ISAAC MORANO

**14**

Chapter Fourteen-  Branching Careers

When Catherine entered her office, she immediately noticed her supervisor and the HR representative sitting inside, waiting for her. They both stood as she approached, their expressions a mix of professionalism and concern.

"Good evening," Catherine greeted them politely, setting her bag on her desk.

"Good evening, Dr. Wynter," her supervisor began, exchanging a brief glance with the HR rep. "We wanted to talk to you about something important."

Catherine raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Of course, what's going on?"

The HR representative cleared her throat before speaking. "We know you've had a busy schedule lately, but we have a situation. The morgue is overwhelmed, and we're struggling to manage the workload. Given your background in forensic studies, you're the only one here with the necessary expertise. We wanted to ask if you'd be willing to assist down there."

Catherine paused, processing the request. She was tired from the long shift, but her commitment to her work and the importance of the role outweighed her exhaustion.

"I understand," she replied, nodding slowly. "If I'm the only one qualified, I'll help out."

Her supervisor smiled in relief. "We really appreciate this, Catherine. You're doing us a huge favor."

The HR representative added, "Thank you, Dr. Wynter. We know this isn't easy, but your expertise is invaluable."

Catherine offered a small smile. "I'll do what's needed. Just give me a little time to settle in, and I'll head down there."

They both thanked her again before leaving the office. Catherine sat down, exhaling deeply. It was going to be another long night, but she was ready.

Catherine gathered her things—her stethoscope, clipboard, and a few necessary supplies—and mentally prepared herself for the task ahead. After a deep breath, she headed down to the morgue, the quiet hallway feeling even more still under the dim hospital lighting.

As she approached the morgue, the air grew colder. The sterile smell of disinfectant filled her senses, reminding her of the critical work she had ahead. Pushing open the heavy double doors, she was greeted by the familiar hum of machinery and the sight of covered bodies awaiting examination.

The morgue staff, though busy, acknowledged her presence with a nod. One of the senior technicians approached her with a clipboard, detailing the cases that needed her attention.

"Dr. Wynter, thank you for coming," he said, grateful. "We've been swamped. There's a high-profile case waiting for you—a military engineer. His file is on the top of the stack."

Catherine nodded, slipping into professional mode. "I'll get started right away."

She placed her things on the counter, slipping on her gloves and lab coat, mentally compartmentalizing her fatigue. This was what she was trained for, what she excelled at.

As she began the examination, her mind focused solely on the work, temporarily forgetting the outside world, the conversations from earlier, and even the exhaustion that had followed her here. This was her element—solving the mysteries that no one else could.

As Catherine approached the first body on the table, she flipped through the case file and began reading the details. Her heart raced as she reached the identification section, and when she finally pulled back the sheet to reveal the face, she gasped.

It was Shawn's friend—the military engineer she had met briefly at a gathering months ago. The shock hit her hard. She stood frozen for a moment, her gloved hand trembling slightly.