The house had been filled with a colorless, odorless gas that could cause dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness, and death.
Carbon monoxide.
The faint smell Vanessa had noticed was not a reliable warning of carbon monoxide itself, which has no smell. The odor may have come from another source near the appliance.
The investigators couldn’t yet establish exactly how long Vanessa had been exposed or whether the appliance was the sole cause. But the evidence suggested that the faulty installation and inadequate ventilation had created a life-threatening situation.
Daniel stood silently as the officer explained.
“Could the dog have been affected too?” he asked.
“Animals can also suffer from carbon monoxide exposure. We need a veterinarian to examine him.”
Daniel immediately thought of Duke.
The dog had been inside that house with Vanessa.
He could have been in danger as well.
“Where is he now?”
The officer explained that Duke had been taken to a local animal emergency clinic after a neighbor found him wandering near the road. He was being examined because of his possible exposure and the unusual distress he had displayed.
