Page 5 of The Fragile Ones

“Yes. Nothing too detailed, but I like to keep updated on anything that has to do with the department. Make sure you give me the exact locations. Should make for some interesting reading. Oh, and take Cisco with you.”

“Okay. I guess it will give me a chance to break in my new Jeep.”

Sheriff Scott stood up and hugged his niece. “See, things are looking up already.”

“I hope so.”

Chapter Three

Wednesday 1300 hours

Katie stopped to grab a cup of coffee and see her friend Denise, the record’s division supervisor. Looking around at all the hustle and bustle, she realized that she was lucky to work downstairs in the forensic tomb or just “the tomb”—as many people called it. It was quiet, but that suited Katie just fine.

“Katie! Nice to see you,” said Denise, a petite woman with short dark hair. Her twinkly eyes and upbeat personality were infectious.

“Hi, Denise,” Katie said, feeling her mood instantly lift. Denise and McGaven made such a great couple Katie couldn’t help but be happy for them.

“What brings you out of the tombs?”

“Just had a meeting with the sheriff, but I’m on my way down to pore over more cold-case files soon.”

“Hmm, is something bothering you?” Denise said studying her friend’s expression and quiet attitude, always able to sense when something was weighing on Katie’s mind. “Sit down for a moment.” She gestured to an office chair next to hers.

Taking a seat, Katie explained. “It’s no big deal, but they want me to babysit some documentary crew for a day or two.”

“Sounds like fun…”

“Yeah, but they want me to take them to where the sink holes are, and give them a tour of Silo.”

Her friend frowned, which was unusual. “I get it. That’s the last place you want to go, or be reminded of.”

“Exactly.”

“You know what? The crew is looking to you for ideas, right?”

Katie nodded.

“Why don’t you just think of it as a fun opportunity to explore? Take them where you wanna go. I bet they’ll name you in the acknowledgments at the end of the movie,” Denise said, and smiled.

Katie stood up. “You’re right, and I could use a bit of a break, to be honest. Thanks, Denise.”

“I want to hear all about it.”

“Absolutely. Look, I’d better get back and do some reading. I need to see which case we want to investigate next.”

“Lunch next week?”

“Sure,” said Katie.

“I was thinking just us girls.”

Katie smiled. “You bet.”

She hurried down the long hallway, and took the stairs instead of the elevator to the lower level. She passed a couple of deputies and exchanged hellos. Just before exiting to the parking lot, she stopped at an unmarked door.

Above the doorframe was a small round camera pointing downward at whoever stood at the door. Katie glanced up at it, wondering if the forensic supervisor, John Blackburn, or one of his two technicians, ever watched the security camera—either in real time, or from the computer recordings. She swiped her card, waiting a second for the mechanism to disengage, and then pushed the door open. No matter what kind of day she was having, every time she entered the forensic lab it had a calming effect on her. This place felt like home to her and she never grew tired of walking by the labs and into the depths of the building.

She slowed her pace as she passed John’s large examination room and saw him at one of his many computers examining and comparing something she couldn’t quite make out—possibly the grooves of a bullet from a firearm. He was dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt which showed his numerous tattoos from his Navy Seals days. His handsome rugged looks, dark wavy hair, green eyes, and the fact they shared a military background, always made Katie notice him, but her heart belonged to her childhood sweetheart Chad.