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Fiona exhaled shakily, trying to wrap her head around the idea that someone who shared her love for entomology could be capable of such heinous acts. She couldn't help but wonder what had pushed Teddy Ackerman over the edge, turning him into a vigilante seemingly hell-bent on exacting justice upon those who threatened the creatures he held dear.
Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the clicks of Jake's fingers on the laptop keyboard. Fiona stared out the window, the neon light from the motel sign casting a surreal glow on the glass.
"Got it," Jake announced abruptly, snapping Fiona out of her reverie. "Teddy Ackerman's address."
"Where does he live?" Fiona asked, turning away from the window and refocusing her attention.
"Here in Portland," Jake replied. "In fact, his house is located near the headquarters of Insect Away Home."
"Coincidence?" Fiona mused, her brow furrowed in thought.
"Or convenience," Jake countered, his voice tight. "I don't know how, but maybe Teddy has somehow been accessing the company's records. Maybe even their poison supply. Either way, it's worth checking out."
Fiona bit her lip, considering the implications. If Teddy was indeed their killer, then everything could change once they confronted him.
But they had a duty to bring him to justice, no matter how unsettling the truth may be.
"Let's do it," she said, her voice firm. "Let's go pay Teddy Ackerman a visit."
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Fiona's heart drummed a nervous rhythm as she and Jake approached Teddy Ackerman's house, a small, cluttered cottage surrounded by an overgrown garden that seemed to burst with life. Insects buzzed and crawled amidst the wildflowers, and Fiona couldn't help but admire the untamed beauty of it all. It was a stark contrast to the sterile world of her lab, where evidence was carefully preserved and examined under glass.
Teddy, from what Fiona could tell, seemed like he could be their guy. He had previously been arrested for vandalizing a pest control business, and he had a passion for entomology—like Fiona—only his had morphed into something darker.
As they stood on the doorstep, Fiona could feel Jake's tense energy beside her. If Teddy was their guy, this could get ugly. They had to be prepared for anything.
Jake knocked. After a few moments, the door opened, revealing a young man with shaggy hair and glasses. He looked more like a disheveled graduate student than a cold-blooded killer.
"Teddy Ackerman?" Jake asked, flashing his FBI badge. "We'd like to ask you a few questions."
Recognition flared in Teddy's eyes as they landed on Fiona. "Wait a minute--you're Fiona Red," he exclaimed.
Fiona frowned. Did he know her from somewhere? She was very confident she'd never seen him before. She hoped she hadn't matched with him during her short time on a dating app.
But then Teddy said, "I've read your paper on the mating rituals of the Malagasy giant pill millipede. It was brilliant!"
Fiona's cheeks flushed at the unexpected praise. "Thank you," she replied, caught off guard. "That was my last project before I left Harvard."
"Where did you go after that?" Teddy asked, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "I remember reading your paper, and I was so impressed. It seemed like you really care about insects."
Jake shot Fiona a look, lifting his brow. She blushed deeper.
"I'm a forensic entomologist with the FBI now," Fiona admitted. "I also specialize in forensic analysis and anatomy."
Teddy's demeanor shifted, his enthusiasm evaporating like a puddle under a hot sun. "You use insects to catch murderers? That's your contribution to the field?" His voice dripped with disdain. "I thought you were different, Ms. Red. I thought you understood the beauty and importance of these creatures."
Fiona tried to push past the sting of his words. "Insects can help us uncover the truth," she insisted. "They're an invaluable resource in our investigations."
"An invaluable resource for destruction," Teddy muttered bitterly. His eyes darted between Fiona and Jake, now wary and guarded. As he seemed to retreat into himself, Fiona couldn't help but feel that there was more to this man than met the eye. And as the tension between them grew, so did her determination to find the truth that lay beneath the surface.
Fiona bit her lip, keenly aware of the weight of Teddy's glare. She needed to get to the heart of the matter. "Teddy," she began cautiously, "we need to ask you about your whereabouts last night."
"Last night?" He scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Why?"
"We're investigating a series of crimes," Fiona said. "We believe someone has been using insecticide to poison people."
"And you think I did it?" He scoffed again. "No way--one of those pest control freaks are trying to frame me. You've got no right to question me about this."
