In the Shadows

III

"Thanks for the meal" I smiled at Elora "it was delicious"

"You're welcome" she stood up and pick up the plates "do you want a piece of pie for dessert?"

"Oh no! I'm full" I patted my stomach as I chuckled "but I'll undoubtedly have one for breakfast"

Elora made her way to the kitchen and I sighed in contentment. Some time had passed since I last had a homemade meal; as my job was very demanding I usually ate in the pub near the police station. Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my pocket getting me out of my reverie.

"Hello?" I answered without looking at the caller ID.

"How was your first day detective?" Chief Rogers's voice floated through the phone and I jumped up from my seat.

"It was good sir" I hushed through the phone as I quickly made my way to my room "I'm all settled and I already met Annie Foster"

"Your level of efficiency never fails to surprise me Lessin" he complimented.

"Thanks sir; but I met her by accident" I chuckled.

"So" his tone morphed into a serious one "Maurice Foster's exhumation license from the Ministry of Justice came earlier today-"

"That's great news! I didn't thought it would be so quick"

"It would've been great news if someone hadn't rat us out to the media" he sighed "it'll be all over the news either later tonight or tomorrow morning"

"Geez" I pinched the bridge of my nose "did you find out who it was yet?"

"No, but Margot-"

"Do you want a cup of camomile tea dear?" Elora knocked as she popped her head through the door "it'll help you sleep better"

"I'd love that, thank you" I answered as I pressed the phone on my shoulder.

"Have a good night" she whispered as she left the cup on the nightstand.

I waited until her muffled steps were almost imperceptible before I talked again.

"I'm sorry for the interruption sir; what were you saying?"

"Margot is searching for the snitch"

"Good"

"What time are you available tomorrow? The coroner authorized us to live cast the autopsy to you as he's performing it"

"I hope to be back by four pm; although I have a shift in the coffee shop but I'm sure Elora won't object if I tell her is something important"

"We'll schedule the autopsy for a half past four, then"

"Okay"

"Have a good night Lessin" Chief Rogers tone went back to his usual laid back one "I'll call you tomorrow"

"You too sir; good night"

*

Even though I'd been to the morgue on countless occasions, the experience never failed to send a shiver down my spine.

It was both breath taking and straight out horrible how someone who had once been full of life ended up in a cold metal table all cut up, reduced to an unrecognizable pulp or just shrunken to a handful of bones. It was the one part of my job I had never fully settled with witnessing and it always made my stomach churn and my skin pale down a few notches.

I swallowed some bile that had risen up my throat as the image on the screen got clearer. There was Coroner Jameson, Chief Rogers and a bunch of the coroner's assistants standing around a table that contain the remains of Maurice Foster.

"Gentlemen" Coroner Jameson's dull tone invaded my ears through my headphones "I'm afraid whoever gave you those tips regarding Maurice's death was right"

"Elaborate please" I said as I was growing impatient.

The sooner the autopsy was over, the better I would feel.

"Maurice Foster never had an autopsy performed" she carefully removed the clothing remains of the torso to show the chest.

The characteristic Y wasn't there nor were there traces of black thread.

"How is this possible?!" Chief Rogers enraged voice made me flinch "if this gets to the media it'll be the end for us! THE END!"

"Calm down boss" I said "we need to keep our heads cold"

Chief Rogers opened his mouth to protest but shook his head and groaned instead.

"Lucky for us the body has been covered in adipocere-"

"Adipo what?" confusion coated my voice "I'm not following Doc"

"Adipocere, commonly known as 'grave wax' is formed by the alteration of the soft tissue of the corpse-"

"We don't speak your scientific language Doc, no offense" Chief Rogers shrugged.

Coroner Jameson audibly sighed and I smiled.

"You could say the body has been 'crystalized' and therefore it's in a condition that still allows me to perform an autopsy on it... but, to be completely honest with you lot, after two years I don't know if we'll be able to find much"

"Do I uh... need to- need to watch the whole process?" I felt my mouth dry and my stomach was churning in an especially painful way.

"You can go Elliott" Coroner Jameson smiled at me as she knew how autopsies made me feel "I'll personally call you if I find something"

"What do you say Chief?" I asked.

He made a dismissive gesture with his hand to the camera as he was more focused on the cut the coroner was performing. I shut off my laptop and inhaled deeply. I made my way downstairs to the store and at the bottom of the steps I bumped into Elora.

"Are you okay dear?" she asked, concern displaying on her features "you look a bit pale"

"Yes, I'll be okay" I sighed "I just need a second"

"I just made some hot chocolate" she placed her hand on my forearm and gently squeezed it "wash your face and I'll get you a cup"

"Thanks Elora"

"Please, call me El"

Later that night, when I was about to go to bed, I received a call from Coroner Jameson letting me know she had sent some hairs for further analysis to the lab since she didn't find anything in the body but suspected that the cause of death could've been poisoning.