Don't Touch by Elise VanCise Read Free Book Online Page A

than to let her guard down
too far. Best intentions meant no one stuck around for long. She
decided to just enjoy the small moment of friendship.
     
    As they cleaned up dinner Ryan’s eyes kept
going to the folders on the coffee table. Jackson tugged her shirt
sleeve. “Why don’t we give it a rest tonight?”
     
    Moving to stand looking down at the crime
scene photo of Tina, Ryan shook her head. “That’s the problem,
Jack. I’ve given it a rest for too long.”
     
    Pointing to a photo on the end table of Ryan
and another woman at Disney posing with Tigger. “That’s my sister,
Amber. I’ve lost her; I’ve lost all of who I was. I gave up.”
     
    Jackson came over and stood next to her. “So
what are you going to do about it?”
     
    Looking at the photos again she took a deep
breath feeling like she was jumping out of a plane without a
parachute. “I’m going to get a life back. It can’t be the same one
but I can’t live in these four walls for the next sixty or so
years. Do me a favor, if for some reason I can’t let go. Take the
picture from me.”
     
    Before he had a chance to protest she picked
up the picture of the murder weapon and touched the two dimensional
knife. There was a blink of the photographer; he was tired, pulling
a double shift. The next was a glimpse of a gloved hand setting the
knife beside the victim.
     
    Heavy duty work gloves, not latex. The knife
was set down with care so the blade was pointing at the victim’s
feet. Then she was just looking at the picture again. She opened
her fingers and let it fall to the table.
     
    Her hands were trembling as she processed the
visions and what they were. “I did it. I saw him or her. I saw
someone.”
     
    Jackson carefully took her by the shoulders
making her sit down in the recliner. He sat on the end of the
coffee table. “What did you see, Ryan?”
     
    Heart was pounding wildly as it all came
clear. “I’ve been doing it wrong, that’s why I didn’t get anything.
I had to pick an object to focus on as if it were more than an
image. I saw a gloved hand setting the knife by the body. It was a
work glove, that rough leather kind I think. He. It’s a he I don’t
know how I know that but I’m sure he was almost reverent
about placing the blade. That doesn’t help though does it?”
     
    Thinking about it he then grabbed the other
photos. “Yes it does, look. I didn’t see this before but all of the
bodies are placed the same way. Not posed really just laid out the
same. The knives are all in the same spot.”
     
    He flipped his phone open. “Hey this is
Prince. Is there someone on the Kessler evidence yet?.... Good,
make a note to look for fibers from something like a leather work
glove…. Thanks. Yeah, let me know as soon as either the Kessler or
the Lane stuff has been worked.”
     
    Ryan was reaching for another photograph when
he jerked the file out of reach. “That’s enough for tonight. You’re
shaking like a leaf.”
     
    Their argument was cut short by a knock on
the door. Ryan opened the door and ushered Thomas in. He put his
hands into his pockets. “Thanks for what you did. I don’t know what
kind of hold you have on them down there but they are taking care
of Brice like he’s a star. Gina is grateful too.”
     
    Jackson watched as she reached out and gave
Tom a pat on the arm. “I didn’t do anything yet. That’s why they're
being good to him. I’ve been known lean on the hospital board a
bit. That’s why I went into forensics. I couldn’t take the
bureaucracy anymore. Did you eat?”
     
    Thomas opened his mouth then shut it as she
waved him to follow her into the kitchen. He looked to his partner
who shrugged. “No I haven’t but I’ll get something on the way
home.”
     
    She pulled out the pizza boxes then handed
him a plate. “Nonsense. You paid for it so you should eat it.”
     
    Pointing to the twelve pack of soda on the
shelf. “That you can get yourself. Besides don’t you want to