The room seemed to tilt slightly as I tried to process the officer’s words. “Not human?” I echoed, bewildered. My mind raced through a myriad of possibilities, each more absurd than the last.
Officer Daniels continued, “The stain on Emily’s backpack… it’s from a plant. Specifically, it’s sap from a giant hogweed plant. It’s rare, but it’s been known to cause severe skin irritation and burns, especially in children.”
Relief and confusion crashed over me in equal measure. I was relieved beyond measure that Nathan, my brother, wasn’t the suspect. The thought of him harming Emily had been a nightmare I couldn’t bear to entertain. But how could a plant have caused so much distress? And why was Emily so frightened?
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