Chapter 28
Michael's POV
She opened it, revealing an orange tabby cat, its body stiff with rigor mortis. "This is the Fifth confirmed victim. I suspect there are more."
Thomas stepped forward, his face softening. "Poor little guy." He pushed his glasses up. "What happened to him?"
"Poison," Emily said. "Like the others. The killer is placing tainted food around campus to lure animals."
I scanned the idyllic campus scene—red and gold leaves drifting down from ancient oaks, students lounging on the grass or hurrying to class, completely unaware of the disturbing pattern Emily had identified.
"Let's see where they found the cat," I said.
Emily led us to a grassy area near the athletic fields. "This is where the student club found the cat this morning."
Thomas crouched down, examining the ground carefully. After a few minutes of searching, he pointed to something in the grass.
"Look at this," he said, pulling a pair of latex gloves from his pocket before picking up a half-eaten piece of ham and its packaging. "And there's cat food scattered around too."
I looked up at the surrounding buildings. "No security cameras covering this area?"
Emily shook her head. "That's why the killer chose these spots. Camera blind spots."
The university campus was sprawling and beautiful—manicured lawns, a man-made lake, and historic brick buildings. Perfect hunting grounds for someone practicing their skills.
"Let's talk to these students who found the animals," I suggested.
---
The Pet Lovers Club had set up a small memorial for the deceased animals in their meeting room. About a dozen students huddled together, several wiping away tears.
"When did the first incident occur?" I asked.
A lanky student with floppy brown hair stepped forward. "A week ago, Thursday. A stray dog was found convulsing near the science building. Campus security handled it before we could do anything."
"Have any of these animals ever attacked students?" Thomas asked.
"Never," a girl with braided hair insisted. "These strays are gentle. Most have been vaccinated and spayed by our club members. We take care of them."
"Do you have any idea who might be doing this?" I kept my face neutral.
The students exchanged glances and shook their heads. "We think someone's putting poison in food to lure them," said the boy. "Please help us stop them before more animals die."
"We'll do our best," Thomas promised.
---
Emily had compiled information on all five cases. "Two dogs and three cats, found in different areas but all in secluded spots with low foot traffic."
I frowned. "That suggests planning and familiarity with the campus layout."
"Exactly," Emily said. "Our killer is either a student or staff member."
We tracked down a campus security officer, a middle-aged man with a perpetual scowl.
"We didn't poison those animals," he stated flatly when Emily confronted him. "Those strays have been here for years without causing trouble. Why would we suddenly start killing them?"
"Could they have ingested something toxic naturally?" Thomas suggested. "Antifreeze or pesticides?"
Emily shook her head. "The pattern is too consistent, and the bait was deliberately placed. This is intentional."
The security officer shrugged. "Maybe they ate some poisonous plants. We have several on campus for the botany department."
"Which wouldn't explain the ham and cat food found at the scenes," Emily countered. "Someone is actively luring these animals."
The man's radio crackled, giving him an excuse to escape our questioning.
---
Back in the car, I stared at the road ahead while Emily cradled the box with the dead cat in her lap.
"We should have Olivia examine the body," Emily suggested from the back seat. "Determine exactly what poison was used."
"Agreed," I said. "It might help narrow down the suspect pool."
Emily's face was unusually serious. "And the person doing this isn't targeting these animals randomly. This is practice."
"You think they're testing the poison?" I asked
"Exactly. The killer is using these stray animals as lab rats. They're perfecting their formula, monitoring effectiveness and dosage."
Thomas frowned. "That's... disturbing."
"It's methodical," Emily continued. "I believe they're creating their own toxin, not using commercial poisons. The symptoms don't match standard rat poison or antifreeze poisoning."
My gaze met Emily's. "And they're escalating."
"Yes. We need to know exactly what they're using. " Emily said.
Emily's POV
The fluorescent lights of the forensic lab cast a harsh glow over everything. One of Olivia's assistants looked up from his microscope as we entered, his expression quickly shifting from curiosity to annoyance.
"Please tell me you're not here about that cat," he said, nodding at the box in my hands.
Before I could respond, Olivia emerged from her office. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, her face expressionless as she took in our little group.
"What do you need?" she asked, her voice professional and detached.
I held up the box. "This cat was poisoned at Underwood. A serial animal death case."
"And you want me to examine it." It wasn't a question.
I nodded. "I believe someone's testing a poison formula. Could escalate to humans."
Her assistant scoffed. "This is a waste of resources."
Olivia raised her hand slightly, silencing him. "I'll look at it."
I blinked, surprised by her immediate agreement. No questions, no pushback. Just cold efficiency.
"Thanks," I said, handing over the box. "Let me know what you find?"
She nodded once and turned away, already focused on her new task.
As we left the lab, I couldn't help but whisper, "She wasn't always like this."
Michael glanced at me, curiosity flickering in his otherwise impassive eyes.
In the hallway outside the lab, Michael stopped. "What did you mean back there?"