The Cold Road (Book 1)

Chapter Nineteen

James left the office, exercising his jaw to get rid of the cramp from biting back his words. He scowled at the floor, his eyes narrowing as he strode out of the station. If he caught sight of Jeb, his fingers flexed, he did not know what he would do. Hit him? Yell? James sighed. So much for small town policemen supposedly being close. They were backstabbers, the lot of them. Rising on the ideas of others to achieve better positions. So Jeb had claimed the idea of the cases as being connected, had he? Well, thought James, he would see about that.

Jeb had seen an opportunity and he had taken it, James could hardly fault him for that. How else would you go up in a small town if not on the achievements of others that rarely came? Jeb had to follow him under orders from Plant; it meant he would see everything he found. If, James thought, he was not careful then the young officer might fly and seal the case claiming it as his own work.

Questions arose and knocked around inside his head as he walked aimlessly down the road. Who knew Amsler was arrested? The captain's suggestion had been o find that out. Who had time to contact the chiefs up in Virginia? A theory sprang to mind and he growled, pushing it out of the way. Jeb benefitted but he had no authority to make a request. If he had an accomplice? James stopped, staring blankly at the streetlights before him. They flashed, telling him it was safe to walk. How did a maniac find apprentices? There were differences to the stab wounds, which meant multiple accomplices, but exactly how many?

About facing, James hurried back up the street. A few moments later he hurried into the morgue. Vitae was in his office, sipping a mug of something that steamed, a magazine open on his lap.

'Is it another body?' asked Vitae tiredly, rising to his feet and dropping the magazine. 'I've heard nothing from my staff, normally you ring.'

'It's not another body,' replied James, studying the doctor. 'I just wish to talk to you about the old bodies.'

The last time he was in the morgue, he had not had proper time to study the doctor. An autopsied body had been a distraction. Now there was nothing to distract him and his first intake of the man was that he was cold and calculating. He rose swiftly to prepare for his job but commented as if he had no interest in it. It was merely a formality to rise. He thought he was a good doctor and took pride in his work.

'They're not here, Detective. When I am finished with them they are sent up to Richmond.' At James's blank look he continued, 'This is not the right facility to conduct an autopsy. Not a proper one. I do a brief examination down here and then Richmond take a proper look.'

'Ah,' exclaimed James, shoulders drooping. 'I wanted to take another look at them.'

Vitae's usually blank face fell in surprise, and then his lips twitched faintly. 'Really? After our last meeting I sort of gathered that seeing the corpses again would be the last thing you would want to do.'

'They are a key to a lot of this case, Doctor Vitae, one of many to many locked areas.'

'Hmm. Then it is a good thing we have the next best thing. One moment please.' Vitae exited the room, leaving James standing awkwardly.

James looked around, taking in the office but there was nothing of interest. Vitae kept his personal and working life separate, by the clean processed desk in front of him. It was covered with work material, except for the magazine, which appeared to be the only piece of literature not fixated with dissecting bodies and forms of surgery.

Vitae returned a moment later carrying a stack of papers that he placed on the desk before seating himself.

'All the reports from Richmond, detailed analyses of the bodies, almost the same as looking at them yourself. Though, I gather,' he grinned slightly at James, 'that this will be easier on the stomach and easier to understand. Take a seat, please.'