In Too Deep Read Free Page A

sir?”
    He stopped at the question, but only briefly, before resuming his pacing. “We introduce Mac onto the scene at Adams’s nightclub, La Femme . And we hope Adams shows an immediate interest.”
    Visions of the elite lesbian nightclub flashed across Patricia’s mind. Adams had owned the popular club for eight years and also operated a small production company known for lesbian-themed films. Patricia’s eyes strayed to Erin and, not for the first time, she felt uncertain whether the newcomer was ready or even right for this assignment. Certainly she had the looks. With her shoulder-length light brown hair pulled into a ponytail, exposing high cheekbones and a graceful neckline, she had exactly the kind of sexy vulnerability Adams found exciting. Oddly, that unsettled Patricia.
    She locked eyes with Ruiz. “How far are we willing to let her go on Saturday?”
    Erin’s face flooded with red, and Stewart about choked on his shredded toothpick. It flew out of his mouth and he looked around the table like a fourteen-year-old boy talking about porn, an excited grin on his face. None of the other detectives found the question humorous.
    “You think we’ll need to resolve that now? Adams will move that quickly?” Ruiz pointed the question back to her.
    “Absolutely, sir.”
    “Then what do you suggest?” He tossed the ball into her court.
    “Ideally, she should establish trust with the target and permit a credible level of physical contact, kissing perhaps. Some fondling. It will depend on what she’s comfortable with, and the circumstances at the time. We just need to make sure she’s fully prepared.”
    All eyes focused on Erin, and Patricia noted the red in her cheeks.
    Before Erin could voice her thoughts, Jeff broke in. “We don’t actually think Adams would harm Mac, do we?”
    Patricia signaled Gary to respond and he adjusted his glasses before speaking. “At this time we have no reason to believe Ms. Adams would cause harm to Detective McKenzie. Her menace appears to extend solely to males. She has never been known to physically harm females.”
    “So you’re saying Adams will try to fuck Mac senseless, but she won’t hurt her?” Stewart was enjoying this way too much.
    “In a matter of speaking, yes.” Gary remained calm and unamused.
    Ruiz stopped pacing, apparently impatient with the discussion. “Right, let’s bring Erin up to speed.” He tossed several files down on the table in front of the detectives and motioned for Patricia to speak.
    Anticipating her, Stewart whipped open the files, displaying grim color photos of the three dead men.
    “As you all know, all three of our victims were killed in the same fashion,” Patricia said. “All were taken to a private location, a hotel in Mr. Bale’s case, where we assume they were promised sexual favors. Then they were injected in the armpit with a tranquilizer.” She glanced at each detective. “Our lab has found traces of nylon fibers on the wrists of every victim. It seems they were bound tightly and effectively with nylons, probably to a bedpost, to make the task of injecting them easier.”
    Ignoring a crass remark from Stewart, she continued, “We have also found traces of the date rape drug, GHB or Liquid X, in all our victims. We all know this incapacitates an individual and in most cases leads to unconsciousness. However, in our victims only a small amount was used. Not enough to render them unconscious. The drug was most likely given in a drink soon after the victims encountered our suspect, just enough to get their guard down.”
    She paused to sip some water, then wrapped up her part of the briefing. “The injected tranquilizer is one used primarily on horses. It rendered our victims completely defenseless, causing them to lose the use of their limbs and sending them in and out of consciousness.” She indicated a picture of the first victim. “Fortunately for these men, the stabbing of the genitalia was postmortem.”
    Why?