Page 58 of Hidden Hero

Nodding, she looked at Janice. “Tell the paramedics to come in.”

As the paramedics carefully transferred Mr. Snodgrass into a body bag and secured him on the gurney, Cora signed the necessary paperwork with practiced efficiency.

Jeremy followed her to the front of the house, his presence steady and grounding. “Are you going to start the autopsy immediately?” he asked.

“Yes,” she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Anything to keep me from dealing with the risk management department.”

“Something going on?”

“The Parker case,” she admitted, her frustration seeping into her tone. “I don’t have the toxicology report back yet, so I haven’t released the body. Now, his wife’s attorneys are pressuring the hospital, and they’re in damage-control mode to avoid bad publicity. If I could just get the damn report, this would be so much easier to handle.”

Jeremy’s voice softened, his concern evident. “I’m sorry, babe. It never seems to stop in our line of work, does it?”

She shook her head, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “No, but seeing you is a definite bonus.”

His grin was immediate and warm, and she felt it settle in her chest, soothing the weight she carried. What she once thought of as a smirk now seemed like the smile of a man who knew how to find light even in the darkest moments. She hadn’t realized until now how much she needed that.

She wanted to reach out and squeeze his hand, but the gloves between them made the gesture feel too sterile. Instead, she sighed softly. “Will I see you tonight?”

His smile widened. “Your place or mine—it doesn’t matter. I just want to be with you.”

Those simple words, coupled with the warmth in his eyes, filled her heart. She pulled her mask off and smiled back at him, her emotions spilling over in her expression. Without another word, she turned and left the house, her heart noticeably lighter.

26

Jeremy stood just outside the sterile morgue door, watching through the small window as Cora spoke softly to Dick Snodgrass. Despite the clinical environment, her tone was tender, and her gestures were patient. Dick, Hank’s son, had been called over from Suffolk to identify his father’s body formally. Jeremy had witnessed this side of Cora before—the professional shell softening just enough to let her compassion shine through. It was one of the many things about her that fascinated him.

She glanced up mid-sentence, her gaze finding him through the glass. Their eyes locked, and the unspoken understanding they shared flickered between them. He gave her a slight nod, and she returned her attention to Dick.

“Mr. Snodgrass,” she said, her voice steady yet empathetic. “As I’ve explained, the medications your father should have been taking weren’t found in his system. Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated case in our area. We’d like to ask you a few questions that might help us piece things together. Would you be willing to speak with a detective?”

Dick nodded hesitantly, his face a mix of grief and guilt. Cora offered a small, reassuring smile before rising from her chair. As she exited the room, her shoulder brushed against Jeremy’s, sending a spark of awareness through him. The brief touch lingered in his mind as he stepped into the room to take her place.

“Mr. Snodgrass, I’m Detective Jeremy Pickett, and my partner, Detective Pete Bolton, is assisting on this case. We’re very sorry for your loss. We aim to understand more about your father’s situation and ensure nothing like this happens to anyone else.”

Dick sighed heavily, dragging a hand through his graying hair. “I’ll tell you what I can, Detective, but I’m not sure how helpful I’ll be. My father and I weren’t exactly close.”

Jeremy nodded, silently encouraging him to continue. Dick’s words spilled out, a mixture of regret and frustration. “I last saw him about two weeks ago. I did what I could, but my dad was… independent to a fault. After my mom died, he refused any real help. Stubborn as hell. He insisted he could manage, even when he couldn’t. It wasn’t easy growing up with him—he was a hard man, not abusive, but distant. My sister left as soon as possible, and I followed her a few years later. I’d check on him occasionally, fix what needed fixing, but he wouldn’t let me do more.”

“Did he have anyone else in his life? A friend, a neighbor, someone who might have helped him with errands or appointments?” Jeremy asked, keeping his tone gentle.

Dick shook his head. “He didn’t have friends—not really. I think he liked being alone. Said he had people to drive him when he needed it, but he never gave me names.”

Jeremy’s mind ticked over the possibilities. “You mentioned he resisted help, but did you have any legal authority—power of attorney for his finances or medical care?”

Dick let out a dry laugh. “Not a chance. My dad wouldn’t give up that kind of control, even if it killed him. Which I guess it did.”

Jeremy and Pete probed further, eventually uncovering a promising lead—a video from the security camera Dick had installed on his father’s front door. As Pete scrolled through the footage, they spotted a sedan pulling into the driveway and a man coming to the door. A few minutes later, the man walked out with Hank and the sedan pulled away. Almost two hours later, the sedan returned, delivering Hank back home. The time stamp suggested it was within days of Hank’s death.

After thanking Dick for his cooperation, they walked down the hall. Cora was waiting for them, her lab coat still pristine despite her long hours.

“Did you find anything useful?” she asked, her voice low but curious.

Jeremy shared what they’d found, and Cora nodded. “According to his hospital records, Hank saw Dr. Mendez at the clinic. That might be worth checking out.”

“Thanks, Cora,” Jeremy said. His tone softened as he added, “We’ll look into it.”

As Pete moved toward the exit, Jeremy lingered momentarily, drawn by Cora’s presence. He stepped closer, his hand brushing hers as he leaned in. Their kiss was brief but electric, a silent promise between them. She smiled against his lips, her expression softening in a way that made his chest tighten.

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