poor innocent babes."
The doctor suddenly burst into the room. "Over here, doctor," Holmes cried, "an empty vial and a hypodermic. What is this stuff?"
"Cobraphine," the doctor answered, "a derivative of cobra venom. In small amounts it can save a person's life. We use it to dissolve blood clots in stroke and heart attack victims. But in large doses It's lethal. There's no antidote. We can't move her. Her internal organs are disintegrating inside her body. Any movement will only bring death quicker. It won't be very long."
"Mrs. White," Samuel pleaded, "please help us. Before you die conform our suspicions. The priest put you up to it, didn't he? He had you help them. It was Father Richards, wasn't it?"
"No! No!" the nurse answered. "Father Richards wouldn't be part of it, not murder. It was Rev. Black. He talked me into helping them. He's been working with The Redmans using the money they help raise for his evangelistic work. Some of their products are stored in a secret room in his church's basement, one place the authorities would never look. I'm sorry, John! I'm really sorry! But now you can find somebody else. It's not too late, you can find..."
Her words trailed off. Her head rolled to the side, and she just continued to stare. The doctor came over, took Officer White's hand from his wife's, lifted him up and passed him to a waiting fireman. He then reached down and closed Mrs. White's eyes.
"Will an autopsy really be necessary?" he asked.
"No," Holmes answered. "The cause of death is obvious. There's plenty of witnesses. I think we can forego that."
"Good!" the doctor answered. "Cadet Star, I order you to the hospital and to bed. And besides, your daughter would like to say hello!"
Samuel turned to the doctor wide eyed. "My daughter?" he cried.
"Yes," the doctor answered. "Will you gentlemen get him out of here?" he continued, "He's done his duty, now kindly take him to the hospital. Let him see the new arrival and have him put to bed!"
"YES sir!" Detective Holmes snapped. "Come along, cadet! You've done YOUR job, you've done it damned well. The rest is up to us!"
Within an hour sheriff's deputies were moving but it was too late.

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