The morning he died, he overslept. That meant he was late for his meeting with Don.
Was he in a hurry because he was late?
Did that affect his driving?
I opened a new screen and researched Benadryl for the umpteenth time, hoping to find something new. The definition appeared on my screen:
‘Benadryl (diphenhydramine) was a first-generation antihistamine used to relieve allergy symptoms (sneezing, itching, hives, runny nose), cold symptoms, motion sickness, and as a short-term sleep aid. It works by blocking histamine receptors but commonly causes sedation, dizziness, dry mouth, and constipation.’
I typed a new question.
How long does it take for Benadryl to work?
The answer appeared.
‘Benadryl typically starts working within fifteen to thirty minutes after oral consumption, with peak effects occurring around one to two hours after taking it.’
I referred to my notes from Dad’s autopsy. He also had benzodiazepines in his system. Daphne told the police Dad only took medication for high blood pressure. Bre said Dad took sleep aids to avoid sex with Daphne.
I typed a question to the internet gods—yes, I knew there were more reliable sources, but my curiosity was taking me on this journey.
Is it safe to take benzodiazepines and Benadryl?
The answer appeared.
‘Combining Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium, Ativan) is generally unsafe without direct medical supervision.’
I leaned back and stared at the screen.
My dad may have kept secrets from me, but he wasn’t dumb. He wouldn’t knowingly combine two medications that a simple internet search determined unsafe. I remembered something; Daphne said Dad had whiskey before bed.
“Seriously, Dad?” I said aloud. “Benadryl, sleeping meds, and whiskey?”
Something felt off.
All my thoughts went to one person.
That person wasn’t Bre; it was Daphne.
The police arrested the wrong person. No matter who I believed, Dad and Daphne’s marriage wasn’t as perfect as it appeared. Maybe she knew about Dad and Bre. Maybe Joe told her. Maybe Dad wasn’t the only one being unfaithful.
There were a lot of maybes.
Before I could talk myself out of it, I went to my satchel and found the card Detective Oldson gave me months ago. My pulse thumped within my circulation as his phone rang.
“Ms. Hubbard.”
“Detective Oldson, I’d like to give a statement regarding my father’s death investigation.”
“Ms. Hubbard, you’ll be contacted. This takes time.”
My hands shook. “I believe you arrested the wrong person.” There was a moment of silence, making me wonder if our call had disconnected. “Detective?”
“The prosecutor agreed to charge Ms. Stanton.”
I nodded. “I know. I know about my father’s affair. However, buying medication doesn’t make Bre Stanton guilty. Dad was with family at the game and went home with his wife. He didn’t see Bre even the day before he died.” I took a breath. “I ask you, who was with my father before his accident?”
“Mrs. Hubbard. However, the officers who went to her home after the accident stated that Mrs. Hubbard had to be awakened. She said she hadn’t spoken to Mr. Hubbard since the night before when they went to bed.”
