Page 26 of Colorado K-9 Rescue
“If the alcohol and gunshot didn’t kill her, then do you know what did?” Evan asked.
“I think so. There’s more. Let me bring up the second test.”
Evan was trying to remain patient but was having a hard time.
“Okay, they both tested positive for GHB or gamma hydroxybutyrate. It’s a party drug, although it’s sometimes prescribed for narcolepsy. When it’s given to someone it can create euphoria or even heighten sex drive. It will definitely make it easy to get someone to do what you want, and the victim will have amnesia. I think it could also be the cause of death in Autumn’s case.”
“Why do you think that?” Evan asked.
“Because when it’s mixed with alcohol it can be deadly. It can cause a coma and death. Everyone reacts to drugs differently. I found out that Autumn was also taking meds for depression and anxiety. She was taking Xanax, which is a benzodiazepine. The alcohol mixed with the benzos and GHB was a lethal combo for her. I’m shocked that she made it as far as she did before she collapsed. Adrenaline helped. Who knows? Of course, the pathologist and coroner will determine final cause of death, but I believe this is what killed this young lady. Very tragic.”
“It is tragic,” Evan said, “but at least we have some answers. Thank you.”
Allison hung up and Evan headed out the door. He’d learned that Lily had gone home from the hospital, but he needed to talk to her. See if there was anything else she could remember and discuss the party. He called Lily’s parents and received permission to come over. Then he opened Mckenna’s contact on his phone.
He wanted to talk to her, but he wished it weren’t for work. Right now, though, his priority was finding the sicko who took Lily and killed Autumn. If Mckenna had a connection to the case and was taken by the same person, he needed to figure that out too. Especially if it meant Mckenna was in danger. Evan hit the call button and heard the phone ring.
“Morning, Agent Knox.”
His stomach was in knots. “I thought I told you to call me Evan.”
He heard her laugh. “I know. You did. I was just teasing you.”
“I like your teasing.”
“Yeah? Good. What’s up?”
“I uh…” Evan hesitated. How did he tell her that he went through her files? Saw the pictures. Knew intimate things about her that she’d never told him?
“Spit it out, whatever you have to say is fine.”
“Okay. I went through the files last night and watched some of the interviews with Toby Hanson. I didn’t have time to watch all of them. They kept him for hours.”
Silence.
“You okay?” Evan asked.
“I’m good. What’s your thought on my gut feeling that Toby didn’t take me? That he might be innocent?”
“I agree with you,” Evan said. “I mean, as an agent I need to investigate more. I can’t say for sure that he’s not guilty, but the techniques used to get him to confess could get anyone to confess to a crime.”
“What’s next, then? What do we need to do?”
“I need you to be careful. If there is a kidnapper out there who’s never been caught and he starts to believe that Toby isn’t being investigated for this case, then he could come after you.” Evan hesitated again, thinking about Rex’s vehicle. “If you see that Jeep following you again, you need to let me know. Right away, okay?”
“Okay, I can do that. What can I do to help? I’ll tell you anything that I can remember.”
“I want to be careful about how involved you are in this case, but I’d like to chat with Lily, and I think it would help to haveyou and Mocha there. I want to learn more about the party and then I’m going to speak with Penny Gardner. Not only is it time for her parties to stop, but she has information. She could even be withholding something, who knows.”
“I can meet you at Lily’s in about thirty minutes. Mocha and I were getting ready to head out the door,” Mckenna said.
“I’ll see you there. And Mckenna?”
“Yeah?”
“Be careful.” Evan hung up. He’d wanted to say more than that. He couldn’t wait to see her. He wondered if she would want to have dinner sometime. For now, though, he needed to figure out what was going on and keep her safe.
Mckenna loaded Mocha into her vehicle, and they made their way toward Lily’s parents’ house. She worked to not be overly excited to see Evan, but it was hard not to want to be with him. Or just around him. Sleep had eluded her last night as she kept waking up thinking about the kiss and how she wouldn’t mind doing that again. But today was about work.
