“Aha.” I turned to Lee in triumph. “Some of these drugs stay in the system for only twenty-four hours, right? I want a blood test taken right now.”
“What are you, a lawyer?” Lee asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “You don’t make demands of me.”
I usually enjoyed trading barbs and quips with Inspector Lee, but this wasn’t funny. This was Robin’s life we were talking about.
“No, I’m not a lawyer,” I said as my irritation escalated. “But I can get one over here faster than you can shout benzodiazepine. Just say the word.”
She folded her arms across her chest and tried to stare me down. I stared right back.
“Fine, Wainwright,” she said finally. “We’ll run a damn blood test.”
“Thank you,” I snapped.
“I was going to do it anyway.” She found her cell phone.
“Then why didn’t you say so?”
She gave me a sideways glance. “And miss the fun of watching you go all F. Lee Bailey on my ass? No way.”
I tried to channel my mother by concentrating on keeping my breaths even, my thoughts positive, my dosha aligned. But I was still riled. “I was beginning to think you were playing good cop, bad cop. Without the good cop.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I snorted politely. “You would.”
She chuckled. “I really like you, Wainwright.”
“Jeez,” Robin muttered. “I’d hate to see you with someone you don’t like.”
Chapter 4
It was past eleven a.m. when the assistant medical examiner ran up to Sharon’s to draw Robin’s blood for analysis in the lab. He also recommended a urine test and handed her a small plastic cup.
Robin made a face. “You’re kidding.”
“No,” he said. “Date-rape drugs can be detected in urine and hair follicles a lot longer than in the blood.”
“Good to know,” I said.
Normally, the medical examiner wouldn’t run a test like this, but he’d agreed as a favor for Inspector Lee. It made it a lot easier for Robin, but she was still a little grossed out as she took the plastic cup from him in front of all of us.
As far as I was concerned, she could be as disgusted as she wanted to be, but I was reassured. If they could find drugs in her system, I knew it would exonerate her completely.
As she disappeared into the bathroom, Derek walked in the front door. My heart stuttered as I watched him stride toward me, looking ridiculously gorgeous in a navy pinstripe suit, crisp white shirt, and the most beautiful burgundy tie I’d ever seen. The tie alone probably cost more than my entire wardrobe. I glanced down at my turtleneck sweater, jeans, and scruffy boots, then back at him. It was sad to realize that he was a far better dresser than I was, but he didn’t seem to notice or care.
In fact, he seemed just as pleased to see me as I was to see him. So I guessed I didn’t have anything to worry about, wardrobewise. Not yet, anyway. The relationship was still young. Besides, I was capable of cleaning up quite nicely when the occasion called for it. This one just happened to call for jeans and old boots.
“You’re back already?” I asked, my voice betraying my happiness.
“I was able to cancel my afternoon meeting,” he said, wrapping his arm around my waist. “I couldn’t concentrate on work, knowing you were here having all the fun.”
I frowned at him. “Fun?”
“No,” he said soberly. “This has definitely not been fun for you. But except for Robin’s involvement, you can’t pretend you’re not in your element.”
I pressed my forehead against his chest. “What does it say about me that a crime scene has become my element?”
He lifted my chin up with his fingers. “It says you’re endlessly fascinating.”
I gazed up at him and knew I could lose myself in his dark blue eyes. “That’s very sweet.”
“Oy, take it somewhere else, you two,” Inspector Lee groused as she strolled back into Sharon’s apartment. “You’re gonna make me sorry I changed my mind about moving this all downtown.”
“We don’t want that,” I said, pushing away from Derek. Usually I was no fan of public displays of affection, but lately I couldn’t seem to help myself.
“Where’s my girl?” Lee said, glancing around the apartment. “I’ve got some more questions.”
I assumed she was looking for Robin. “She’ll be right out.”
At that moment, the bathroom door opened and Robin emerged, looking sheepish, hiding the plastic cup inside her jacket. She went into Sharon’s kitchen and came out a moment later carrying a small brown bag that she handed to the assistant ME.
“Hey, Schultz, call me with the results ASAP,” Inspector Lee said.
The man waved without turning. “You got it.” Then he disappeared out the front door.