Page 44 of Let Her Run

"Let's check the kitchen," Jake suggested, breaking the oppressive silence. "Maybe we'll find something there."

Fiona nodded, grateful for the distraction. The kitchen was also a mess, and it had clearly been a long time since Teddy ran a cloth over those counters. But as they searched the cupboards and drawers, their hands slick with sweat and disgust, they found no trace of poison. Nothing but the rot and the darkness and the ever-present sense of dread that hung over them like a shroud.

"Nothing," Jake muttered, his voice tight with frustration. "Damn it, where is it?"

"Maybe it's not here," Fiona said, her own disappointment echoing through her words.

"Or maybe we just haven't looked hard enough," Jake countered, his jaw clenched stubbornly. "We can't give up yet, Fiona. Not until we've turned this place inside out."

And so they continued their search, driven by a grim determination to uncover the truth, even as the shadows pressed in around them and the house whispered its dark secrets into their ears.

"Let's move upstairs," Jake suggested the weight of the image-heavy in his hands. "Maybe we'll find something there."

They ascended the creaking staircase, each step groaning beneath their feet. As they moved down the narrow hallway, the smell grew stronger, and Fiona felt her throat constrict with revulsion. The door at the end of the hall was closed.

Jake held up a hand, signaling for Fiona to wait, then slowly pushed the door open. The scene that met their eyes made Fiona's stomach churn.

Teddy's bedroom was a disaster. Clothes were strewn across the floor, empty food containers littered the bed, and a pile of magazines lay open on the nightstand. But no matter how hard they looked, it seemed Teddy's house only pointed to him being a slob with a strange taste in art--not a killer.

"Where would he keep the poison?" Jake asked.

"Maybe his basement, garage, or shed?" Fiona offered.

"Yeah..." Jake trailed off, nodding thoughtfully. "Let's go back upstairs," Jake said tersely, the frustration evident in his voice.

As they reached the first floor, the front door swung open, and an officer strode in, his face tight. "Ackerman's back at the precinct, waiting for interrogation," he announced, his eyes darting between Jake and Fiona.

"Alright," Jake replied, gripping the banister. "You and your team finish searching this place. We're gonna head back and question Teddy."

"Understood, Agent," the officer nodded, his expression resolute.

Fiona watched the exchange, her heart pounding in her chest. What if Teddy wasn't their guy? What if they were wasting precious time interrogating an innocent man while the real culprit slipped through their fingers?

"Come on, Fiona," Jake said, breaking her from her thoughts. He led the way out of Teddy's house, the door shutting behind them with a resounding finality.

"Jake, are you sure about this?" Fiona asked, her voice wavering. "Maybe we should keep looking. I mean, what if Teddy isn't our guy?"

"Right now, he's our best lead," Jake replied, his jaw set with determination. "We've got to follow it through, no matter where it takes us. The officers will finish the search."

Fiona couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility pressing down upon her shoulders. They had to find the truth, not only for themselves but for the countless victims who had suffered at the hands of this unknown poisoner. And so, with a deep, steadying breath, she climbed into the car beside Jake.

"Let's go," she said softly, steeling herself for the interrogation that lay ahead. As they drove back to the precinct, the city's shadows seemed to reach out towards them, a grim reminder of the darkness that still lurked within their grasp.

***

The sterile light of the interrogation room cast harsh, unforgiving shadows across Teddy's face as he sat cuffed to the table. Fiona and Jake stood on the other side, their expressions a mixture of determination and unease. Teddy's eyes darted between them, his haughty demeanor barely concealing the indignation simmering beneath the surface.

"Teddy," Fiona began, her voice measured and steady, "we need you to be honest with us. Did you have anything to do with these murders?"

"Absolutely not," Teddy spat, his gaze locked onto hers. "I may care about insect welfare, but I'm no killer."

"Can anyone vouch for your whereabouts last night?" Jake asked, his tone brusque and impatient.

"Doesn't matter," Teddy snapped, his lips curling into a sneer. "I was home alone, and I don't have to answer to you people." His eyes landed on Fiona. "If you wanna arrest me for shoving your boyfriend, fine, but I didn't kill anyone, and you sure as hell can't arrest me for murder when you have no evidence."

Fiona's thoughts raced, her mind weighing the evidence against him. He fit the profile, but at the same time, Teddy was right--they lacked physical evidence. The police should have been finishing up their search of his house by now, and Fiona hoped they'd find something more concrete there.

As if on cue, the door to the interrogation room swung open, revealing an officer who beckoned Fiona and Jake into the hallway. The tension in the air seemed to thicken as they stepped outside, leaving Teddy seething behind them.

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