Dr.Bosnak’s
DRUG DETECTIVES
The Serotonin Mystery
Episode 24
It’s early afternoon at O’Malley’s Pub, a familiar haunt for the Drug Detectives team. The place smells like aged wood and old memories, with the sound of muffled conversations blending into the soft hum of background music.
Detective Marcus “Mack” Johnson leans back in his chair, his fingers drumming rhythmically on the wooden table. Across from him, Dr. Ethan “Rick” Ricketts, swirls a glass of water absentmindedly.
“You ever wonder why we do this?” Mack says, breaking the silence. His tone is casual, but his eyes show something deeper, a tiredness that had been settling in lately.
Dr. Rick raises an eyebrow. “Solve murders or drink at O’Malley’s?”
Mack chuckles, but the sound fades quickly. “Both, maybe. But I was thinking about the cases… how the smallest thing can lead to someone’s death. One missed pill, one wrong move.”
“You mean like when someone slips a drug into their victim’s drink?” says a voice from behind them.
You turn to see Liz Harper, the investigative journalist, joining the group. She slides into the seat next to you, placing her notepad on the table. She looks at you with a knowing smile, as if you’d been thinking the same thing.
“Well, in our line of work, that’s exactly the kind of detail that makes or breaks a case,” you say, chiming in. “It’s never what you expect.”
Rick nods in agreement. “The line between life and death can be that thin. One wrong drug interaction and—” he snaps his fingers.
"Speaking of interactions," Mack says, his mood shifting to business mode, "We got a new case. This one’s weird—patient drops dead after a supposedly routine day. No history of anything that could’ve led to it."
"Routine deaths don’t usually end up with us," Liz remarks, her eyes already scanning her notepad.
Rick leans forward, curiosity piqued. “Alright, what do we know so far?”
Mack pulls out a thin manila folder and tosses it on the table. “Sarah Collins, 48. History of mild depression, prescribed sertraline for the last year or so. Found dead in her apartment yesterday. Initial reports say it could’ve been serotonin syndrome, but her dosage was normal.”
Rick frowns. “Serotonin syndrome? That’s rare, especially if her medication history is consistent.”
"Exactly," Mack replies. "Her doctor swears she was on the lowest effective dose, but something triggered it—hard. Problem is, no one knows what. Family says she hadn’t changed her routine, and they swear she wasn’t taking anything else."
Your mind starts racing. Serotonin syndrome—hyperreflexia, agitation, increased heart rate, sweating—it all starts when the serotonin levels in the brain spike dangerously. But for that to happen, Sarah would’ve needed more than just her regular dose of sertraline.
Liz taps her pen against her notebook. “So what are we thinking? Medication error? Or something... off the books?”
Rick shakes his head. “A medication error would show up in the pharmacy logs. If her dosage hasn’t changed, we’re missing something. Could be another drug interaction or…”
“Or,” you say, your voice low, “someone gave her more than she knew.”
The table goes quiet for a moment.
Mack breaks the silence. “Sertraline's not exactly the go-to weapon for murderers. How would you even...?” He trails off, considering the grim possibility.
Rick sighs, leaning back in his chair. “You’d have to slip it to them. Dissolve it in something they’d never notice.”
“Like a drink,” Liz suggests, her voice a little too sharp.
Rick looks at her thoughtfully. “It’s possible. Sertraline’s soluble enough. Someone could’ve crushed a few extra tablets, mixed them into something she wouldn’t think twice about.”
Mack grunts. “That’s assuming she trusted whoever did it.”
"Or didn’t even realize what they were doing," you add, thinking aloud. "Could’ve been anyone close to her. Someone who knew her routine, knew when she’d be vulnerable."
The team falls silent, each of you lost in thought. You feel the weight of the case settling in.
“We need to talk to the family,” you finally say. “And get a toxicology report. If someone did this, they’d have to be careful. A little too much sertraline, combined with her regular dose, could’ve sent her into serotonin overload.”
“Yeah,” Rick agrees. “If that’s what happened, we’re looking at a very deliberate poisoning.”
NEXT DAY
The next day, you find yourself in Sarah Collins’ apartment. The space is tidy, almost too tidy, like someone who never expected to leave. You can still feel her presence here, a life interrupted.
Rick moves through the kitchen, scanning for any clues. “It wouldn’t take much,” he mutters. “A couple of crushed tablets in her morning coffee, or even a smoothie.”
Mack nods toward a half-empty bottle of wine on the counter. “You think it’s in there?”
“Could be,” you reply. “But we need the toxicology report to confirm anything.”
As you sift through the cabinets, something catches your eye—a bottle of sertraline, nearly full, like it hadn’t been touched in days. Strange. For someone on a daily regimen, the pills should’ve been lower.
“She didn’t take her meds,” you say aloud, holding up the bottle.
Rick looks up, brow furrowed. “Which means someone could’ve given them to her without her knowing.”
Just then, your phone buzzes. It’s the tox report.
You read it quickly, your heart sinking as the pieces fall into place.
“There it is—sertraline levels way above the therapeutic range,” you say, showing the screen to Rick and Mack. “She was overdosed.”
Mack curses under his breath. “So we’re looking for someone who knew enough about her medication to kill her with it.”
The case suddenly feels much darker. Whoever did this wasn’t just careless—they were cold, calculating. And they knew Sarah well enough to use her own medication against her.
Hours later, back at O’Malley’s, the team gathers to piece it all together.
“So,” Mack begins, “who do we think did it? Who had the access and the motive?”
You glance around the table, your mind whirling through the possibilities.
“Her sister,” Liz offers. “She lived close, could’ve easily slipped in and out of the apartment.”
“Or her coworker,” Rick adds. “They had a fight recently. Could’ve been enough to push someone over the edge.”
“No,” you say, shaking your head. “It’s more than just access. Whoever did this knew what they were doing. They had to understand the medication and how much to give without raising suspicion.”
The table falls silent, the weight of your words settling in. You look around at the faces of your team, and then your mind starts piecing together the profiles of those who were close enough to Sarah to do this. The question hangs in the air:
Who do you think did it?
Which of the following can cause the patient's death?
A. Emma Collins – The Sister
Sarah’s younger sister, Emma, was very close to her. They lived just a few blocks apart, and Emma had a key to Sarah’s apartment. She visited regularly, helping Sarah with errands and often stayed over for coffee or wine. Could sibling rivalry or resentment have played a role?
B. David Hall – The Ex-Boyfriend
David and Sarah had a complicated past. They’d been on-and-off for years, and recently, things had soured for good. Sarah had distanced herself from him, but David never really let go. He knew about Sarah’s medication and had been spotted at her apartment just the day before her death. Could he have used her trust against her?
C. Lisa Turner – The Coworker
Lisa and Sarah worked together at the local clinic, but their relationship had become strained in recent months. Lisa knew about Sarah’s mental health struggles and could have easily slipped something into her drink at work. Was it jealousy, or something darker?
D. Dr. Michael Rivers – The Pharmacist and Friend
Michael was not only Sarah’s pharmacist but also a close friend. They worked together on a community service project over the weekends. Their friendship grew, and Michael often visited Sarah at home. However, his feelings for her went beyond friendship. Recently, Michael noticed that Sarah had started showing interest in another man. His jealousy grew, and as someone with access to Sarah’s medication, he could have easily slipped the sertraline into her drink unnoticed. Did he use his professional expertise to harm her?
E. Greg Foster – The Neighbor
Greg lived next door to Sarah for years and often helped her with small things around the house. He wasn’t particularly close, but he was always around, always watching. Did Greg know more about Sarah’s life than she realized? Could he have seen an opportunity and taken it?
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