Chapter 2 Cold Case Thawing? #2
It was true. “Examining bones is pretty much all I do.” April sent Gil a questioning look, eager to have her first peek at the ones he’d invited her into town for.
“Along with the accompanying toxicology reports, tissue samples, fluids, and trace evidence.” She saw her fill of bullets, bullet wounds, and clothing fibers.
Bones were what interested her the most, though.
You could tell so much about a person’s life by studying their bones — their age, gender, height and build, ancestry, activity level, diet, past illnesses, and more.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said I would love to spend some time picking your brain.” Bliss’s voice was hopeful. “Maybe over dinner before you leave? Consider it an open invitation to join us at the lake house for a home-cooked meal.”
“That actually sounds amazing!” April had every intention of taking her up on her offer. “You had me at home-cooked meal.” Since she spent so much time on the road, she didn’t get many home-cooked meals.
“As much as I hate to rush introductions,” Gil cleared his throat, “the sheriff has been pestering me all morning for updates on April’s arrival.
” He gave the happy toddlers in his arms another squeeze hug before handing them over to their mother, who propped one on each hip.
“He said he’d meet us at the medical center whenever you’re ready.
” He raised his eyebrows questioningly at April.
“Restrooms are around the corner, and we keep our coffee hot in the break room.”
April waved away his kind offer. “Thanks, but I stopped a few miles back to top off my tea.” She’d also taken a pit stop while she was there.
However, the way Bliss was smiling at her husband made April quickly add, “You know what? I should make another pit stop, just to be safe.” She slipped out of Gil’s sizable office in search of the break room he’d mentioned.
She found it with no trouble, stepped inside the empty room, and pulled out her cell phone to check her messages. After responding to the most important ones, she decided she’d been gone long enough. Putting away her phone, she returned to Gil’s office.
Bliss and the twins were no longer in sight.
Gil’s expression sharpened at the sight of her. “Ready?”
“I’m ready.” April fell into step beside him as they made their way to the parking garage.
He led her to an armored SUV. Along the way, she made a quick detour to her car to retrieve a few more items. “I prefer to use my own equipment whenever I can.” She caught up to him and slid into the passenger side of the SUV, tucking the items inside her briefcase.
“That’s understandable.” Though he was being discreet, she caught him sneaking a glance at her left hand before shutting her door for her. Since he seemed happily married, she didn’t mistake the gesture for flirting. He was simply sizing her up, trying to piece together the complete picture.
“We sure appreciate your willingness to help us identify our mystery bones.” There was nothing but gratitude in his voice. “We weren’t sure what we’d be up against family-wise or schedule-wise on your end.”
She forced a smile. “No ties outside of work,” she breezed, hoping that would be the end of it.
It wasn’t.
“I’ve learned not to assume.” He took his place behind the wheel. “Not everyone wears a wedding ring, and some women don’t change their last names after marrying.”
I certainly would. April had spent her entire adult life being single and lonely.
If she ever met the one, she would want it all — a home with a view, family dinners, a pet dog, the whole enchilada.
She wouldn’t think twice about changing her last name to match that of Mr. Right.
She would want the world to know she was finally taken.
However, knowing it wasn’t likely to happen to someone without a social life, she forced her thoughts elsewhere as she gazed out the window.
The downtown area of Heart Lake looked much the same as when she’d left it.
Brick storefront buildings lined both sides of the street.
A few names on the signs were new. She didn’t recognize a clothing boutique called Modello’s.
It looked high-end, though, like something that belonged in a bigger city.
She made a mental note to pay a visit there to look around.
Why not? She enjoyed shopping and didn’t mind the idea of supporting the local economy.
It was a short drive to the medical center, but it was long enough to toss one of her most burning questions at her childhood friend. “Why me?” She studied Gil’s profile. “You’ve been working in law enforcement for over thirty years yourself. Why reach out to me after all this time?”
“Good question.” He nodded affably. “Here’s the answer. You were requested by name.”
That surprised her. “By someone other than yourself?”
“Yep.”
She made a face at him. “Very funny.” He had to be pulling her leg.
He smirked. “Actually, I’m serious.”
Sure, you are! “Who requested me?”
“Running Bear’s oldest niece,” he supplied. “Her name is Kaya Dakota. She’s a student at the University of Texas School of Law.”
April straightened in her seat, immediately recognizing Uri Dakota’s tribal name. “A niece of the guy who turned over the bones to the police? That doesn’t sound like a coincidence.”
“Doesn’t feel like one either.” Gil’s voice was grim. “To make things even more interesting, Kaya emailed the request from a computer at the library, presumably to maintain her anonymity. We traced the URL there in two snaps, and our librarian has an excellent memory for names and faces.”
“In other words, Kaya doesn’t yet know that you know she’s the sender of said email,” April concluded.
“That is correct.”
“Fascinating!” April had never met Running Bear’s family, but she already liked his oldest niece. Her gut told her they would cross paths soon. “Any idea why Kaya might be interested in a set of old bones?”
“Only because the librarian mentioned overhearing her and her research partner whispering something about a cold case.”
“A cold case.” April steepled her fingers together. “The plot thickens!” If Running Bear’s niece was sniffing through cold cases, April was betting it had something to do with Kaya’s missing aunt.
Gil turned into the parking lot at the medical center and snagged a parking spot close to the building. They got out, headed inside to the elevators, and descended to the lower level. From the elevator, it was a short walk to the morgue.
Gil tapped a code into the wall panel to let them in. The sheriff was waiting for them on the other side. It was the first time April had ever met Gil’s replacement.
Luke Hawling was young — a good twenty years or so younger than her and Gil, with burn scars mottling one side of his face.
He had a Stetson pulled low over his darkly tanned features, presumably to hide his scars.
Dark, wavy hair curled over the back of his neck, brushing the collar of his white dress shirt.
The rest of his outfit consisted of jeans and boots, the standard uniform of the Heart Lake Police Department.
Some things never change.
He turned her way, his dark gaze glinting with fascination. “You must be Dr. Chandrakanta.” He held a black electronic notepad in one hand.
“I am, and you must be Sheriff Luke Hawling.” The gold badge pinned to his shirt was impossible to miss. She paused her examination of her surroundings to extend a hand to him.
“Yes, ma’am.” He shook her hand.
“Call me April,” she invited softly.
“Will do, and I’m just Luke.” He pivoted to open one of the refrigerated drawers of the morgue cabinet.
Pulling out the long, stainless steel tray, he gestured at the bones resting there.
“Here’s what we have so far. About a week ago, our mystery donor dropped off the first few bones.
He returned a second time to drop off more bones.
I had a deputy on stakeout who pursued him, but he escaped on his motorcycle. He hasn’t been back since.”
There was a good chance he wouldn’t return, which was unfortunate.
The skeleton was woefully incomplete. April stepped closer, frowning thoughtfully at the skull, spine, ribs, right arm, shattered left leg that was missing some shards, and an additional femur bone loosely arranged in their anatomically correct spots.
There was a partial pelvic bone bearing teeth marks on one corner — probably canine.
She took her time absorbing each detail.
“It’s a woman,” she declared quietly. “Native American.” She pointed at the skull as she gave her reasons.
“I’ll run the appropriate tests to verify it, but her high, prominent cheekbones are a powerful indicator.
” She directed the attention of her two companions to the skull’s eye sockets.
“She has a wide face, forward-flared cheekbones, and rounded eye orbits. Plus, her cranial is shorter and rounder. All supportive of her Native American ancestry.”
Gil and Luke exchanged a grave look. “I was afraid you were going to say that,” Gil said in the same hushed tone she’d employed.
“You think she may be Running Bear’s sister.” It was a statement, not a question. Based on the decomposition of the skeleton and the sparse amount of dried tissue sticking to it, the timeline was about right.
Luke nodded, bowing his head reverently as he spoke. “Naturally, the thought crossed our minds after an eyewitness claimed the retired councilman was the one bringing us the bones. It could be a guilty conscience at play. It could be something else entirely.”
“Is your eyewitness reliable?” April didn’t want to believe that the man she’d spent most of her adult life crushing on could be a killer. No one knew about her secret crush, and no one ever would. Shortly after she’d left Heart Lake, he’d married a Comanche woman. End of story.