I Gave Away the Birthday Chocolates, Then the Screaming Started

gold sticker seal was torn but intact.

I lifted the tissue to my nose.

Under the sweet smell of cocoa was something else.

Metallic. Chemical. Wrong.

I grabbed a clean evidence bag from the small kit I kept for work. Most forensic accountants did not need evidence bags, but I had learned long ago that life was rarely polite enough to stay in its lane.continue reading …