“Not much. She said she didn’t see anything but the body hanging from the ceiling. She doesn’t recall seeing anyone else there or any vehicles in the area.” Eve shook her head. “I don’t think the girl would even remember her own car if she had driven there. She was out of it. Big-time junkie. She had track marks all over her arms and legs.”
“Speaking of drugs,” Lyra offered. “Maybe we should follow the Ecstasy. That’s a designer drug, right? Used at raves and the like? Maybe Samantha is involved in that culture.”
Caine nodded. “We need to get into her house and search her room. If she’s a regular user, she’ll have a stash somewhere, I’m sure.”
“Tala can be of help on this,” Hector piped in. “She used to work in the narcotics division. She’s done extensive information-collection on the various drugs being used in the city. She knows who’s dealing and where.”
“Excellent. She can work with Jace and Lyra instead of just escorting them around.”
Jace felt his stomach flip over. He didn’t want Tala to work with him. He was having a difficult time as it was just looking at her, let alone being around her. Being able to smell her and feel the heat of her body was going to pose a big problem.
Jace lifted his hand. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Having an inexperienced person on this case could prove to be a disaster.”
Caine met his gaze. “I’m sure under your tutelage, Jace, she will do just fine.” He shut the file he was holding, effectively ending the conversation. “Jace and Lyra, you are on the victim’s residence. Hector, Eve and I are going back to Lillith’s family and friends to see if there is a connection.” Caine slid the file under his arm. “The lab is still working on the fiber and trace evidence we collected at the scene and on the body. There’s got to be something we can go on.” Nodding to each of them around the table, he added, “Okay, everyone keep in touch. We’ll meet back here in a few hours to see where we are.”
With that, Caine moved toward the door. Eve and Hector followed his lead. Once the door was open, Hector called in Tala.
She appeared in the doorway, looking fresh-faced and eager. But Jace noticed something else about her. There was something off or missing about her now. He couldn’t place it. Was she wearing glasses before? He couldn’t recall.
Whatever it was it had changed her.
“You’ll be working with Jace and Lyra at the Kipfer residence. You do as they instruct, okay?” Hector said.
She nodded, but didn’t meet Hector’s gaze. Instead her eyes fastened on Jace. He could feel her attention, piercing his body, dissecting his soul. Why did she affect him so much?
Chapter 8
T he crowd of reporters swarming in front of the Kipfer residence was astonishing. Jace could feel the intense press of their bodies even from the sanctity of the backseat of the crime lab’s vehicle. It was as if the metal of the doors were bending under the strain, reaching toward him, trying to touch him. A cold sweat broke out over his body. Clenching his hands into tight fists, he swallowed down the rising panic.
As Tala inched the SUV through the mass of people, she cursed under her breath at the swarm. Jace’s lips twitched a few times at the words she sputtered. It still didn’t stop the reporters from banging on the windows with their microphones, screaming for sound bites, anything to quench the thirst of the media horde.
The only bite Jace wanted to give them was one on their collective butts. He’d call them all blood-sucking vampires, but that would be a grave insult to all the vampires he knew.
Once they were through the crowd outside the Kipfer estate, they parked the vehicle, jumped out and grabbed their respective kits. The pressure he was feeling instantly released the moment Jace stepped out into the clean crisp air. He let out the breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding and followed Lyra and Tala into the Kipfer house.
They assembled just outside of the victim’s bedroom. The girl’s parents were in the kitchen talking with a detective who had arrived earlier. They had already given their permission to the crime-scene unit to thoroughly look through Samantha’s room and to take what they needed.
Lyra peered through the open doorway. “Good thing she’s got a big room. Or the three of us would be glued together.” She smirked at Jace while snapping on her latex gloves. Picking up her kit, she walked into the room, leaving Jace and Tala to themselves.
Jace took out two sets of gloves from his kit. He handed a pair to Tala. “Have you ever been on a crime scene before?”
“Not counting yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“Then twice. Once during basic training and another time after a drug bust.”
Crouching next to his kit, Jace took out several numbered yellow-plastic markers and handed them to Tala. “Just follow the same protocol. If you see anything out of the ordinary or something you think needs a second look, set one of these markers beside it.”
“I think I can handle it.” After snapping on her gloves, she brushed past Jace and into the room.
Taking in a deep breath, Jace wondered what he ever did to deserve being shackled to Tala. She was even snarlier than he was. If that were possible.
He put on his own gloves and followed the ladies into the room.
The room was typical of a young woman used to the benefits of growing up with money, Jace thought. Everything was neat, orderly and professionally decorated. Her bed was expertly made with powder-blue blankets hanging down to the pristine beige carpet. Cream throw pillows were artfully arranged against the headboard.
“Do you think she cleans her own room?” Jace asked as he surveyed the room. “The bed looks too done up. I wonder if the maid has cleaned the room since the girl’s disappearance.”