Don't Cage The Birdie (Book 2)(rough first draft)

Chapter 4. The pathologist

The forensic pathology itself was the NYU Medical Center located on 1st Avenue by the East River, a 10 minute drive up from 1 Police Plaza. It was one of a few pathology centres around New York City, but it was the main one in Manhattan Burroughs and the one chosen to carry out the forensic examination of the victim. James reached the large sand coloured building in good time and made his way to the pathology center. Despite being eager to hear what had been discovered and hoping for some of his mysteries to be cleared up, James didn't rush. The building was cool and refreshing compared to outside. The heat was getting to him. It was creeping into his body. He felt so uncomfortable that thinking was becoming hard to do. The longer he was in the cool the easier it was to focus. And he needed to focus for what was about to happen.

But eventually eh came to the lab where all the magic happened and he pushed through the twin glass doors into the sparkling clean room beyond. Men and women in white coats milled around tables of equipment chatting, some sat quietly at desk, not even looking up as James walked past, glancing over their shoulders to see what they were working on. One woman was dissecting a mushroom of sorts and placing pieces into a various petri dishes of clear liquid.

At last James came to a sub room separate from the main room with an open door. Along one wall was giant row upon row of storage lockers with silver doors. A table in the middle of the room was covered by a white cloth. There was a bulge underneath it. James walked slowly over to it, recognising the layout of a body. He breathed in but didn't smell the familiar scent he had smelled earlier at the house. All he could smell here was air freshener.

He moved to the opposite end of the table and peeled back the sheet from the body's feet and inspected the tag. It was his body all right.

'Find what you're looking for?'

James looked up to see a woman dressed in a white dress and matching white lab coat. Her hair was tied in a bun and tucked under blue protective cap. A few strands of auburn hair had escaped and peeked out from underneath. She was fair skinned and tanned, early 20s and the soft, nervous voice of someone new to the area seeing someone they don't recognise and trying to look like they knew what they were doing by trying to initiate a conversation they had no way of actually being helpful in.

'Yes and no,' said James, pulling the cloth back to cover the exposed feet. 'I'm looking for the forensic examiner who completed this woman's autopsy. A John Kingdom or something.'

'Kingstains,' the woman said brightly. 'He's just gone for lunch. But he should be back shortly,' she interjected quickly as James sighed loudly. Everyone was at lunch but him and he was starting to feel lightheaded. 'Perhaps I can help?' the woman asked shyly.

James looked her over. She stood confidently enough, but protected herself with her clipboard which she held defensively in front of her chest, and her eyes, while bright, never looked him in the eye. He smiled, hoping that it looked confident and reassuring to her to let her know he wasn't a threat.

'Perhaps, Doctor...' he trailed off, waiting for her name.

'Oh I'm not a doctor. I'm student currently,' she told him happily.

'Great. Pathology?'

'Horticulture.'

'Ah.' The noise ejected from James' lips and hung there awkwardly. 'I don't think you can help me then, Miss. I kind of need someone who knows their way around the human body. Especially when they're dead, I'm afraid.'

The woman smiled, not deterred. She seemed to be gaining confidence quickly and she even looked James once in the eye before breaking her gaze away. 'I'm not a pathologist, no, but I can access John's notes for you.'