Cadaver Lab, page 8
Annoying cat. And of course, he was a male. Maybe that was a trait among all males. She eyed Liam as she locked the door and stashed the key beneath the flowerpot as agreed upon with Harper and Jules.
“Oh, that’s real secure,” he commented.
“I forgot to get another key cut yesterday.”
“Hmph.” Even his grunt sounded judgmental.
She ignored it and stood next to the Jeep’s passenger door, waiting.
“It’s open,” he said as he slid into the driver’s seat.
Chivalry was good and truly dead. She hadn’t expected him to open her door or anything, but he could have at least put her overnight bag in the back for her. Scowling she yanked open the door, swung her bag between the seats, almost hitting him in the face, and dropped it on the backseat.
He turned the key in the ignition and glanced in the rear-view mirror, then at her. “Is he, uh, here?”
“Is who here?” She knew exactly what he was asking but she liked making him squirm.
It was obvious he was really bugged out about Gabe. All the ghosts, really. It was refreshing to be the one in charge of the situation for once.
“You know. The ghost,” he whispered.
“His hearing seems to be excellent so whispering wouldn’t help if he were here, which he isn’t.”
Liam frowned. “Wait. Why not? Don’t we need him to find the treasure?”
“He told me everything we’ll need. He talked for like an hour and I took copious notes. Besides that, he’s not sure he can come with us.”
“What do you mean he’s not sure?”
“He’s still new at being a ghost.” Hence his continued forgetting he can’t lean on things and falling through them. “But he thinks he can’t travel too far from his body. He tried walking across the bridge over the river and said he couldn’t make it to the other side. It felt as if something was pushing against him. Holding him back.”
Liam spread his hands. “Then we could have brought his body with us.”
“Eew. No.” She sent him a glare.
“Oh, so you’re fine being best friends with a ghost but you’re afraid of a body?”
“So you have no trouble carving up cadavers but you’re afraid of a ghost?” she countered.
“Not afraid. Just… disturbed. It’s not normal.”
“Judging by the depth and breadth of the ghost population in this town, I’m afraid it’s more normal than we ever imagined.”
He gave a little shiver at that idea before his gaze connected with hers. “Did any come with your place? The depot looks pretty old.”
“Inside, no. Thank God. But a guy dressed like he’s heading to a day of work on the train walks past at the same time every morning and every evening. And the ghosts from town can come inside, except Gabe asked them not to.”
“And they listened?”
She shrugged. “So far.”
“Even though he’s the new guy?”
“Yeah. I guess.” She wasn’t really up on the social hierarchy of ghosts. Maybe the newly dead where the upper echelon. Who knew?
“Let’s hope your notes are good enough and this isn’t a waste of a trip.”
“Thanks for the confidence.”
“Don’t blame me. The one guy who came close to finding this treasure isn’t here. And it’s not like you can call him on your cell.” He frowned. “You can’t, can you?”
“I—Actually, I don’t know. I mean he wouldn’t be able to hit a button to answer the call, but I wonder… If I was talking to Harper or Jules on speaker phone and Gabe spoke, why wouldn’t I be able to hear him? Maybe we can talk to him.” As long as she could convince Jules or Harper to put her on speaker and convey to Gabe what she wanted to ask without sounding insane.
“Except you can’t call either one of them and ask them to put Gabe on the line because you lied to them. They don’t know you can see ghosts, do they?” Liam asked, echoing her own concern.
“No. Not yet.” Maybe not ever. She was still wrapping her head around this herself.
“So if you didn’t tell them, who else knows?”
“You,” she answered.
“Me? Just me?” His eyes widened.
She nodded. “Just you.”
He shot her a sideways glance as he pulled onto the highway and merged into traffic, all two cars of it.
“Why just me?” he asked once they were safely in the center lane with cruise control set.
“I guess I care too much about what everyone else will think of me.”
“But you don’t care what I think?” he asked.
“Correct.”
He cocked up a brow, shot her a glance then said, “All right.”
“All right? You’re not mad?” she asked.
“Nope. I don’t care what anyone thinks about me either.”
A laugh she couldn’t control escaped her. She covered her mouth then shot him a glance. “Sorry. But that’s good you don’t care.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I’ve heard you’re a hit man, a serial killer, a Navy SEAL, a private investigator and… Oh, yeah. A mercenary for hire.”
He bobbed his head. “I can accept that. Except I was Army not Navy,” he said with pride before mumbling, “Navy. Humph. No way.”
“So, what made you want to work with cadavers? It seems pretty far flung from being in the Army.”
“Not at all. I was a medic when I was in. When I got out I used my college benefit to start on my medical degree.”
“Why didn’t you finish? Getting your medical degree?”
He sent her a sideways glance. “I finished.”
“Then why are you working with bodies instead of live patients?”
“I don’t like people enough to work with them for the next thirty years.”
“Yeah. That tracks,” she mumbled.
“And the only way I can find out how to prevent traumatic brain injury and learn how it relates to depression and the high rate of veteran suicide is to look at the brain. Literally look at it. That’s easier after death.”
Dammit. Was this people-hating, insulting man really a nice guy? Working to try to prevent veterans’ suicides and brain issues?
“But wait. If you’re studying brain damage in the cadavers, why did you choose Gabe’s body? And the two old ladies?”
“First, you take what you can get. Getting a cadaver isn’t like ordering off a Chinese food menu.”
Natalie found that image disturbing, but the mention of food also made her hungry. She should have packed a snack.
“And, your friend Gabe did have brain damage,” he continued.
“Really? But he was stabbed.”
“The damage wasn’t from his death. It was from when he was alive. I don’t know what he did in life since he came to me as a John Doe, but he’s got signs of long-term brain trauma.”
“Long term. Like he was a boxer maybe?” she asked.
“Does he look to you like he was a boxer?”
“No. He looks like Indiana Jones.”
“Well, since you’ve got this new power and all, maybe you could ask him for me. Find out what he used to do that could have damaged his brain. If he played football. Or was in the military. But no. If he’d been military they’d have his fingerprints on file and he wouldn’t be a John Doe. I’m thinking football.”
“I’ll ask for you as soon as we get home.”
“What do you think he’s doing there with us gone?” Liam asked, uncharacteristically concerned about someone other than himself.
Although she couldn’t really think about him like a bad guy anymore. He’d dedicated his life to helping those with brain injuries. Getting used to him not being the villain was going to take some time.
“I think he’ll hang around my shop with Harper and Julia. Then, after closing, he might go to the cemetery. Gunshot wound guy invited him over to visit.”
Liam cursed beneath his breath. “Too fucking weird.”
She shrugged. “I guess. But it makes sense they’d enjoy some of the same things we do. They’re just people. Only they’re dead.”
He shot her a glance. “If you say so.”
“You’re just upset because you’ve been carving up walking talking sentient beings like they’re a Thanksgiving turkey.”
His gaze shot sideways again before he said, “You’re not wrong.”
fifteen
“This is it?” Natalie asked, peering through the windshield of Liam’s Jeep at the square building with the sign that read Town Hall.
Liam nodded. “The person I talked to in Albany was helpful. I have the complete timeline for the cadaver—uh, I mean Gabe. The local Pine Plains police department got routed to the scene by the 9-1-1 operator. They brought in the ME. Uh, that’s the medical examiner.”
“I know what ME means.” She scowled. She watched television. She knew things.
“Fine. So after enough time passed with no identification and no one claiming the body, they would have to declare him a John Doe. That’s when the morgue contacted the donation center in Albany to take the body. They had it until I requested it—him.”
This town was small. So, she guessed, was the police department. The fact the police operated out of an office located in the Town Hall proved that.
No wonder Gabe had become a John Doe.
“Did the people in Albany wonder why you were asking so many questions?”
“I didn’t offer and they didn’t ask. Although I did have my lie ready just in case.”
Interested, she turned in her seat to face him. “Oh, please, do tell. I need to hear this. What were you going to say?”
Dark brows knit above his eyes. “Why do you need to know?”
“Because I’ve been scrambling for believable lies for days now.” Ever since that day after the interview.
Having become a bit of a fib aficionado herself, it would be interesting to hear someone else’s attempts to not reveal her new ability to communicate with the dead. Or in this case, the murdered.
He drew in a breath and she tried not to stare at the pecs beneath his Human Institute-logo shirt.
“I was going to say I was researching the effects of living in different regions of the United States on the body, so I needed to know where it—he originated from.”
Liam was obviously trying to wrap his head around Gabe not being an it or a body but actually a person with a name. Trying, but also mostly failing.
Of course, he was still new at this ghost stuff. She’d had days ahead of him to get used to it all.
“Not bad,” she nodded then glanced at the building that housed the Pine Plains police station. “Got any ideas how we can reveal their John Doe’s identity without getting locked up in a padded cell?”
Lips pressed tight he sent her a sideways glance. “This one might be a little harder. But I do have one idea.”
“Really? What?”
He drew in another chest-expanding breath which she valiantly did not stare at then finally said, “What if I said we ran him through facial recognition and cross referenced it with missing persons during the same time period our cadaver was killed?”
Her eyes widened. “That’s brilliant.”
“Is it? Because I don’t know if Gabe was reported as a missing person. What if he was a loner? He was traveling in pursuit of this treasure. He might have been thousands of miles from home when he was killed. Hell, he could live in a tent like a nomad for all we know. His name seems kind of common so I’m not sure even a search online would help.”
“I think I have something that might help.” She reached for her bag and took out a fat file folder.
“What’s that?”
“My notes.”
His brow rose, but he didn’t comment. She had no time to wonder if he was judging her for her excessive note taking or not.
“Gabe has some gaps in his memory—the ghosts believe dying does that to you—but he remembered a lot. Maybe something in here might be helpful.”
“He got a family?” Liam asked, eyeing the folder in her hand.
She shook her head. “Only child. Parents are dead. There’s one old distant cousin on his mom’s side and her kids and grandkids, who he never met.”
“Friends?”
She cringed. “Yes. Kind of. More like online associates. Not really close enough to notice him missing.”
Liam let out a breath. “What about his house or apartment? Is there a neighbor? Landlord? Mortgage?”
“Yes. He rented an apartment and he remembered his address.” She finally found the correct paper and glanced up. “What if we call his landlord? Say we’ve been trying to get in touch with him. We’re concerned since we haven’t been able to and we thought that something bad might have happened to him.”
“You have the landlord’s name?”
“No. But shouldn’t public tax records give us the name of the owner of the building?”
“I guess it’s worth a try.” He looked out the window. “We probably shouldn’t be conducting our research in the car in view of the police station. It looks suspicious.”
“You’re right.” She slumped back. “By the time we get our facts straight, talk to the cops, hopefully grab something to eat, then do our own recon of the area—”
“Recon?”
“Shush… After doing all that it’ll be getting late. Too late to drive back tonight. We planned and packed for at least an overnight trip. Maybe we should find a hotel now, one with WiFi. We can check in, set up a command center. Do our research, then come back here to the cops.”
“Fine.” He threw the Jeep into gear and pulled slowly away from the station. “Let’s go find ourselves a command center for our recon.”
“I’m sorry we can’t all be war-hardened warriors and Silver Star medal recipients such as yourself.” At her comment his gaze shot sideways. His hands tightened on the steering wheel.
“I never said I got the Silver Star.” His eyes flicked wide before narrowing as he glared at her and asked, “Gabe?”
“Gabe,” she confirmed. “He went through your stuff.”
“I’m looking into an exorcism the minute we get back.”
“What? No. That’ll be like murdering him all over again.”
“Maybe it just sends him to heaven or let’s him go to eternal peace.”
“You don’t know that’s what happens.”
“You don’t know that’s not what happens.”
“I’m not letting you harm Gabe.”
“Then you’d better warn your new dead friend to stop snooping in my private life then reporting what he finds to everyone.”
“Everyone.” She snorted. “Anyone he talks to is dead except for me so…”
“So you’re fine with him spying on you? You don’t think he’s sneaking around watching you shower and dress? How are you going to feel when you bring a guy home and Gabe gets his own live action sex show?”
“Ick. Stop. I’m sure he wouldn’t—” The memory of gunshot wound guy peeping on the cemetery’s new neighbor skidded into her mind and she wasn’t so sure.
“Natalie. He’s a ghost. What else does he have to do? What other enjoyment does he have? He can’t eat. Does he even sleep?”
“I left the television on for him.” She did try to be a good ghost host.
Liam snorted. “Great. But I hope he likes what’s playing since he can’t change the channel.”
A hotel with a sign for cheap rates, free breakfast and WiFi came into view.
Liam swung into the parking lot. “Here we are. Command central. And doesn’t it look lovely? Five stars. Can’t wait to see that free breakfast.”
He cut the engine and swung open the driver’s side door. “Ready?”
Ready for an overnight road trip with Liam, who both tempted and annoyed her in almost equal amounts? Not even close.
sixteen
Standing next to Liam and the counter—both of which were so tall they made her feel small—Natalie couldn’t believe her ears.
“What do you mean there’s only one room?” she asked.
How could so many people possibly want to stay in Pine Plains, New York in this cheap roadside motel that it was almost completely full?
The front desk clerk shrugged. “It’s graduation weekend. If you’d made a reservation…”
“Is there another hotel nearby?” Liam asked.
“There’s the Inn at Pine Plains not too far away. And the Alander. They might have vacancies but no guarantee. You’ll have to call.”
Natalie searched on her phone and almost swallowed her tongue when she saw the prices. The two other places the clerk had suggested were over two hundred a night. Compared to here, which was eighty-four dollars per night and included free breakfast.
Even though she was planning on only paying for her own room, and not Liam’s too since it had been his own idea to come, that was still a big chunk of change. Especially given her current financial position. And what if they ended up staying for two nights?
Liam leaned over to glance at what had her rapt on her cell phone’s screen. His gaze moved from the rate amounts on the display to the expression on her face.
He turned back to the clerk. “We’ll take the one room.”
Her gaze whipped up to him. Them? Stay together? In one room?
“Put it on there.” He tossed his credit card on the counter and glanced at Natalie. “It’ll be fine.”
She hadn’t had time to voice her opinion or her objection yet, but apparently her face had done it for her and he knew she had concerns.
But he was paying so… She swallowed and managed a, “Mm-hm.”
It was a good thing Gabe wasn’t here to see this. He’d definitely have had plenty of comments about the situation. He always had comments about everything.
The clerk directed them where to park and gave them keys then it was time to grab the bags and head to the door of their room. The room they’d be sharing for the night. Together in good old room number fourteen—even though it was between rooms twelve and fifteen so technically it was room thirteen.
