Page 47 of Hidden Hero

Jeremy nodded grimly. “The deputies had flashlights, but from what they could see, there’s only one body. Decomposition has already set in.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she absorbed the information. “And you got called because…?”

“There are enough drugs in there to classify her as a dealer. Not just a user.”

She nodded. “Carl and I will go in. If you don’t have a proper mask, then use this.” She dug into the bag in her hands and found a jar of menthol. “Slather it under your nose. Don’t worry about your appearance. Believe me, you’ll be glad to have it. The menthol scent will help while you’re inside.”

He nodded his thanks, and as she started to turn for the door, he said, “Cora, I’m sorry.”

She stopped and looked over her shoulder at him, her brow furrowed. He had already opened the jar and was sticking his finger in the goo when his eyes met hers.

“I’m sorry for the way the evening ended. This wasn’t what I wanted.”

She shrugged and shook her head. “It’s the downside to the careers we have. We’ll figure out how to navigate it if you’re sure that’s what you want to do. Tonight, we both got called out. Most of the time, we probably won’t be called out simultaneously.”

Her words were pragmatic, but even she could hear the thread of vulnerability woven into them. She hadn’t realized how much the evening had meant to her until it had been interrupted. The flicker of disappointment burned brighter than she liked to admit.

Jeremy’s hand brushed her arm briefly, a touch so fleeting she almost doubted it had happened. His expression was raw, unguarded. “I’m sure, Cora. I wouldn’t be with you if I wasn’t sure.”

She nodded, a small smile curving her lips. He opened his mouth, then shut it as he smeared the goo under his nose. Lifting his gaze again, he said, “God, this sucks.”

She chuckled, and then he stepped closer.

“I want to keep exploring whatever we’ve got,” he said, his expression serious.

She opened her mouth to acknowledge and agree with what he said, but as Carl approached, she simply nodded and quickly added, “Same.”

Looking at her technician, she asked, “Ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

She didn’t acknowledge his attempt at a joke, considering his words were true for both of them. Walking to the trailer, she nodded at one of the deputies who leaned over to open the dented metal door for her. She walked up the few rickety metal steps and entered. Temporary lights had been set up in the main room, illuminating the space.

With her mobile dictating device attached to her mask, she began to speak. “The trailer opens into the living area, filled with trash, paper sacks of unknown contents, and what appears to be drug paraphernalia on the coffee table. Detectives Pickett and Bolton will investigate and catalog the contents.”

She looked to the left and sucked in a breath through her mouth, knowing that even with the mask, it would not keep out all of the odor of death and decomposition. “The sink is full of unwashed dishes. The counterspace is covered in trash, food remnants, and more drug paraphernalia. Same for the small two-seat table. The house appears dirty, and as we go down the hall, the bathroom is straight ahead, and the bedroom is to the left.”

Looking over her shoulder, she called, “We need the lights back here.” She waited as a deputy brought in another temporary light. The poor man immediately gagged and dropped the light as he stepped back into the hall.

Cora grimaced, shaking her head. She knew it was hard for those not used to decomposed bodies, but her job couldn’t proceed until the space was appropriately illuminated. Carl walked over and straightened the light pole, focusing the light into the room. She moved to the bed and looked down. Carl began taking photos of the body, and while it might seem ridiculous to some, she leaned over to certify that the person was dead. “Time, Carl?”

“It’s 11:13 p.m.”

“Time of death is 11:13 p.m.,” she said after giving the day’s date. She continued her on-site evaluation, dictating as she noted everything she could see with the body and the area around the bed.

She heard a noise and looked up as Jeremy stood in the doorway. His complexion was almost as green as the deputies standing outside, but she knew that slathering the menthol salve under his nostrils would help. “Carl brought a special bag for the remains,” she said. “Do not send in any volunteer EMTs. If no one else is available, I’ll call for backup from the hospital.”

While she wanted to save any volunteer rescue personnel from having to deal with bagging a partially decomposed body, she also needed someone who knew what they were doing. She could lose vital evidence if the body was not handled properly.

“Anything yet?” Jeremy asked.

“Female,” she replied succinctly.

Jeremy nodded and moved away from the door to speak to Pete.

“We’re going to need more light in here,” she said. “Jeremy? Have the deputies use the same salve underneath their noses that I gave to you. I don’t want them passing out or throwing up while trying to bring lights into the bedroom.”

Jeremy relayed her instructions to Pete, and she trusted he would deal with her instructions explicitly.

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