Page 22 of The Fragile Ones

Katie didn’t know what else to say.

“Look, there are some things we are reorganizing in the detective division that I cannot comment on right now…” he said, pausing. “The medical examiner is establishing the girls’ identities as we speak—so there’s nothing we can do for the moment. I know you wouldn’t ask to work this case if it wasn’t important to you, so I’ll take that under advisement and see what we can do.”

“Thank you. That’s all I can ask for,” she forced herself to say, quietly cursing the complications of working with family members.

“I’ll let you know by Monday. Continue working your current case. I look forward to your report.”

Katie nodded and then turned to leave the office.

“Lunch soon?” he said, with his usual Uncle Wayne smile.

She smiled. “Any time.”

Katie had felt defeated and outnumbered at times in her work, but she was a strong believer that it would all work out for the best. Right now, it just had to be enough.

Chapter Ten

Monday 0930 hours

The cold-case investigation needed a new lead or punch to move forward. As Katie reread what they had so far the internal phone rang.

She snatched up the receiver. “Scott.” She was expecting something from John or Denise.

“Katie,” said Sheriff Scott. His voice was official, causing her to sit up straighter waiting for the answer to her earlier request about taking over the investigation.

“Yes,” she said slowly.

“After careful thought and consideration of what’s best for the double homicide, it’s been decided…”

Katie closed her eyes.

“…that it would be the most efficient course of action to have you and McGaven run the case.”

She let out a breath quietly. “Thank you.”

“That still doesn’t change that I want daily reports.”

“Of course.”

“I believe that Dr. Dean has some information for you at the morgue.”

“Thank you.”

The phone clicked and her uncle was gone.

McGaven swiveled in his chair, staring at her.

“It’s ours.”

Katie and McGaven hurried to meet with Dr. Dean at the morgue. It was up to them to find justice for those two sweet souls left broken and forgotten. They would hopefully soon know for certain if the girls were related or friends, and if they had been identified from missing persons’ reports.

As Katie passed the usual examination rooms, she didn’t see Dr. Dean or the two little girls. There were morgue technicians going about their duties, documenting and weighing organs for two middle-aged men and one elderly woman. Katie slowed her walk and kept moving deeper into the building—she had never been in this far before.

The hallway’s fluorescent lights flickered above their heads, making a weird crackling noise as Katie peered inside a large double examination room holding the girls’ two frail broken bodies—one on each table, mostly covered with a white sheet.

She turned slightly and looked at McGaven whose face was emotionless, but slightly pale. He usually had difficulty viewing autopsies, but was overcoming much of his discomfort with every case. However, this case seemed to dig deep with them both.

“Detective Scott,” said a familiar voice behind them. “So glad you found the exam room. We don’t use this area on a regular basis, but this case seemed to require a room to itself. I spoke with the sheriff. I guess you’ve been assigned?”