Generation 18 (Spook Squad 2)

Snorting softly, she finished her coffee, then picked up the bill and paid it. She glanced at her watch. Another hour had passed. Gabriel was going to kill her.

It took half an hour to get back to headquarters. By that time, her head was pounding again. She went straight to her dark little hole.

“Computer on.” She threw her coat over the back of the chair and sat down.

“Afternoon, sweetness. How’s your day been?”

“Just peachy. You got those test results back yet?”

Izzy swung her boa, her expression a little startled. “My, we are a bit abrupt right now, aren’t we?”

Sam rocked her chair back against the wall and rubbed her eyes. Now her damn com-unit was telling her off. These things were definitely becoming too human. “Sorry, Izzy. I’ve got a bitch of a headache.”

“Perhaps you should see a doctor.”

There was something almost coy in Izzy’s voice. She opened her eyes and stared at the pink fuzz-ball. “And can you recommend one?”

“I can recommend five, actually. Funnily enough, they’ve all bought Heat in the last month.”

“Izzy, you’re a doll. Did you cross-reference the results with our records?”

“Certainly did, sweetie. There’s one match. Our doctor is a changer, but that’s it, I’m afraid. Definitely no sister.”

She tapped her fingers against the desk. The murderer was definitely a shifter; that much they knew. But that didn’t explain how she was getting in and out without being seen. There was something else, something they were missing. “Make an appointment for me to see her.”

“You might want to reconsider that. The doctor in question is a vet.”

“Then I’ll find a dog to take along. What about the Jadrone search? Is that finished yet?”

“I’ve been working my butt off here, darlin’. Of course it’s finished.”

“Was Emma Pierce listed?”

“No. But Harry Maxwell was.”

“What?” Sam let her chair thump back. If Harry had a legal prescription, why did he need an illegal supplier? Had his need for the drug grown stronger than his legal prescription would allow?

“That’s right, sweetness. Also listed were Raylea Burns, Anna Jakes and Dr. Brandon.”

Along with Harry Maxwell, all victims of their serial killer. Sam rubbed her forehead. “Are these recent prescriptions?”

“Yes, though all four had been taking the drug since their mid-teens, from the look of it.”

“Do a check on the prescribing doctor. And get me his address.”

“Consider it done, sweetie.”

“Thanks.” Sam watched the purple boa rotate for several seconds. “Izzy, are any of the four on file as being shifters?”

The boa twirled a little faster while Izzy searched the records. “Not a one.”

Then why the hell were they being prescribed Jadrone? Especially at such a young age? “Get me the autopsy results for Jakes, Burns and Brandon.”

“Onscreen.”

The three reports tiled onto the screen and Sam quickly read through them. No evidence of Jadrone had been found in the toxicology or blood reports. So why were they being prescribed the drug if they weren’t actually using it?

“Izzy, who performed the autopsies?”