The screen split in two. One side held the images of the four men she'd downloaded from the viaphone, and on the other, their names and addresses, courtesy of the Motor Registration Board. Fortunately, they insisted motorists update their license photos every two years. As a State Police Officer, there'd been countless forms to fill out before she could access the MRB's information. The SIU, it seemed, was all-powerful. She'd yet to find a system she couldn't get into.
"Do a complete background on those four men, as well as our murder victim, Frank Lyle. Concentrate on current work details and banking activities."
Izzy frowned, and the boa went into overdrive. "That'll take time, sweetie."
"I know. Proceed."
"You're the boss."
"Only in this shoebox," she muttered, and then turned as the door opened. Gabriel walked in and dumped a file on her desk.
She eyed it wearily. "What's that? More of the newly turned to be catalogued?"
"No. I want you to do a search and find out who's still being prescribed Jadrone."
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Why?"
"Because we found it in Harry Maxwell's apartment."
"Harry Maxwell? Frank Maxwell's kid?"
He frowned and sat down on the edge of her desk. Given her office was little more than a glorified broom closet, he practically loomed over her. "Yes. Do you know him?"
She snorted softly. "Sort of. Jack and I often ran across him during our shifts."
"Doing what?"
"He was a regular at Maximum."
Gabriel raised a dark eyebrow. "Never heard of it."
Like that was a surprise. From what she'd gathered in the last month, Gabriel and Stephan lived and breathed work — whether it was SIU or for the Federation. Life beyond that just didn't happen. Not that she was much better, but hell, they had friends, a family. A choice.
Though in Gabriel's case, that choice certainly didn't extend to her.
"It's an underground rave house. Popular with the g*y scene, and for those after prescribed or illegal drugs."
"So Harry was a user?"
"He's what I term a prescribed druggie. Used to hit up on Jadrone."
"Jadrone has no effect on humans." He hesitated. "Even when used by a shifter, it has to be taken daily for several months before it has any effect."
"So says the government, but take a large enough dose and you're floating. Old Harry couldn't have been entirely human, because he regularly got blasted."
He studied her for a minute, his hazel eyes intense and unreadable. "Why was he never pulled in?"
"He was. Several times. But Frank Maxwell knows all the right people. The department kept dropping the charges."
"Do you know his supplier?"
"No." She hesitated. Truth was, she did, but if she told Gabriel, she'd remain stuck in this shoebox for yet another day. "But I can find out, if you want."
"I want. I've got nine hours before the killer strikes again."
I've got, not we've got. He still wasn't letting her in. "Anything else?"
His sudden smile was almost predatory. Here it comes, she thought. The inane task to end all inane tasks.