The Culprit is Revealed

"The milk," Dr. Lydell says. "Why do you think so?" You tell her about the Donnybrook Farms bottles you found.

"And I've got a fourth victim here, just beginning to show symptoms." You hold up your candle, and see blood seeping from the corners of Stella's eyes. "She drank the milk about an hour ago."

"Come on, Stella," Eric says. "I'll take you to the hospital." They hurry out.

"She's on her way in," you tell the doctor.

"But Mrs. Belindo was drinking milk, too," the doctor says. "Or so that girl Rosario said."

"From a carton," you say. "Mrs. Belindo had just bought it, and it was nice and cold."

"Ah. The heat wave," she cuts in, putting the clues together. "It's causing power failures all over the city. Lots of stuff going bad in people's refrigerators. Don't worry, we'll issue an alert on Donnybrook Farms milk."

"What about Isabella? And Troy? And Jessica?" you ask.

"Get me some of that milk," the doctor continues. "Next step is to isolate the pathogen that's in it. Is it a toxic chemical? A bacterium? A virus? What? We need to run tests. Now!"

"I'll bring you a sample right away," you promise.

"Hold on," she warns. You hear shouts. "Something's happening... Oh no..."

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An Access Excellence Science Mystery sponsored by Genentech, Inc.