Dr. Lillian Cole was nothing like what had I envisioned for the Chief Medical Examiner of Denver County. Like many people, I’d always assumed that anyone who preferred the company of the dead had to be a social misfit, awkward, and more than a little creepy. The statuesque woman that strode through the lobby in bright red heels to greet us was the polar opposite of what I expected.
She was a striking woman with high, rounded cheekbones that tapered down to a full mouth, and possessed the agelessness of many African Americans I had met. A few small creases around her eyes and a sparse smattering of grey in her closely cropped hair the only indication that she might be closer to fifty than thirty.
She smiled, extending a long fingered hand towards Holbrook, her nails painted the same daring shade as her shoes.
“Agent Holbrook?” she asked, her voice like warm velvet against my ears. “I apologize for keeping you waiting,” she added, glancing at Mildred who hunched over behind her desk and refused to look in our direction.
“Yes,” Holbrook answered, stepping forward to shake her hand. “And this is—”
“Ms. Cray,” she cut in, shifting her inscrutable attention to me. “Yes, I know who you are.”
“How?” I asked, letting my in-drawn breath roll across my tongue, scenting the air. All I could detect was the subtle fragrance of her expensive perfume and a hint of disinfectant. She was wholly human, which was almost a relief, but didn’t explain how she knew who I was.
“You can’t watch the news for more than five minutes without seeing your face.” I didn’t like the boldness of her statement, but I couldn’t exactly argue with it.
“That’s true I guess,” I agreed with a shrug as I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets, fighting to keep the bite out of my voice.
That bitch, Chrismer. One of these days she’s going to pay for making me a damn household name.
“Oh! I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m not known for my people skills,” she said. “I suppose that’s why I chose to keep company with the dead rather than the living. It’s a bit harder to offend them.”
“Its fine,” I lied, offering up a strained smile and forcing some of the tension out of my shoulders.
It wasn’t fair to be pissed off at Dr. Cole for simply stating the truth, and yet it galled me to be reminded of that ugly truth. I resented the fact that Samson’s fugitive status had brought the media spotlight pointing back in my direction, and yet again I longed for the simple, quiet life I had once known. The irony of it all was a bitter pill to swallow.
“I can have someone fetch you some coffee, Ms. Cray. Or you’re welcome to wait in my office if that would be more comfortable,” she said, managing to regain some of her previous calm, though her cheeks remained high with color.
“Oh no, Doctor, she’s coming with us.” Holbrook said, his smile friendly enough while the tone of his voice left no doubt that his mind was made up.
“That’s highly unorthodox, Agent. I’m afraid that only law enforcement and next of kin are permitted to view the deceased.”
And here I thought his disarming smile was kryptonite to the elastic in women’s underwear the world over.
“I’m law enforcement, and she’s with me.”
“I really don’t think—” she continued to protest.
“I’ll take the rap for this if it comes down to that, Doctor,” Holbrook assured her, sealing the deal with one of his trademark 10,000 kilowatt smiles. “It’ll be fine. I promise.”
“Very well,” Dr. Cole agreed, though the furrow in her brow said she wasn’t entirely sure why she was capitulating. “Right this way.”
Aw, nice try Doc, but no one is immune to that smile. Better luck next time.
“You guys can wait here,” Holbrook said to the other agents, who nodded and settled themselves into the hideous orange chairs, their expressions as emotionless as ever.
Holbrook and I fell into step behind Dr. Cole, following the sharp clack of her blood red heels through a maze of hallways and short stairways that led down into the bowels of the building. The air grew cold and musty the further down we went, sending a shudder down my spine. There were some places—such as morgues and cemeteries—that reminded us there were things that dwell in the dark and damp places. Even though I was one of the monsters now, I was not immune to that instinctual fear of the dark.
The astringent smell of disinfectant assaulted my nose before we reached the exam room, making my stomach roil. Hesitation rang in my slowing steps, buzzing in the stiffness growing in my spine. I wasn’t sure that I was ready to see the evidence of Samson’s handiwork in person, but then again, when would anyone ever be ready for something like that?
“You okay?” Holbrook asked, the tender brush of his fingers along the back of my arm sending a wave of reassurance through me.