Based on a story from issue #12 Witchblade (December 1996) comic book by writer Christina Z and David Wohl story of the "Microwave Murders!" The Character of Dominique Boucher was based on Christina's school teacher!
Nottingham says, 'cherchez le femme'. This phrase originated in the 1864 Alexandre Dumas novel 'The Mohicans of Paris'. The implication of the line is that whenever there is trouble, a woman is behind it; to solve any problem, look for that woman. For what it is worth, Dumas spouted this misogynistic bon mot after humiliatingly failing to attract women with his money and fame.
Karen is saved from the python and Jake sees the large plastic barrels of chemicals with the clear 'caustic hazard' symbol. However, the symbol is the Canadian one, not what you would see in the USA.
In the morgue, the M.E. says the bones looked compressed and then drinks from a blue paper cup. That cup is a New York City icon. The 'Anthora', or 'We Are Happy To Serve You', paper cup was designed in 1963 to appeal to the ubiquitous Greek coffee shops of NYC at that time. In the 70s, 80s, and 90s it was the coffee cup of Manhattan.
The Characters and parts of the story loosely based On the TopCow comics first season Witchblade story "Microwave Murders" which both involved the main villain of this story Dominique Boucher and her connection to the deaths of models who she hirers.