It was another busy day for Dr. Busaya. The reason? The forensic officers from the Police Department were coming to photograph the bones, after Bua had reported an anomaly found in the fifth pair of ribs on the left side of the still unidentified victim, which showed gunshot wounds. In addition, a meeting was called to update the progress of the investigation into the plane crash, in order to ensure that everyone was on the same page in understanding and taking the next steps in the case.
The officer in charge of the case sent a female officer to work, equipped with her tool kit. Bua did not interfere with the officer's work, only reporting what she had discovered and sharing the progress.
The victims had been identified, but there were still seven bodies to be identified.
Up until that point, the police had not been able to gather much more information. The fact that the victims were reduced to fragments or skeletons made it difficult to obtain substantial details about the case. Sure, the bones could accurately reveal the victim’s sex, age, or ethnicity, but as for the injuries… Death by an unnatural means could not be caused without clear signs or obvious injuries, and that was precisely the case.
Bua watched the officer dressed in a black lab coat, with the words “P: Uj Luckthan” (Forensic Expert) emblazoned in white on the back, as she moved, crouching and standing up in the forensic room to take photos of the evidence. Bua watched her from the other side of a large glass window that separated the room from her work area. Despite noticing the door opening, she didn't turn around, continuing to pay attention to the officer.
From the sound of the footsteps, Bua knew immediately who it was. The figure, about two inches taller than her, stopped right in front of her, blocking her view as she leaned on the table, looking out the window, whose curtains were open. Phinya. She handed her a piece of toilet paper, in a teasing tone:
"To wipe the drool," Phinya muttered, her voice acidic. This made Bua, distracted, automatically bring her hand to her mouth, as if she were wiping something.
"You're joking, right?"
Bua replied, defending herself.
"I wasn't drooling or anything."
"I almost saw your ears flapping. Please try to control yourself so you don't embarrass the teachers,"
Phinya replied, her eyes fixed on what she was holding: a clear glass about a foot long, with a pink daisy inside and water halfway up.
"Ear movement is common in mammals, a leftover ability from when primates were still evolving into the genus Homo."
Bua replied, with a mischievous smile.
This made Phinya sigh deeply, Bua interpreted everything as animal behavior, and sometimes it was annoying. Even though she knew that, in many cases, she was just trying to provoke her. Phinya couldn't find the words to retort, because, most of the time, the theories Bua mentioned were quite consistent with anthropological hypotheses. Arguing with Bua was often frustrating.
“I know…” Phinya said.
“Don't forget that we studied together.”
Bua just nodded, before looking at what Phinya was holding in her hands.
“This place is as dry as the lab chief. Some flowers will bring some life.”
Phinya placed the glass with the flower on the lab chief's desk, whom she had just mentioned.
This made the owner of the desk cross her arms and twist her lips in displeasure.
“Do you prefer someone else's pelvis to mine, Doctor Bua?”
