Page 29 of Gemini

Then there was Dom. He texted me back once after the bar, only to assure me he was still searching on his end. But he felt aloof, never responding when I texted back.

I tried not to think about it even when it bothered me.

With everything going on, it was hard to focus on work, but I was determined to stay for my full shift. I even told Jana I’d work late to make up for the days where I fell short. I didn’t want to sit at home and mope anyway.

Time went by in a haze as I helped Cameron, taking samples, moving from one side of the room to the other, going through the motions.

When the clock hit six-thirty, Cameron dumped his gloves in the trash and washed up. “That’s it for me,” he said. “You staying late?”

I nodded.

“See you tomorrow?”

“You bet.”

He gave me a thumbs up before slipping out the door.

Alone now, I drifted over to a chair next to a now empty metal bed and sank down. My legs were aching already and I felt a headache coming on.

Still, not wanting to leave so soon, I decided I’d clean up and do some paperwork.

Just a little break. Nothing crazy.

I shut my eyes for a moment, letting my head fall back, hoping a little rest would make the headache go away…

The door to the autopsy room swung open, making me look around with a start. Jana came rushing through, pushing a gurney with a body on top inside.

“Lena, good you’re here.” She brought the gurney around. The body was covered by a sheet. A fresh victim. “Can you get to this one tonight? It’s important.”

I fixed her a confused frown. She wasn’t supposed to be here till tomorrow. “Uh, yeah sure. Are you staying tonight?”

“No,” she said. “I’ve got to go actually, business meeting. Talk to you later.”

Before I could say another word, she left.

I sat there for a moment, trying to process her sudden entrance. And since when did she have business meetings this late?

My gaze drifted over to the body. So much for paperwork. I got up from my seat and walked over.

“Looks like it’s just you and me,” I said. I put on a fresh pair of gloves, then moved the gurney over to the metal bed. It shouldn’t take too long to tag. Then maybe I could take a real break.

Carefully, I pried the sheet off and let it fall.

I stared at the corpse and almost collapsed.

Trish!

She stared at me with a white film over her eyes. One side of her face was caved in, her skull cracked.

A strange sound broke from my mouth, like a shocked cry. My world was spiraling.

No. No, no, no, this couldn’t be real.

I couldn’t look away, I couldn’t stop seeing her mangled body.

Then she moved.

Slowly, she rose from the gurney, her head bending to one side. Like a doll being puppeteered, she turned to me, blood spilling out of her head.