Page 411 of Sticks and Stones
Ethan shared.
“We know the drug, Reed. We can’t give you a name since it’s a new drug that’s popped up. The alphabet agencies are on it, and it’s classified.”
He didn’t push.
“Just tell me that Detective Price is okay. He’s a nice guy, and my friend.”
Gene went there.
“He’s recovering, and that’s why we’re handling this. We were called in, and then, the drugs came into play. It led us down this rabbit hole, so anything you can give us…”
Reed got it.
“I’ll compare their faces to missing person reports when I get them in. I’ll work fast.”
They had to warn him.
“Don’t come in contact with the powder. If you find open balloons, or if one opens, use biological protocols.”
His eyes were huge.
“That bad?” he asked.
Gene nodded.
“Full PPE when you’re autopsying. It’s a nasty drug,” he said, not giving him more.
Ethan had an idea.
“I need a favor. I need to see if that ballon, specifically the fecal matter, belongs to the victim it was found by. Can you check?”
He was confused.
“You don’t think he shit it out?” he asked.
It didn’t fit.
There was no way. They had the bikers last night, and they knew the process. It was pass off the drugs, and have the bikers pick up the men. They’d use them, and then drop them with the buyer. There was no way the bikers could have dropped them off.”
Gene was with Ethan on this.
“It’s the aberration. We caught the people raping the victims and using them as mules. They’re in custody. If that body had that drug in it, we’re chasing the wrong lead, and this killer has just pulled the greatest ‘fuck you’ to us. Please check.”
Well, he could do that.
“Okay, let’s see the bodies.”
He brought them to the tarp, and he had the city techs move it.
Reed pointed at the one body.
“It was under him,” he said.
They waited for Reed to instruct his people.
“I need to see if any of them defecated. Who does this belong to?” he asked, as he held up the baggie.
They waited. When the bodies were moved, not one of them had shit on them.
