Read Online The Love Potion Murders in the Museum of Man by Alfred Alcorn - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alfred Alcorn
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ffronche, a forensic endocrinologest from the state crime lab, and I want to record our conversation while it is still fresh in my mind.
Dr. Cutler, as those who read the account of the Cannibal Murders may recall, specializes in analyzing the stomach contents of individuals who have met a suspicious end. A professional gentleman of the old school, Dr. Cutler parts his abundant white hair in the middle, perches his half-moon spectacles on his nose, and wears bow ties bordering on the flamboyant.
Dr. ffronche, a large man of frowning if mischievous mien and extravagant hair in the style of Einstein, spoke English with a noticeable Irish accent.
Dr. Cutler gave us each a copy of his report, and, speaking in one of those Brahmin drawls that go with old silver, he took us through some of the more arcane findings.
“As I reported earlier, the victims, and I think we can safely assume they were victims, more than likely ingested the poison, or the substance that acted as a poison, with what might be called ‘snack’ amounts of recognizably ethnic Chinese food. These included dim sum, vegetarian spring rolls, and pork strips.
“Further analysis reveals the presence of a potent cocktail of both neurophysiological and biomechanical agents. That is, substances that work on both the brain and the sex organs.”
“Unlike Viagra,” Lieutenant Tracy put in.
“Exactement,”
said Dr. ffronche. “This potion must work on the libido and, how do you say, the plumbing.” He went on, “Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra, acts, in these prescribed amounts, as a vasodilator in the penis.”
The Medical Examiner, raising his calm gray eyes to both of us, said, “Not to bore you with the details, it prevents the breakdown of a compound, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, and that, apparently, releases nitrous oxide, which is what causes the smooth muscle cells of the arteries to relax, increasing the flow of blood.”
Dr. ffronche nodded his agreement. “That is to say, it enables and prolongs, but does not cause, an erection.”
“For that, you would need a psychoactive substance,” Dr. Cutler explained.
“Unless the individuals involved were lovers,” Dr. ffronché put in. “And in this case that is not the case, yes?”
“Yes,” I said, “most emphatically not the case.”
“Which leads us to the more problematic part of our report.” Dr. Cutler glanced at his colleague as he spoke.
Dr. ffronche knit his brows together. “Absolutely. In this case we have a veritable cocktail, as you say.” He picked up his copy of the report. “We have found evidence of cannabis as well as an extract from the herb
Turnera aphrodisiaca
, a shrub of the south said to possess, as its Latin name suggests, aphrodisiac powers. We have also found a significant level of ring-substituted amphetamines, that is to say, MDMA.”
“MDMA?” I asked.
“Methylenedioxymethamphetamine,” Dr. Cutler explained.
“Ecstasy,” the lieutenant put in. “The drug of choice at raves …”
“Raves?”
“Club dances. Users mix it with Viagra or Cialis and call it sextasy.”
Dr. ffronche nodded knowingly. “Then there is what we must call ingredient X. I will not speculate on it now. It will take more research and even then we may never be sure. Alas, our resources are limited.”
I sighed. “It’s very possible then that we have a rogue researcher at large in the lab.”
“Or several.” Dr. Cutler glanced at his watch. “Assuming the ‘cocktail’ originated in the lab. As Dr. ffronché has just noted and as the report surmises in its conclusion, there may be one or more unidentified substances that catalyzes the others or acts as a synergizing element, perhaps boosting bioavailability and reducing blood-absorption time.”
“And,” Dr. ffronche added with an emphatic gesture, “something that stimulates that most important sex organ in the human body — the brain.”
We had a few questions for the Medical
Dr. Cutler, as those who read the account of the Cannibal Murders may recall, specializes in analyzing the stomach contents of individuals who have met a suspicious end. A professional gentleman of the old school, Dr. Cutler parts his abundant white hair in the middle, perches his half-moon spectacles on his nose, and wears bow ties bordering on the flamboyant.
Dr. ffronche, a large man of frowning if mischievous mien and extravagant hair in the style of Einstein, spoke English with a noticeable Irish accent.
Dr. Cutler gave us each a copy of his report, and, speaking in one of those Brahmin drawls that go with old silver, he took us through some of the more arcane findings.
“As I reported earlier, the victims, and I think we can safely assume they were victims, more than likely ingested the poison, or the substance that acted as a poison, with what might be called ‘snack’ amounts of recognizably ethnic Chinese food. These included dim sum, vegetarian spring rolls, and pork strips.
“Further analysis reveals the presence of a potent cocktail of both neurophysiological and biomechanical agents. That is, substances that work on both the brain and the sex organs.”
“Unlike Viagra,” Lieutenant Tracy put in.
“Exactement,”
said Dr. ffronche. “This potion must work on the libido and, how do you say, the plumbing.” He went on, “Sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra, acts, in these prescribed amounts, as a vasodilator in the penis.”
The Medical Examiner, raising his calm gray eyes to both of us, said, “Not to bore you with the details, it prevents the breakdown of a compound, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, and that, apparently, releases nitrous oxide, which is what causes the smooth muscle cells of the arteries to relax, increasing the flow of blood.”
Dr. ffronche nodded his agreement. “That is to say, it enables and prolongs, but does not cause, an erection.”
“For that, you would need a psychoactive substance,” Dr. Cutler explained.
“Unless the individuals involved were lovers,” Dr. ffronché put in. “And in this case that is not the case, yes?”
“Yes,” I said, “most emphatically not the case.”
“Which leads us to the more problematic part of our report.” Dr. Cutler glanced at his colleague as he spoke.
Dr. ffronche knit his brows together. “Absolutely. In this case we have a veritable cocktail, as you say.” He picked up his copy of the report. “We have found evidence of cannabis as well as an extract from the herb
Turnera aphrodisiaca
, a shrub of the south said to possess, as its Latin name suggests, aphrodisiac powers. We have also found a significant level of ring-substituted amphetamines, that is to say, MDMA.”
“MDMA?” I asked.
“Methylenedioxymethamphetamine,” Dr. Cutler explained.
“Ecstasy,” the lieutenant put in. “The drug of choice at raves …”
“Raves?”
“Club dances. Users mix it with Viagra or Cialis and call it sextasy.”
Dr. ffronche nodded knowingly. “Then there is what we must call ingredient X. I will not speculate on it now. It will take more research and even then we may never be sure. Alas, our resources are limited.”
I sighed. “It’s very possible then that we have a rogue researcher at large in the lab.”
“Or several.” Dr. Cutler glanced at his watch. “Assuming the ‘cocktail’ originated in the lab. As Dr. ffronché has just noted and as the report surmises in its conclusion, there may be one or more unidentified substances that catalyzes the others or acts as a synergizing element, perhaps boosting bioavailability and reducing blood-absorption time.”
“And,” Dr. ffronche added with an emphatic gesture, “something that stimulates that most important sex organ in the human body — the brain.”
We had a few questions for the Medical
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