Free Chemical Attraction by Christina Thompson

Development building, the largest structure within a mile of the downtown area. Signing in with security, she hoped that her genuine friendliness over the years would pay off today. She and June LaValley had started working the same week and had lunch together often. They bonded through their orientation into the large and intimidating company. She had tried for years to get June to call her by her first name. June would say that even though she thought of her as a friend, she also respected her as the only high-ranking woman scientist in an all-boys club. In public, it was Dr. Pierce.
    “Hey, June, how did Trevor do in tee-ball?”
    “Hi, Dr. Pierce. He had a hit,” she replied.
    “Good for him. Hey, Roger.” She waved to the other guard. He smiled back as he signed in employees. “June, I need to fill out a visitor’s pass for a friend. He’ll be stopping by for lunch.” She stepped closer to June and away from the sign-in sheet, so other researchers could get through.
    “Sure, anyone I know?” she asked, reaching for the form.
    “No, he’s a guy I just started dating. He wants to see where I work. He’s not too bright, but wait ‘til you see him. I thought I’d give him a tour.”
    “Is he cute?” June whispered.
    She signed the form. “Oh yeah, hardcore body with stunning green eyes.”
    “I can’t wait. I’ll page you when he gets here.”
    Madeline left the desk and immediately exhaled. It would be a long morning.

    Allenton’s health campus consisted of a small hospital and a medical office building with emergency services connecting the areas. The Occupational Health department of the hospital, where Eva worked, situated itself next to Emergency. The two departments shared the large waiting room.
    OccHealth provided pre-employment physicals, drug screens, and treatment for work-related injuries to area businesses. For the community, they organized the flu clinics as well as TB tests and Hepatitis B shots. The department’s biggest customer, BennTech, had been hiring maintenance workers and support staff, so their department had a busy schedule with physicals and drug screens.
    Betty Severy and Amanda Sturgis sat at a long desk behind the sliding safety glass windows. Occasionally, Matt or the sheriff brought in an injured, irate prisoner who’d try to leave through any means possible.
    “Good morning Eva,” Betty, the chubby blonde, said as Amanda looked up from a chart.
    “That party was wild. So what’s the scoop on Madeline and your brother?” Amanda asked.
    After setting her purse in the back room, Eva pulled her lab coat off the hanger. “They came to our barbecue together yesterday. I think they’ll be joined at the hip while Joe’s here.”
    Amanda fanned herself with a chart. “Only at the hip, I could think of better places to be joined.”
    Betty laughed. “Can you get him to stop by for a visit?” Single, young, and horny, both gals had little else on their minds.
    “I’ll see if he’ll stop over for lunch sometime this week,” Eva replied, looking at the day’s schedule.
    As a physician’s assistant, Eva performed the pre-employment physicals and treated work-related injuries. Amanda’s job entailed the initial weight, height, blood pressure, and eye exams. She also proctored the urine screens, which tested for specific drugs like amphetamines, marijuana metabolites, methadone, and opiates. The occupational physician, Dr. Ellis, reviewed work injuries and then told Eva what he wanted done. He was odd, but so were most of the doctors around here. He also liked working as the M.E. with the sheriff, the probable reason for his unfriendliness. He had the same gaunt look as his patients in the morgue.
    Eva spent most of the morning giving physicals to men who hoped the various companies would hire them. She checked eyes, nose, and throat, then listened to the lungs and heart. Most men felt uncomfortable when they had to drop, turn, and cough, but a few enjoyed showing