Melanie rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans. The first time she’d been alone in over a week, and every clang or beep of equipment had her jumping. She had a job to do, and if she didn’t calm down, her time in the lab would be useless. She inhaled through her nose and blew out air between her lips. Her heart rate slowed. Time to go to work.
Lab coat on, she hunched over the metal table that held the remains of the woman she’d discovered on her first morning in Valley Springs. She glanced at her clipboard and perused the notes from the exhumation. With all the bones accounted for, she arranged them in the proper location, creating a full skeleton. A young teenage female, to be exact. Melanie stood to an upright position and inspected her handiwork. Rolling her neck from side to side, she worked out the knots in her muscles.
Preferring to proceed in a systematic order, thanks to Professor Gaines, who’d drilled that into her brain, she always worked her way from the top downward, but a hole in the back of the skull had halted her examination before she had gotten started. She patted the tray, searching for her magnifying glass while never taking her eyes off the remains.
Ten times the magnification confirmed her suspicions; the damaged bone told her the end of the teen’s story. Cause of death—most likely blunt-force trauma. After scooting a stool beside the table, Melanie sat and continued her analysis of the skeleton, making notes on her document.
Two hours later, she stood and arched her back, stretching the sore muscles. Her spine cracked like the popular rice cereal. She rubbed her neck, working out the stiffness. Her injuries had done a number on her. Maybe she should’ve stayed home a few days to recover. She sighed. Not an option. This teen’s death demanded attention, and the family needed closure.
“Hey, Dr. Hutton, need any help?” Daniel stuck his head in through the doorway.
Melanie jolted and grimaced. She really had to tone down her responses. “Actually, yes. You’re what? Six feet tall?”
“About that. Five-eleven to be exact.”
“Perfect. Unroll those paper towels, grab the tube and come here.” She settled onto her stool and placed her clipboard on the tray. She spun to face him.
He shook his head but proceeded to empty the cardboard tube. “Got it. Now what?”
She motioned him over and kneeled with her back to him. “Hit me over the head with it.”
“Say what?”
She peered over her shoulder. The young man’s eyebrows rose to his hairline.
“It’s an experiment. I have a hunch, and I want to prove it.”
“You want me to bonk you over the head with this tube?”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Our Jane Doe had blunt-force trauma to the head. I’m trying to get an estimate of how tall the killer was.”
He looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. And maybe she had, but she had a theory to prove. Or at least, she needed to get enough data to make a preliminary conclusion.
“All right, Doc. Here ya go.” Daniel smacked the cardboard to the back of her head, then moved to stand beside her. “Well?”
“Do it again, but raise up on your toes this time.”
“All right. If that’s what you want.”
The tube popped on her head again.
“Did ya get what you needed?”
“Sure did. In my opinion, the person who hit this girl is around six foot one.” She held out her hands. “Thanks for the assist.”
Daniel helped her to her feet. “I can see working with you will be interesting. Anything else?”
“Nope. That’s all. Check back later. I’ll have some documents that’ll need to be delivered to the sheriff’s department.” The man had no idea of her interesting quirks. The next few months could be fun. She turned back to the metal table with the bones.
“Will do.” A soft click signaled Daniel’s departure.
Melanie returned to the remains and rubbed her wrists out of habit. White scars mocked her. Her mind spun to her attacker and Laney’s killer. The victim on her table could wait; she wanted answers about Laney’s murder. Making her way around the table and trays to the small office within the lab, she grabbed the phone.
A soft metallic rattle came from the main room as if someone had jostled a tray.
Melanie leaned forward and peered out the glass that attached the two areas. Goose flesh rose on her arms. “Hello? Anyone there?” Silence answered her. “Daniel?” Still nothing.
Her heart rate kicked up a notch. She blew out a long breath. No one had entered the lab; she would’ve heard them. Her mind had played a trick on her. She shook off the odd sensation and placed a call to the ME.
“Hello?”
“Dr. Vogel? This is Melanie Hutton.”
“Dr. Hutton, how can I help you?” His brusque tone made her cringe. She’d have to work on bridging the rift between them if she stayed in Valley Springs. She froze. When had she considered staying? All along, she’d planned to find Allie and go back to the city. Away from the childhood memories and away from the man who’d turned his back on her. But now?
“You still there?”
“Um, yeah, sorry.” She’d revisit her new revelation later. “I’m curious if you’ve finished Laney’s autopsy?”
“I have. Not sure why you want a copy, but whatever. Do you want the photos or the report?”
Well, that was a shock. “Both, if you don’t mind.” She held her breath.
“Emailing it to you as we speak. Anything else?”
“That’s all for now. I have pictures I can reference, but I might call later for the actual evidence.”
“I’ll talk with you then.” He hung up.
With a jiggle of the mouse, the computer came to life. She logged on and checked her email. Sure enough, Dr. Vogel had supplied her with the documents she’d requested. Pushing the print option, she rose from the office chair.
The shiver lingering at the base of her spine worked its way up. Someone was in her lab; she felt it in her bones. She retrieved her cell phone from her pocket and pulled up Jason’s number. Why had he and Keith decided to leave her alone today? But she’d relied on them too much, and right now, she was being ridiculous. With the lab located next to the sheriff’s station and security at every entrance, she was safe. If so, then why did she have a bad feeling?
Ignoring her paranoia, she stuffed the phone in her lab coat and yanked the photos and documents from the printer. She lowered herself into the office chair and studied the markings on Laney’s neck, then looked at Dr. Vogel’s notes. Laney had lacerations on her head, a blow hard enough to knock her unconscious. But the cause of death—strangulation. Just as Melanie had suspected.
The recent events tumbled through her mind. The fire, Laney’s murder and the attempts on her own life. Not until her assailant had vowed to finish what he’d started had she known for sure. But now? Whoever had abducted her was not leaving witnesses alive. Her real-life nightmare was back.
She focused on those days of imprisonment and tried with everything in her to remember, but the truth remained out of reach.
Frustrated at her inability to pull the information from her brain, she rolled back the chair and stood. Striding from the small office space, she returned to the remains. Melanie put aside her own pain. The young girl needed her full attention. She tilted her head and focused on the unknown victim. Hollow orbs in the skull stared back at her. At times during her job, the bones seemed to speak. She threw up a prayer to God for clarity, then returned her attention to the skeleton in front of her.
Tell me your secrets.
Letting her mind wander, she allowed her gaze to travel up and down the woman’s remains. The hair on the back of her neck prickled. Her gaze darted around the room. Had fear gotten the best of her, or was someone in her lab?
She pulled the phone from her pocket. Her fingers trembled as she hit speed dial for Jason’s number.
“Hey, Melanie. How’s it going?”
Her mouth opened, but her voice failed to work.
“Melanie? Everything okay?” Jason’s normal calm had disappeared.
“I’m here,” she croaked.
“What’s wrong?”
She cleared her throat. “I need you.”
“I’m on my way.” Jason disconnected. With the sheriff’s station next door, he’d arrive at the lab in a matter of minutes.
What had her on edge? Was it the conclusion she’d just come to about Laney or was someone here with her? Her gaze darted around the room. With her back to the connecting office that she’d exited a few minutes ago, Melanie faced the main door. The silver metal table holding the victim’s remains sat before her, and the storage room to her right had the extra table pushed up against it. A sink and counter space by the entrance didn’t provide a place to hide, and neither did the glass supply cabinets to her left.
She swung her gaze back to the storage room. The table rested crookedly against the wall. Panic clawed up her throat. Her OCD tendencies in the lab had her aligning not only her instruments and tools, but also tables and chairs. She stared at the anomaly. The scene was off. Her gut told her to leave...now. She dashed for the door.
Whack!
White strips of light flashed in her vision. She crumpled to the floor. The last thing that registered in her brain was Jason’s panicked voice calling her name from down the hallway.
“Help me, Jason,” she mumbled.
Darkness descended, and she fell into an abyss.
“Melanie!” Jason’s instincts told him to hurry. He sprinted to her lab, dodging unsuspecting workers as he raced down the corridor.
The lab door banged shut, and a man dressed in black barreled out and crashed through the Exit Only door at the end of the hallway.
Should he follow?
No. Melanie was his top priority. He came to a halt at the entrance of her work area. Pulling his weapon from his holster, he pressed his back against the wall and eased open the door. His Glock at the ready, he peeked inside.
The air whooshed from his lungs. Melanie lay in a heap on the floor.
Rushing in, he slid to his knees beside her. “Mel?” He brushed the hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Blood covered his hand. Staring at the crimson liquid, his world spun. He’d let down his guard because he thought she’d be safe in the secure county lab. He never should have left her unprotected. Jason sucked in a breath to clear his thinking. “Honey? Please, wake up.”
He fumbled for his phone and dialed 9-1-1. “I need an ambulance. County lab. Forensics room two.” Not caring that Dispatch wanted him to stay on the line, he hung up and called Keith. “Melanie’s down. Suspect escaped out the back. Dressed in all black. Approximately six foot, two hundred pounds.”
“On it.” The line went dead.
Jason had never felt so alone or helpless. He held Melanie in his arms and rocked back and forth. “Come on, sweetheart. Open your eyes.” He pulled her in close and cradled her against his chest.
“I can’t lose you, too.” The realization slammed into him. His heart stopped beating for a moment. “I’m sorry I’ve been angry for so long. I can’t wrap my head around you leaving Allie like that, but I’ll learn to deal with it if you’ll open those gorgeous brown eyes.”
She didn’t stir.
He smoothed his hand over her head, exploring the wound.
A knot the size of a walnut and an inch-long gash marked her head. The bleeding hadn’t stopped, but it had eased from oozing at an alarming rate.
Boots clomped along the corridor.
Jason drew his gun and pointed it at the entry.
Paramedics Brent and Ethan rounded the corner and came to an abrupt halt.
Ethan raised his hands in surrender. “Whoa, dude. Put that thing away.”
After placing his weapon next to his leg, Jason wrapped his arms around his childhood friend.
“Is that Melanie, again?” Brent’s shoulders sagged. “That poor lady has really taken it on the chin lately.”
“You’ll get no argument from me on that one.” Jason reluctantly released her into the paramedics’ capable hands.
Jason slipped his sidearm back into his holster and paced the small path next to where his friends assessed Melanie. “Is she going to be okay?”
Ethan pulled the stethoscope from his ears and prepped Melanie for transport. “Her vitals are good. Most likely has a concussion. A CT scan will confirm that. She’ll have a doozy of a headache and will require a couple of stitches.”
“Then why isn’t she awake?” Jason squatted beside Brent.
“Dude, she was hit on the head.” Brent gave him a duh look.
“I know that.” Jason ran his hand through his hair. He had to pull it together.
Melanie groaned, and her eyes fluttered open.
“Hey there, Doc. Good to see you again.” Ethan smiled at Melanie.
Jason jerked his attention back to her and grabbed her hand. “Mel?”
“Hi.” Her whispered response tugged at his heart.
“I hate to interrupt this moment, but we need to get you to the hospital.” Brent stood over her and clipped the gurney straps into place.
Melanie closed her eyes and squeezed Jason’s hand.
Keith came flying into the room. “How is she?”
Ethan glanced at his partner. “These two are like expectant fathers. Let’s get her out of here.”
“Brent, stay with her until I get there.” Jason watched as the two men raised the gurney and locked it into place.
“Will do. We’ll meet you guys at the hospital.” Brent jutted his chin toward the door, and he and Ethan hurried out.
Jason stared as his two friends rolled Melanie from the lab. He had to get to the ER. He was not only worried about her condition, but he craved to protect her. You’re a cop, man. Act like one.
First things first. He spun and met Keith’s gaze. “Did you find him?”
“No. No one saw a thing. No strangers prowling about, or men dressed in black.”
Jason’s breath hitched. “What if this guy is someone we know?”
His partner’s head snapped to face him. “Come again?”
“I’m assuming you’ve been on the same page as me. A stranger among us.”
Keith nodded.
“What if it isn’t a stranger, but someone from the community? Someone who’d blend in.” Jason’s stomach turned upside down at the thought. He’d lived with the people of Valley Springs all his life and couldn’t fathom any of them being responsible for the attacks and his sister’s murder.
“How’d you come up with that?”
“Whoever it is knows this town and the surrounding area well. Think about where this guy buried Laney and where he’d kept Melanie and my sister. Not locations you’d happen upon. Not to mention how he got in here. He has to have connections.”
“True.” Keith stroked his chin.
“So, who did you see and talk to when you searched for our mystery man?”
Keith narrowed his gaze. “You sure you want to hear this?”
“I’m not sure when you put it that way. But lay it on me.” Jason braced himself for his partner’s account.
“Sheriff Monroe, Mr. Klein, Sarah from the bakery, Mrs. Horn and your dad.”
“My dad? Where was he?” The news twisted his gut like a pretzel.
“Across the street at Lenny’s Hardware.”
Jason mulled over the information and the five names. Monroe and his dad had both acted strange lately. But so had his uncle Randy. Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know what to think. Those are some pretty big accusations. The only thing I am positive of is that Melanie is in the hospital with a gash in her head.”
“Don’t jump to any conclusions. Let’s have solid evidence before we confront anyone.”
He nodded. From the names given, he’d do well to remember to have proof before revealing his suspicions. “Speaking of evidence, I want to gather Melanie’s current files and documents. Let’s take them with us, then lock this place up good and tight.”
Keith pulled two sets of nitrile gloves from the box on the counter and tossed him a pair. “Ever get that feeling someone’s worried something will trigger Melanie’s memory now that she’s returned to Valley Springs? Like a smell or voice? You know what I mean?”
“Yup. And the bad part, we have no idea who.” Jason snapped on the gloves and exhaled.
He and Keith collected all the papers and photos Melanie had worked on and threw them in a box. Glancing at the skeleton on the table, he withdrew his phone and snapped several pictures for good measure. After a quick scan of the room, he locked the lab door and set the alarm. Anxious to check on her, he hurried to the parking lot.
Keith blocked his path. His partner grabbed the box and tucked the container under his arm. “I’ll take the documents to your place. You go on and check on your lady.”
“She’s not my lady.” Not yet, anyway. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to take a leap of faith and see if they could get beyond their past.
Keith snorted. “Come on. I’ll drop you off at the hospital.”
“What about my truck?”
“Dude, it’s only a couple blocks away.”
“Yeah, right. Kinda forgot about that.” Jason rubbed the back of his neck. His brain had turned to mush. Not a good thing if he intended to be at his best for Melanie.
Keith slapped him on the back. “Let’s go, buddy.”
Jason hopped into his partner’s car and drummed his fingers on the door handle. The image of Melanie bleeding in his arms whirled in his brain. His unfocused mind barely registered the two-minute drive.
“Cooper?” Keith shook his shoulder.
He blinked. “Sorry. Spaced out there for a second.”
“I’ll say. Go.” His partner jutted his chin toward the entrance. “I’ll see you at the house. Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks, man.” He slid from the seat, closed the car door and tapped the hood.
The ER door whooshed open. Jason stepped inside, tired of stopping at the hospital due to Melanie’s injuries. Spotting Dr. Jenson, he jogged to catch up with him. “Doc. Hold up.”
Jenson greeted him and shook his hand. “You here for Ms. Hutton again?”
“How is she?” Jason’s throat went dry. What if her wounds were worse than Brent and Ethan had thought?
“Other than a mild concussion, three stitches and her previous injuries, she’s doing remarkably well.”
His lungs deflated. Thank You, God. “May I see her?”
“Of course. I left her alone a few minutes ago. She’s still a bit woozy, but she’s been asking about you.”
“Wait. Melanie’s by herself? Where’s Brent or Ethan?” He stood stock-still, dreading the doctor’s answer.
“They had to leave. I told Melanie to rest, and I’d check on her in another twenty to thirty minutes.”
Jason’s pulse raced. “Where is she?”
“Bay three. Jason, she’s okay. The sheriff—”
He pushed past the doctor and sprinted for the small exam room.
What if her attacker had found her? Jason should have stayed by her side. He skidded to a stop outside the curtain as a male voice filtered to his ears. He yanked aside the screen.
“Dennis?” Sheriff Monroe stood next to Melanie’s bed. His lack of uniform caught Jason off guard. “What are you doing here?”
The man tucked his phone in his pocket. “Nice to see you, too, Cooper. Dispatch called about the lab break-in. I knew you and Young were busy, so I came to keep an eye on Melanie until you arrived.”
Monroe seemed to appear out of nowhere every time she’d gotten hurt. And what about the night of the fire? The man had gasoline on his pants. However, he’d had a plausible explanation.
The implications put Jason on edge. He and Dennis had a friendship that dated back to their preteen years. At times, Monroe’s status as his boss gave way to awkward encounters, but overall, they’d maintained an easygoing relationship. He hated the idea of Dennis not being the man he believed him to be.
Setting aside his mistrusting thoughts, he stepped into the room. “How’s she doing?”
“Not too bad.” The sheriff approached him.
“Has she woken up yet?”
“Yes. I had a quick conversation with her before she fell back asleep.”
Jason really should be grateful for his boss to show up and watch out for her. But after toying with the possibility that Melanie’s attacker was someone they knew, Jason wouldn’t blindly trust, and the sheriff’s recent behavior had been suspect. Jason couldn’t rule out his boss. However, since he didn’t have anything more than suspicions, no use rocking the boat until he did.
“Thanks for rushing over. I appreciate it. Keith and I surveyed the scene, then locked up the lab.”
Dennis squeezed his shoulder. “No problem. Keep me in the loop.”
“I will. Looks like she’ll be out of commission for a few days—”
“Relax, Cooper. I don’t want my newest employee in danger. You and Keith are on protection duty and are authorized to work from home until Melanie can return to the office.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Monroe grinned at Jason’s formal term and patted him on the back. “Any time, my friend.” Then he strolled out of the room.
The stress drained from Jason’s body. He’d planned to request time off to safeguard Melanie, but Dennis had prevented the need by giving him permission to work from home and assigning him and Keith as her personal bodyguards. One concern taken care of. Now to find out who had tried to kill her.
Whatever disinfectant they used in a hospital needed to change. Each time Jason came, it churned his stomach. The aroma had become an all-too-familiar association with Melanie. Jason scooted the hard plastic chair next to her bed and gripped her hand through the rails. He rested his cheek on the cool metal.
“I’m sorry for letting you down. It won’t happen again. I promise.” He swallowed past the lump in his throat. He had become attached to the woman he’d vowed to hate. “Come on, Mel. Please, wake up and show me you’re okay.”
As a big brother, he’d come up short, but he refused to fail the woman he’d loved as a teen and had turned his back on. Time to face the fact that his heart was fully committed. Someone just needed to tell his brain.
Lord, help me let go of my resentment and be the man she deserves. And help me find her attacker before it’s too late.