Don't Touch (9 page)

Jackson wasn’t sure if Ryan was going to like
this but he nodded and tried not to let the doubt show. “I’ll pick
her up myself, sir. I know you won’t be disappointed.”

When Heinz left and they settled into their
cubby Jackson sagged in his chair. “She’s going to be unhappy about
this.”

Thomas took a turn and shrugged. “You might
be surprised. She’s been around police work enough to know what’s
what. I never would have expected her to be willing to jump back
into it after the Kessler house but she was ready for the next
thing we could think of.”

“Yeah, she’s tougher than they give her
credit for.” Jackson flipped his monitor on and started pulling up
the reports again. Hoping the blood work and toxin screens were
back. Probably not, after all this was real life not CSI. It could
take a week or two to get the simple tests back, DNA comparisons
would be longer.

Pulling up the earliest victim Dana Hodges he
searched her reports. There had been no chemicals in her system and
no foreign DNA. Going back to number two Sarah Green it was the
same. She was clean. They had to figure out how the killer was
luring these women in. He wondered just how far Ryan would be
willing to go.

Better yet, how far was he willing to go?
Since the night he had camped out on her porch Jackson had watched
her come to life again. Remembering the way she looked with the
breeze coming off the lake lifting her hair. The intense
expressions as she examined the artwork in the museum. The way her
lashes rested on her cheeks as she fell asleep.

Guilt settled in the pit of his stomach for
pushing her today. The cemetery plus the Kessler place was too much
for her just learning about what she was. Then her sister acting
like Ryan was out on a day pass. He knew that cut deep. After this
case was over he decided not to just forget about her. Ryan had
become someone he cared about. He would make sure she wasn’t alone
anymore.

Ryan woke up on the couch. The last thing she
remembered was talking to Jack. She stretched and sat up her bare
feet hitting the floor. He had slipped off her shoes. She knew it
was all an illusion. That as soon as they caught the killer that
Jack and his partner would be gone and she would be alone
again.

She dialed the phone then hung it up again.
She was not going to call her sister. Not after the way Amber had
acted. Over the phone the last week she had seemed genuinely happy
that Ryan was starting to come back to the world. It was apparently
a lie to placate the crazy lady. Except now Ryan knew she was not
insane. She tried to figure out what had caused the first horrible
vision of these killings.

She had touched Jillian Hilliard’s clothes
but cloth didn’t seem to hold anything, like paper. Maybe she had
brushed her body when the glove tore. It seemed so long ago now.
Could she ever go back to work? Today, she realized how much she
missed it.

The phone rang Jack’s cell number flashed on
the screen. “What’s up?”

She could hear him grin over the phone. “The
sky.” He laughed at his silly joke. “I’m calling because somebody
found out about you.”

Ryan propped her feet on the coffee table.
“Bad or good?”

“To be determined.” He propped his feet up on
the desk. “I didn’t wake you up did I?”

“No, I was up. I guess that was more activity
than I’m used to. Plus the emotional roller coaster.” She was
thinking of Amber but his thoughts drifted to her frightened scream
at the Kessler house.

“No more pushing so hard, alright? It’s going
to take time to catch this guy and it will take longer if you fry a
circuit or something.”

She laughed at him but could hear the
sincerity in his voice. He cared. “You’re not in trouble or
anything because of me are you? I mean I know some departments use,
I can’t believe I’m going to say this, psychics.”

It was his turn to laugh at her. “No trouble,
Captain Heinz our department supervisor shocked me by saying he
didn’t have a problem with using a, and I don’t really think you
fit in that category, psychic. But he called you an amateur and
wants to have a pro come in as see how accurate you are. If you
pass you stay on the case, his word. Especially since someone who
lives by the grove and cemetery called and gave the exact
description, you did of the possible suspect walking through her
yard. Anyway Heinz wants you here at three tomorrow. Listen, you
don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

Ryan played with the fingers of the gloves he
had given her. “If I don’t do it he’ll take me off the case. I
wasn’t officially on to begin with; we just sort of jumped in. To
tell you the truth I think it’s a good idea. I mean I don’t know
what I’m doing and this person does. They can tell us if I’ve
screwed everything up or what I can do better.”

Shaking his head he could envision her
talking with her hands, she did that when she was excited or
nervous. “I wasn’t so sure you’d be good with this. After the
Kessler place you were pretty shaken up. I don’t know if I could do
it again.”

Switching ears and putting the lunch 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. Don’t let her get to you. Maybe
Amber is trying to do the right thing she just can’t seem to figure
out what that is. “

Putting a hand on her hip she gave him a
look. “Don’t devillify her. I want to be mad right now anyway, it
will keep me grounded. Maybe that’s why I stupidly answered the
phone.”

As they walked out he added to the flames
just to see her lovely brown eyes turn black. “Fine at the end of
your visit the other day she thanked me for escorting you. Like we
had you out on a day pass from the nut house. Kind of ticked me off
too.”

Her eyes did go black and narrowed. He almost
felt sorry for Amber when she called back. Almost. As angry as Ryan
was it didn’t last the whole ride. As they pulled into the parking
lot she was slipping on her gloves nervously. When she got them on
Jackson took one hand. “Hey, you are going to do fine. Tom and I
will be right there behind you.”

With a deep breath Ryan got out of the car
wishing she didn’t have to let go of his hand. She felt stronger
with his large hand wrapped around her tiny one. The station was
busy and Jackson stayed close to make sure her path was clear and
she didn’t get bumped into someone or something.

Finally reaching the conference room she gave
a big sigh of relief. Jackson opened the door to reveal Captain
Heinz, Thomas, and a beautiful brunette woman.

Ryan’s big smile reached her dark eyes making
them warm. Captain Heinz stood and motioned for her to sit across
from the woman. “Dr. Reign, it’s nice to meet you. I only wish it
were under different circumstances. You do understand that this is
not a direct reflection on you or your ability?”

Ryan took the offered chair and was glad that
he didn’t offer to shake hands as well. She felt like a hive of
bees were loose in her gut. “I understand, Captain Heinz. I would
be more concerned if you had taken everything at face value.”

That seemed to please him. The Captain
reminded her of her own supervisor. Ten to one he had the same
tendency to go nuclear. But not at the moment, he sat down and
introduced the lovely woman. “I’m glad you took no offense. This is
Barbara Peters. She has done some work for me in the past and has a
strong talent not unlike yours.”

Barbara smiled as Ryan realized who she was
sitting with. “The same Barbara I’ve been talking to on the
phone?”

The woman laughed and it was as warm as her
smile. With a southern accent she said. “Yes, that would be me. I’m
so glad to finally meet you Ryan. You look wonderful.”

The buzzing bees dissipated with the
recognition and Ryan relaxed. “It’s good to finally meet you
too.”

Seeing the confused look on all of the men’s
faces Barbara explained. “I have been mentoring Ryan as she learns
her gift.”

Ryan’s excitement waned. “I still think it’s
a curse. I just want to learn how to control it. Not being able to
touch is horrible but knowing I can help the detectives catch
something worse helps.”

Barbara gave her a nod. “Then let us get
started so you can go to work.” She pulled out a bag with some
items in it. “Now I’m going to set out some things I’ve gathered
from people in the office. They are out there waiting just so we
can confirm your reading. I’ve already read them and it was
recorded for comparison. Just do what you’ve been doing.”

Placed on the table was a stapler, a small
picture frame, one of those stress balls in the shape of a
revolver, and a coffee cup black with a Jolly Rodger on one side
and “Dead men tell no tales” on the other. Barbara sat back and
waited patiently.

Ryan started with the stapler. She figured it
would be the worst, more than one impression. Everyone had taken
hers at the morgue. Many times she had to go in search of it.
Setting it in front of her she pulled off her right glove.
Pleasantly this baby had been kept practically under lock and key.
“Captain Heinz you must tell me how you keep people off your
desk.”

He grinned. “Easy, I have a loaded gun.”

His relaxed manner made her feel a lot
better. She picked up the coffee cup. “This belongs to Jack. Tom’s
nephew gave it to him for Christmas. He thinks Uncle Jack looks
like a pirate with all that scruff.”

Jackson shifted his feet behind her. “I told
you she was good.”