Don't Touch by Elise VanCise

she
missed earlier in the microwave. “I have to do it again Jack. I
can’t live like this anymore. I have to face this. You’re the one
who doesn’t have to do any of it. All you have to do is say the
word and I’m out of it. I know it can’t be easy and that I probably
am a lot of trouble.”
     
    Thomas walked up and pushed Jackson’s feet in
the floor mouthing they could go pick up copies of the reports they
were waiting on. Jackson held up a finger. “You are not trouble,
well maybe a little.” He chuckled. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow.
Don’t worry about it I know you’ll blow their socks off.”
     
    She smiled and laughed. “As long as I don’t
have to touch their socks we’re good. See you then.”
     
    The phone went dead and the detectives headed
out to the ME’s office for the reports. It was ridiculous that they
had to resort to driving over and picking them up but it would take
forever to get them through interoffice mail. Or worse yet faxed to
be tossed or lost before they get to them.
     
    Greeted by Dr. Flak at the desk Thomas had an
uneasy feeling. “Good evening officers. I have the reports for you.
The blood, fluid, and tissue came back negative. Except for the
lips. They had a trace amount of gamma hydroxybutrate, a central
nervous system depressant.”
     
    Thomas glanced at the report he was handed.
“GHB, isn’t that the date rape drug?”
     
    Barney nodded. “Yes it is and it was only on
the lips and the inner edge of the mouth. As if he had rubbed it on
their lips.”
     
    Jackson took a turn at the paperwork. “Would
it work that way I thought it had to be ingested?”
     
    The older ME pointed out another chemical.
“Mixed with the right component it could be possible. Your lips are
very sensitive.”
     
    After a couple more questions they took their
findings back to the station. Sitting in the cubby Thomas looked
over the first two victims’ tox screens. “Nothing here about GHB or
anything else. Not to mention how did he get close enough to get it
on their lips. It couldn’t have been a struggle. The girls weren’t
missing long enough for it to be left over trace from a larger
dose.”
    Jackson was pouring over the occult angle.
Why a ring of seven wounds? He was coming up with nothing that
would fit. This case built more questions than it gave answers. “We
really didn’t check for GHB without cause back then. And the tests
they had even just a year ago weren’t one hundred percent. We know
the killer didn’t have a close relationship with the women but he
could have been a new acquaintance. Someone they would trust. Maybe
it’s in a box of chocolates or something.”
     
    Thomas raised a brow. “Box of chocolates, a
bit old fashioned are we?”
     
    Snorting and going back to his search Jackson
ignored him. He wondered what kind of chocolate Ryan liked.

Chapter 8
     
    Ryan was on the phone when Jackson arrived.
Her brow was creased and her eyes were dark. “Listen Amber, you are the younger sibling. You can’t tell me to do
anything. Not to mention I’m a grown adult. I don’t really give a
crap and half what you think is good or bad for me. My ride to work
is here, call me back when you think you can treat me like your
sister and not some nut case.”
     
    Punching the end button Ryan threw the phone
across the room. She paced three times taking deep breaths then
stopped and gathered up her gloves and stuck a small clutch in her
pocket. “Sorry. Suddenly I’m taking things too fast. Three months
ago it was too slow. Screw it I’m ready to go.”
     
    Jackson tried not to grin at her but she was
talking with her hands and so aggravated her breath was short. The
fit of temper made her even more appealing. This was the first time
he had seen her in make-up. It brought out her eyes and those long
lashes. Dressed to impress in black slacks and a scoop neck red
sweater that hugged her curves. He realized she was saying
something. “Oh yeah, let’s go.