Free Chemical Attraction by Christina Thompson Page A

off their package. She didn’t understand why, they didn’t have much.
    Amanda did the drug screens for the physicals in addition to other walk-ins from the smaller businesses that would send in employees for a random drug screen and sometimes a breath alcohol test. With Amanda busy in the lab and Betty on the phone, Eva slid the window open as the young guy stared.
    “Uh, I’m here to take a piss test.” He leaned on one leg, then the other. “Um, how long does this take?” He twitched and shifted.
    “Not long, I need a photo ID, and you have paperwork to fill out.” She took his driver’s license and made a copy. After closing the window, she leaned over to Betty. “I’m so glad he’s not here for a physical. He’s filthy and smells.”
    Amanda came down the hallway carrying a chart. She slapped it down on the counter. “Is it a full moon? We’ve had some really bizarre people in today.”
    “It’s getting freakier. That guy’s here for you.” Betty nodded to the twitchy man holding the clipboard and unsuccessfully hiding something in his pants.
    Amanda snorted. “I am not touching him.”
    “He’s only here for a drug screen,” Betty replied.
    “Thank God, but why is he sitting like that? No, don’t tell me. He’s got something hidden in his jeans. I am not in the mood for this.”
    Amanda took Sam Turley back to the open lab. When he came out of the drug screen bathroom, she looked at the temperature strip on the full cup. “I can’t accept this specimen. It’s not within the temperature range. It’s too cold.”
    “What do you mean? I just pissed.”
    “You can have a seat in the waiting room until you can go again. There are vending machines with pop if you need the extra help.”
    “I am not going to wait and do this again.” He kicked the base of the sink cabinet.
    “We’re required to report the cold specimen to your employer.”
    “No, you won’t.” He shoved her hard against the counter.
    Overhearing the exchange, Eva walked into the area. She grabbed his hand and bent it backward, bringing him to his knees. As he started screaming obscenities, she bent his arm behind him farther. The move forced him facedown on the lab floor. Taking her left foot, she placed it between his shoulder blades so her pointed heel dug into his back if he moved.
    “Sir, you have just assaulted my assistant. Amanda, please call Matt and ask him to come over here.”
    Seven minutes later, Matt strolled into the lab to see his petite wife pressing her left heel into a now subdued six-foot tall guy. “Hi, honey, what’s new?”
    “Hey, baby.” Smiling, she dropped her hold and lifted her foot off the guy. “This man assaulted my assistant because he had a cold specimen.”
    He folded his arms. “I see. Do you still need the drug screen?”
    “No, he’s all yours.”
    The guy moaned on the floor and tried to work the feeling into his arm and shoulder.
    “I’ll pick you up after we process him and get our own drug screen. Let’s go, buddy.” Matt helped him up and cuffed him.
    Sam looked down at her. “You bitch, I’m going to jail because of you?”
    “Do not to call my wife names.” Matt turned to Eva. “I’ll be back in one hour, I promise.”
    Fifty-nine minutes later, Matt walked in and leaned over the counter. “Amanda, are you okay now?”
    “Yeah, I’ll be fine. I didn’t know Eva could do that.”
    “Matt taught me that move when we were first married.” She laughed. “I’ll have Matt drop me off. Betty’s picking me up. Let her know my meeting with Susan Dolan at BennTech will only take a half hour.”
    Matt drove them downtown for lunch. Bubba owned a small bar with a pool table and a few TVs. It was a dive, but known for juicy, greasy burgers that could make you weep. “I worry about you. You take on two guys at the banquet, then another at the hospital,” he said.
    “I make smart choices. You were right there at the banquet and I would have had a herd of people