Page 44 of Her Only Hero

“Well, shall we call it a day?” Lara said.

I looked at the clock on the wall. “Yes, let’s call it.” I draped my lab coat on a wall hook and took my bags from the back desk.

“Do you need a ride, June?” Lara asked.

“Thanks, but I can catch the five o’clock bus.”

“Sure?”

“Yes. But thanks anyway. I appreciate it.”

We walked out of the lab into the hallway when I noticed Dr. Hamid heading in our direction.

“Hello, ladies,” he said. He smiled at me in a special way.

“June, if you have time, I’d like to ask you a quick question about the autopsy.”

My heart raced. He spoke professionally, but I sensed this had nothing to do with work. “Sure, Dr. Hamid,” I said. “But can this wait until tomorrow? Lara offered to drive me home.”

He didn’t hesitate in responding. “Yes, absolutely. Have a lovely evening, ladies,” he said and retreated down the hallway.

Lara glanced over her shoulder at me as we stepped outside.

“Do you mind me taking you up on your offer after my blatant refusal?” I asked.

“Of course not.” We weaved through the parking lot, and Lara pushed a remote to unlock the doors to her car. “I’m hoping one day you’ll tell me what just happened in there.”

“I’ll fill you in. I promise.”

Lara smiled. She knew I was being coy, but she didn’t question me further along the ride. She pulled up in front of my apartment.

“Thanks so much for the lift, Lara. See you tomorrow.”

“No worries,” she said.

I got out and waved as she drove off.

As I had promised Patrick, I visited my duplex apartment in the light of day. I checked the mailbox and removed flyers and a bill. I unlocked the front door and latched it behind me. Inside, everything seemed in order, but nonetheless, I was wary and ready with my pepper spray. I wished I hadn’t come here without Patrick. Uneasiness twisted my insides, knowing a stranger had been in the downstairs of my apartment. My personal, private living space. I’d do what I came to do and leave before it got dark.

From the kitchen tap, I filled a plastic watering can and drenched my snake plants at the side window. I hustled into the bedroom, chose a few outfits, and put them into a plastic bag. Atsonic speed, I finished doing what I needed to do and called for a cab.

“ABC Taxi, hold please.”

I scrolled through the phone and saw Patrick had received and opened my message but hadn’t responded yet. I hoped everything was okay. And then I thought about the basement. I had the urge to go downstairs and take a peek—make sure everything was secure.

I jumped when the woman started speaking again.

“We’ll have a car there for you in about twenty minutes,” the taxi operator said.

“Okay, thank you,” I said and hung up. Twenty minutes?

My fingertip rested on the pepper spray button as I opened the back door and headed down the stairs with half trepidation and half curiosity. I found the key under the mat and unlocked the door. Daylight streamed in. Eerie quietness filled my ears, but all seemed fine. I glanced around the cluttered basement and almost walked face first into a web hanging from the ceiling. I squealed and backed away and shook with the heebie-jeebies.

I grabbed a broom and brushed away the cobweb. From an askew ceiling tile, something silver dangled and reflected light. My curiosity got the best of me. I dragged an old kitchen chair over and climbed onto it. Upon having a closer look, the silver item was a ball bead chain. Like a keychain. I reached for it and took it down but found no keys. Instead, there was a black rectangular object, smaller than a lighter. And then I realized what I had found.

The oddest thing to be located in the ceiling.

Chapter Twenty-Two

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