'How about this?' Jesse tried eagerly 'It's a derivative of PCP, causes blinding headaches, even vomiting in severe cases …..'
Before he could get any further Amanda shook her head 'I don't think so Jesse, PCP is a well-known chemical compound, it would have shown up on the tox screen'. She paused 'We're looking for something a little less common'.
They both sighed heavily, exchanging weary glances.
Solemnly Jesse went back to his book, painstakingly scanning each page. His finger traced the seemingly endless list of chemicals and solutions, his lips moved silently as he read.
Amanda poured herself another coffee – her fifth? She shook her head, despite the excess of caffeine, she still felt as though she were running on empty. How Steve carried on the way he did she couldn't fathom. But then Steve didn't have a lively child to contend with at the end of a day's work, she thought to herself, smiling ruefully.
Yawning widely, she too returned to the book in front of her, an extensive compendium of toxins and their derivatives – not a thrilling read, but at this point a necessity. For a while they sat in companionable silence, broken only by the sound of pages turning and the clinking of coffee cups.
By the time Amanda reached the 'L's' in her alphabetical index, the small print was swimming before her eyes. Decisively she closed the book, definitely time for a break. Looking up she saw Jesse too had abandoned his text. Chin cradled in the palm of his hand and elbow resting on the table; his eyes were shut. He was either asleep or lost in thought.
Suddenly he spoke; the unexpected sound of his voice breaking the hither to extensive silence made her jump.
'Remember Mark said he thought that the killer was trying to tell us something with the way he was carrying out the crimes?' Jesse said scratching his head thoughtfully.
Amanda nodded 'Well' Jesse continued 'D'you think that maybe we're looking in the wrong books here?'
She frowned curiously 'What are you saying?'
He smiled sheepishly 'I guess what I'm saying is that, maybe medical textbooks aren't gonna help us solve this one'. He paused and looked at her tentatively 'may be we need to try something a little more ..' he paused searching for the right word '… exotic?'
Waiting for her reaction he winced, screwing up his face ready for the inevitable scorn that would be coming his way. Amanda was a practical woman and a scientist; she wasn't given to flights of fancy, ventures into the ridiculous. Even to Jesse, his latest suggestion sounded a little off the wall.
To his surprise she smiled 'Funny you should say that' she said dryly, reaching into her desk draw and retrieving another two books.
His eyes widened 'Magic and Medicine?' he exclaimed 'Sacred rituals and bodily adornment?'
'I bought them this morning from the bookstore across the street.' she admitted sheepishly 'Ever since Mark mentioned the lengths the killer went to and the possible ritualistic elements of the killings, I haven't been able to get Ancient Egypt out of my mind. Besides ….' she paused then smiled guilty '…. these books sure look a whole lot more interesting than Smithson's Compendium of poisons.'
She raised an eyebrow at him archly 'Whaddaya say? Care to join me in a little research into the Ancient civilization?'
Jesse grinned broadly, reaching out his hand for one of the books 'Well what are we waiting for?' he asked.
Maggie Taylor smiled. It was a rare smile and one that lit up her face with an inner radiance, hinting at the attractive woman behind the usually austere façade. With steel grey hair cut practically short, a style that somehow suited her brusque, no nonsense approach to life, Maggie was a rare commodity - a successful woman in a man's world. One of the few female Professors in her field, she had fought tooth and nail to get as far as she had. Working twice as hard as men with only an ounce of her talent, she was a formidable woman with extensive expertise. As a chemist she was renowned for her work, as a woman she was renowned for her nerve.
'Looking good Eric' she praised, the twang of her Australian accent softened for once, as her grad student adjusted his glasses in nervous concentration.
Eric Scott smiled back bleakly and mopped at the sweat on his forehead. This was a delicate procedure; the slightest lapse and they'd have to start over. Peering over his shoulder, Vicky Harris chewed her lip nervously, twisting a strand of her auburn hair around her finger. The tension in the room was palpable, as slowly, oh so slowly; Eric coaxed the clear liquid from the pipette, his hand hovering over the delicate material stretched tightly across the micro slide.
'Nice and slow' Maggie muttered to herself, mantra-like, as first one drop, then another spread across the slide, transforming the precious material in both colour and consistency.
Vicky held her breath and leaned closer, but Eric didn't notice. He could feel his hands trembling, could taste the salty perspiration as it dripped down his face, moistening his dry lips. His curly blonde hair was darkened with sweat and his trademark Hawaiian shirt, underneath his starched white coat, clung wetly to his back. Pausing he took a deep breath and adjusted his glasses again. He had to get a grip, couldn't afford to slip up now. For these crucial few seconds, the success of the project depended entirely upon him.
'Almost there' Maggie breathed excitedly, though whether she was talking to herself or to Eric, Vicky couldn't be sure.
Vicky herself kept quiet; terrified that the tiniest noise might distract him. Eric swallowed hard, only one more to go – he was almost home and dry.
BANG!
Like a pistol being fired or the detonation of a bomb, the noise so sudden and unexpected seemed deafening. In his fright, Eric dropped the pipette, letting it slip helplessly through fingers slick with sweat, to crash and splinter, the pure liquid swamping the delicate material, destroying it.
'No!' Maggie cried, instinctively rushing forward to salvage it, but to no avail. $3000 and hundreds of hours of research were gone in less than a second.
Vicky looked round wildly, to see who had dared fling the lab door open with such force; such negligent abandon. Still swinging from the impact with the nearby bench, that door must surely have been kicked? Bursting through the door like that had been an explosive and expensive entrance. From the look on Maggie's face, things were about to get a whole lot hotter. Vicky had no doubt that whoever was behind this latest sabotage of the project; Maggie would make them pay.
Framed within the doorway stood a tall, athletic looking man - light hair, blue eyes, square jaw and a grim expression. Beside him, a cool looking blonde in a leather jacket completed the picture. He looked familiar Vicky thought, and then she paled – they both held guns.
Reflexively, all three chemists slowly raised their hands in the air. Maggie had blanched visibly, but she refused to be intimidated in her own lab.
'Take what you want' she said firmly 'but don't hurt us'. Despite her pallor, her voice was strong and commanding. There was little doubt that she was a woman used to being in control.
Eric looked from Maggie to the gunman and back, his thoughts running so fast his mind couldn't keep up 'Maggie …' he gulped, but she silenced him with a look.
Vicky was frozen to the spot; her whole world suddenly coalesced into this one moment in time.
Slowly Steve lowered his gun and reached calmly for his badge, displaying it as protocol required.
'I'm Detective Steve Sloan and this is my partner Sergeant Archer' he said. He looked at the three, appraising them coolly 'We're not here to hurt anyone. As long as you co-operate, we'll make this as quick and painless as we can'.
'The police?' Maggie started in surprise.
'That's right Ma'am' Tanis affirmed holstering her gun as she followed Steve into the room.
'What do you want from us?' Maggie asked sternly
Steve looked at her keenly 'It's not so much a question of what' he paused meaningfully, 'more like who'.
Slowly, deliberately, he turned his head.
As if in slow motion Vicky looked at him. For a moment their eyes locked and then he was moving towards her. Everything was a blur. She thought she heard Maggie gasp, maybe Eric called her name, but it was difficult to hear anything above the sudden roaring that filled her ears. The edges of her vision wavered dangerously, black spots dancing before her eyes. She teetered forwards, reaching out blindly for support. And then a hand gripped her arm tightly, painfully, and she was aware of nothing but the cold steel of the cuffs that bit cruelly into her wrists. She wanted to speak, but she couldn't, the ability to form sentences, words, thoughts; was gone.
'Vicky Harris, I'm arresting you for the murders of David Summers, Arnold Peterson and Ignacious Schwenck.' Steve intoned coldly, as he began escorting the young woman out of the lab 'You have the right to remain silent, should you give up that right anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand ?'
She could only nod mutely, his words made no sense. She stumbled blindly, but a firm hand against her back kept her moving forwards. As they turned the corner they passed an elderly, distinguished looking man, waiting in the hallway. He was a stranger and yet his face was kind. For no reason she could explain, she felt drawn to him. In the midst of all that was chaotic he seemed strangely real. Instinctively Vicky reached out to him.
'Please' she whispered 'Please, it wasn't me.'
'Come on' Steve ordered firmly, brusquely pulling her away 'Let's go.'
As she was escorted away she turned, looking back at the older man over her shoulder, a single tear rolling down her cheek 'It wasn't me'.
As he watched the girl being led away by Steve and Tanis, Mark sighed heavily. The unease he had been fighting so hard to overcome was getting stronger by the second. Taking a deep breath he entered the lab.
Looking around him, he was struck by the shocked and frozen faces of the two people left behind.