisingly?” echoed Inspector Evans as he entered the room.
Ryan’s cheeks flushed. “What I meant, sir, is that I thought you’d be speaking at too high a level for the cadets to understand, but you explained everything clearly and simply to them. And they loved throwing out suggesting as to what could have killed Daisy.”
“I don’t think it was the midsummer fairies, or that she was abducted by aliens while they created the crop circle, though,” remarked the inspector.
“No, but the consensus was poisoning, which seems logical.”
“I agree,” Sujin said. “Did they make any suggestions with what?”
“Aconite, arsenic, strychnine, bleach, botulinum, food poisoning. Take your pick.”
“Great suggestions. They’ve clearly been doing their research, and their homework. Sergeant Varma and I were just discussing aconite and traces were found in a herbal cigarette we know Daisy smoked. I’ve asked the lab to test for it, but I doubt there was enough to kill her.”
“Did you find anything interesting in the photos Gilly took before I arrived at the standing stones?” Keya asked.
“There were lots more people around than when I arrived with the coroner’s ambulance, but they were all keeping their distance from Daisy’s body. A couple of shots from the evening before caught Daisy dancing around the fire, but she was very much alive then. And I didn’t see anyone slip her anything or arguing with her, if that’s what you’d hoped for.”
“What else do we have to work on?” Inspector Evans asked.
“I’m going to test the other cigarette ends found at the standing stones,” Sujin replied.
“I’ll work though Daisy’s financial records, which finally arrived yesterday evening,” Ryan said.
Keya shrugged her shoulders.
Ryan cleared his throat and suggested, “Perhaps Sergeant Varma can continue looking through Daisy’s and Theo’s phone records and messages.”
“Very good,” said Inspector Evans. “Everyone get to work.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Keya spent a dull morning working through Daisy’s and Theo’s phone records. Warren arrived to help her halfway through the morning, but it was still slow going.
Theo’s calls and messages were mostly about work. Doreen had made several complaints about a leaking kitchen roof and blocked drains during May’s wet weather, but Theo had answered them politely and helpfully and said he’d send someone round to look at the issues.
Theo had little correspondence with Ash and any that he did have was short, to the point, and work related. On the other hand, Ash’s messages to Daisy had become longer and bolder during the past few weeks and it was clear he was trying to entice her away from Theo.
