Page 52 of The Smart Killer
“Stable,” Noah replied, his eyes never leaving his son. “How did you know I was here?”
McKenzie shifted his weight, revealing the holster of his service weapon under his arm. “I didn’t. I came in to speak to Addie about the string of murders. Janine at the station told me you were here.”
Noah nodded, his mind racing to catch up with the conversation. “You’ve been assigned?”
McKenzie nodded back, his eyes reflecting the weight of the situation. “Aye. I guess they want more resources on this now that we have three families dead.”
The reality settled heavily on Noah’s shoulders. The murder investigation, his son’s overdose — it was all too much to bear. But amid the darkness, there was a glimmer of hope. “Local PD wants everybody they can on this. The Adirondack County Sheriff’s Office got the call this morning. Everything else is going to the wayside until this is resolved.”
Noah glanced around the hospital room, his eyes briefly darting across the sterile surroundings. “Where’s Porter?” he asked, his tone heavy with concern.
“Who?” McKenzie furrowed his brow in confusion.
“My partner,” Noah replied. “I mean, the rookie.”
McKenzie’s eyes widened in realization. “They’ve assigned you a partner?”
“Temporarily,” Noah replied. “I’m meant to show him the ropes before they cut him loose.”
“Shit timing.”
“That’s what I thought,” he added, stretching his arms.
“Oh, I can’t wait to meet him.”
“No,” Noah said, shaking his head and rubbing his weary face. “Go easy on him; he’s fresh off the boat.”
McKenzie laughed heartily. “Just the way I like them.”
Noah headed out, and McKenzie followed. They walked a short distance down the corridor before Noah turned. “What are you doing? You want to hold it?” he asked, pushing the door to a nearby bathroom open.
“Oh, I thought we were heading down to see Addie,” McKenzie shot back.
While Noah was inside, McKenzie took the opportunity to talk through the door. “So, hey, Callie’s not doing too well. I’ve never seen her this low before.”
The toilet flushed, and the sink faucet was turned on, followed by the hum of a hand dryer. When Noah emerged, hewas composed. “She just lost her only family member,” he said. “Give it time.”
Together, they descended the stairs into the hospital’s bowels, passing nurses bustling in and out of rooms, their faces etched with a mix of exhaustion and purpose. A worried family huddled in a corner, their eyes red-rimmed from tears, while a group of doctors conferred earnestly near the nurses’ station, their voices low and urgent.
They entered a corridor at the bottom of the stairs leading down to the sterile medical examiner’s office. As they moved deeper, the atmosphere grew increasingly clinical, tingling with the antiseptic scent. Cold fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a harsh, unyielding glow on the white-tiled walls.
Finally, they reached the medical examiner’s office. Dr. Adeline Chambers, aka Addie, stood inside, her face illuminated by the glow of her tablet screen. She greeted them with a nod, her Bluetooth earpiece nestled securely in her ear.
“Detectives,” she said, her tone businesslike yet welcoming.
“Dr. Chambers,” McKenzie replied, his tone respectful. “We’re here for an update on the bodies pulled from the homes. Wondered if you’ve found anything useful.”
Addie nodded, her fingers swiftly tapping on her tablet. “Right, let me bring you up to speed.” Her eyes scanned the screen as she began recounting the grim details. “As you’re aware, the first family died from carbon monoxide poisoning,” she explained, her voice steady despite the gravity of her words. “The second from the fire, and the third from hypothermia due to extreme cold. Preliminary autopsies yielded nothing that would indicate any sense of trauma beyond the way they died. There was no sign of assault.”
McKenzie’s brow creased. “What about those who froze to death?”
“It’s strange but nothing out of the realm of possibility. You mix water with low temperatures, and the heart eventually gives out. The water from the fire sprinklers could have fried the system. No way out. Locked inside. The damn house becomes one big panic room.”
Noah nodded. “And the gas poisoning and fire?” he said.
“Again. Very common. House fires, gas leaks. I wish I could offer you more in the way of answers, but this is standard for these kinds of accidental home deaths.”
“If only it was accidental,” McKenzie added, his voice laced with skepticism.
