The Yellow Hibiscus Chapter 21

It's too early to say."

"What do you make of the florist's story? I am viewing it right now."

"It doesn't make sense, does it?" Sgt. Booker explained. "A woman comes in with a Diamond to identify a flower. She hands it to Juan, and he goes up in spontaneous combustion! Sounds like science fiction to me. Diamonds will send you to the poor house, buying them, I mean, but they sure don't start fires or kill people."

"This one did," Captain Powell states. "Starting a fire, I mean."

"Well, I suppose some blood diamonds have cost many lives, but not this way. The Fire Department found no faulty wires no electrical problems. There is nothing in their report that could have started the fire, and the building was up to code," Sgt. Booker shared.

"What about the victim? Was he drunk? Is he an alcoholic, or was his low-carb diet producing too much acetone? According to science, these are some explanations of why the body would self-ignite," Captain Powell enlighten.

Sgt. Booker scratched his head, nodding, "But how? The human body is about sixty percent water. It's just not flammable."

"Because they contain methane and hydrogen gases, farts are flammable," Captain Powell notified.

"Yea, but not enough to ignite the human body."

"I agree. It makes no sense. What the medical report say?"

"I am still waiting on it," Sgt. Booker replied, attempting to stifle another sneeze.

"Did the computers pick up anything from the mark in the victim's hand?" Captain Powell asked.

"Not yet, but they are working on it."

"What about the flower?"

"It's a Hibiscus. They grow in tropical climates," Sgt. Booker informed.

"Any medical use?"

"Well, according to the botanist on Grand Street, it has some medicinal value, like making teas and drinks. New studies say it helps to relieve high blood pressure, high cholesterol, reduce the risk of certain cancers, helps cure liver disease . . . ."

"So, it's the newest wonder drug," Captain Powell cut him off. "Call Williamson from DEA and find out more."

"It's not a drug, Sir. It's an herb. So it would be the FDA."

"Drug or herb, what's the difference?

"Hibiscus tea doesn't make you high."

"I get the point, Booker! But not all drugs make you high. Do your allergy pills?" Captain Powell paused to lessen his anger, then asked, "What about the surveillance camera from the flower shop?"

"Why would a flower shop need a camera? Who steals flowers?"

"Say what!"

"Sorry, Sir, but those are the owner's exact words," Sgt. Booker explained.

"Cheap son of a rat," Captain Powell remarked. "What about our CCTV cameras on the streets?"

"None in that area, I was told," Sgt. Booker discloses, wondering why there were none on 86th Street.

"What do you have on the customer?"

"No idea who it was. The description the florist gave was sketchy.

"Did the florist recognize anyone from the video channel five sent over?"

"No, neither from channel 7, 2, nor the others. We are checking all the fires in the city from the last six months."

"What about the victim's family?"

"If they know anything, they are not saying."

"Anything from their neighbors, friends, and enemies?" Captain Powell continued his interrogation.

"Nobody knows anything." Sgt. Booker said, sneezing again.

"Did the florist give you a physical sketch of the alleged diamond lady? Let's call her Lady X."

"Yes, she did. She also looked at fifteen hundred female snap-shots. Nothing. Murphy and Richards are canvassing the neighborhood with the sketch."

"Keep at it. If the victim dies, this would be a murder case. And do something about Lorna, or I will have to send you home," Captain Powell warned, hanging up.

"I thought your wife's name was Angie?" Sgt. Willis inquires.

"It is," Sgt. Booker answered.

"Then who the hell is Lorna?"

"My cold," Sgt. Booker replied, sneezing again.

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