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was back to his normal shade of flesh.
    As they stood there, the techs began moving around, picking up the removed pieces of her flesh that were garishly arranged around her body.
    “We got pictures of all of this, right?” Elizabeth asked, pointing to the spread out body.
    “Yes, Agent,” replied Carol.
    She was glad. This had to mean something. It was too much like a specific pattern.
    “I told you. Sick, huh?” stated Chris.
    “Yeah, Doc, you weren’t kidding. I’m as confused as a cow on AstroTurf.”
    He stared at her for a second until he got it.
    “Yeah, you’re not alone.”
    “I’d say I’d have something for you by tomorrow with the autopsy, but whoever did this to her made my job easy. She’s open. I just have to figure out what killed her.”
    “I’m willing to bet the blood loss,” Livy stated. “You could bathe in it. I don’t think there’s a spot on the walls not covered.”
    He didn't disagree.
    “It very well could be exsanguination. Usually, it’s the obvious, but I have to eliminate a few other things.”
    “Like what? Aliens?” Elizabeth asked. “Holy hell, Christopher, but I can bet what killed her. Death by crazy person seems to fit.”
    He didn't disagree.
    “Just give me a couple hours, okay? I’ll give you everything I have then.”
    She smiled at him, patting her friend on the back. It was the least she could do. “Sure thing, Doc. I’ll pick you up a coffee. It’s going to be a long day for all of us.”
    He felt that heat rush his body. “You know how I like it, Elizabeth. It’s a date.”
    She stared at him, catching the tone in his voice. It caught her off balance. His words may have been innocent, but Elizabeth was good at reading people.
    Something was there.
    She could hear it.
    “Okay, Doc,” she said, giving the team, and ME, room to work. She didn't want to hinder their part of the investigation. Gabe would kick her ass.
    Immediately, the techs and ME got back to work.
    Livy led her to the next room. “What the hell? That’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen,” she admitted. “I don’t think anyone has ever run into something this bad before.”
    Elizabeth agreed.
    “Yeah, you can say that again. I can’t say I’m thrilled about this one,” she admitted. “I wanted to puke.”
    “You gave the ME your candy bar?” Livy asked. “When’s the wedding? Am I a bride’s maid?”
    She got punched.
    “Ouch! You can’t hit your partner!”
    “Sure I can, especially when she’s being a bitch. Now, let’s talk case and not Christopher Leonard, okay?”
    “Fine! You’re mean.”
    She laughed.
    “I wish Gabe picked other agents for this mess. I can tell already we’re about to be boned.”
    “I second that. I wish I wasn’t with Gabe when he got the…”
    She stopped.
    Elizabeth stared at her.
    Livy knew what she just did. She’d pointed Elizabeth LaRue right at her. If anything, her partner was more curious than a cat. One whiff and she was like a dog on a bone.
    “What did you just say? You were with Gabe? Are we talking as in with or WITH ? There’s a huge difference.”
    Livy closed her mouth.
    Crap!
    She screwed up.
    Yeah, that wasn’t going to work for Elizabeth. She grabbed her partner by the arm and pulled her outside so they were out of the team’s way.
    “Olivia Spencer, you better come clean!” Elizabeth stated. “If you’re getting some, you have to share with your partner. That’s not fair! If it were me, I’d tell. We have the girlfriend code! You know the rules.”
    She laughed. “I know! Rule number five. I haven’t forgotten. I just didn't get anywhere with him, and besides, you have some weird thing with the ME. When are you going to share that with me?”
    She looked confused. “Wait! Are you talking about Christopher Leonard? No, I don’t have a thing with him, and you’re trying to deflect to point me away from the obvious. You said you were with Gabe, so spill it!”
    Livy told her about the run, how he