Kenzie was currently questioning a neighbor of the victim, Viktor Mendelssohn.
"Well, I-I came out this morning to snip my herbs," said Betty. "It's always best to do that right after the morning dew evaporates." Her voice broke. "And when I didn't see Viktor, I got a really bad feeling."
"Do you usually see him in the morning?" asked Kenzie.
"Every morning. We chat over the fence."
Kenzie turned to see Patrick walking up to them. "Hey. Patrick, this is Betty Fulford."
"Hey," he greeted.
"She lives next door."
"Patrick Jane."
"So, did Viktor tell you about anybody who might want to hurt him?"
"No," Betty exclaimed. "Although... last night when I was getting ready for bed, I did hear him arguing with a man in his house."
"What were they arguing about?"
"Flowers."
"Flowers?"
"Blue orchids, to be exact." She noticed Patrick looking at a window. "That's right. That's right. My window was open."
"Did you happen to catch a glimpse of the other man?"
"Well, I tried to snoop, but I couldn't see into the kitchen. That's where they were having it out."
Kenzie tilted her head at a certain noise. "Is that a teapot?"
"I have absolutely no idea, but I will investigate," said Patrick. He walked in there. Kenzie continued her conversation with the neighbor until she heard a thud.
She and Cho looked at each other. "You okay in there?" Kenzie called.
Nothing.
They walked into the kitchen to find Patrick having a seizure on the floor. Kenzie rushed over to him and slid onto her knees. She put him on his side, placing his head onto her lap.
"Shh. It's okay. It's okay." She looked up at Cho. "Did he ingest anything?"
"Uh, tea. He drank hot tea," said Cho, rushing over to the sink.
Paramedics rushed in and placed him on a gurney. Kenzie got up.
"His heartbeat's irregular," said one of the paramedics. "Pupils dilated. Skin's unusually dry."
Cho walked back with a tea stainer in hand. "Right here."
"Get it to the lab," Kenzie exclaimed. "Actually, extend the primary crime scene into the kitchen."
"No need for the lab. It's belladonna, the devil's cherry. I know it from working narcotics. Belladonn's highly toxic. That's why users dilute it with tea. The berries have a sweet flavor. They say it gives you instant hallucinations."
They looked at Patrick, who was muttering. The paramedics began pushing the gurney out of the kitchen. They followed them into the living room, where Rigsby was.
"Well, if the victim was tripping, it would make him a lot easier to kill." Kenzie turned to the paramedic. "Is he gonna be okay?"
"He's holding his own," said the paramedic. "That's a good sign, but we need to get him to a hospital and pump his stomach."
"I'm gonna go with Patrick. Cho, call Lisbon. You two'll be in charge. You and Rigs push on the investigation."
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I Bet on Losing Dogs - Patrick Jane
أدب الهواة"I bet on losing dogs, I know they're losing, and I'll pay for my place by the ring, Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down, ...
