Part 37 (2/2)
Paul hovered to her left.
Dorie emptied the trash by the door, her gaze fixed on the action on the table.
”Can you tell me what you're doing? I'm taking an anatomy cla.s.s on Sat.u.r.days. So far I have a hundred average.”
Serena looked up and nodded. Dorie pulled out her ever-present pen and slid over to take notes as Serena walked her through the autopsy.
Two and a half hours later, Serena slipped off her gloves and washed her hands. Dorie hadn't been able to stay for the whole autopsy, but each time she was able to watch a little, she learned something that would help her in her future profession. It made Serena feel good she could help someone who wanted to advance in life and was willing to work hard to do so.
Paul said, ”I heard they let Chuck Walker go.” Chuck was one of the other a.s.sistants.
Serena looked at Paul and frowned. ”When did that happen?”
”Late yesterday afternoon. I heard about it this morning. I didn't want to say anything in front of Dorie. I know she's worried just like the rest of us.”
”Anyone else?”
”Just Chuck. But rumor has it there are more cuts coming from every department.”
Grimacing, Serena stepped on the brake release and rolled Mrs. Hines into the freezer. Cause of death-overdose of Oxycontin. No signs of foul play, nothing to indicate that her death wasn't self-inflicted. Her heart hurt for the pain the woman must have been in and wondered what her story was. She sent up a silent prayer for her family.
Paul scrubbed the area around the sink with force.
”It's okay, Paul.” She laid a hand on his shoulder, trying to offer a small measure of comfort. ”I'll talk to Daniel and see if I can find out anything.”
He shrugged her off. ”Don't bother. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. Nothing you can do about it.”
A knock on the door grabbed her attention and she turned to see Dominic standing there. The look on his face sent a dart of apprehension through her. ”Hi. What's going on?”
”I've only got a minute but wanted to talk to you about something.”
”Sure.”
His phone rang and he shot her an apologetic look as he stepped back in the hall. Serena exited the autopsy room where Paul stayed to clean up. In her office, she sat in front of her computer and glanced at the clock. An average autopsy case took about four hours. That was including all the paperwork. She still had the paperwork to do and Hilary's autopsy. It was turning into a long day.
Thankfully, the suicide was an uncomplicated case and hadn't taken her terribly long. The murdered Doll Maker Killer copycat victims took longer. Hilary's could last anywhere from four to six hours depending upon what Serena found.
However, it might not take her that long since she knew what to expect.
”Hey, Serena. I've got some news.”
She turned to find Dominic standing in the doorway. ”What is it?”
”We have a name for our killer.”
”Who?”
”Allison Kingston.”
She frowned and then lifted her brows as the name registered. ”The woman who was writing Drake those letters?”
”Yes. We also pulled everything we could find on visitors he had. No one came to see him for an entire year the first year he was incarcerated. Then he had his first visitor on his one-year anniversary in prison. And every anniversary after that.”
”Allison?”
”Yes. That was the name she signed in with.”
”But you don't think it was her?”
”Nope. Rick got a print off Hilary's box and just called to tell me that he found a match for it.”
”Who?”
”Gwendolyn Lindell.”
”Drake's daughter,” she breathed. ”So, she found the guts to come visit him? Sounds like she forgave him.” She blinked. ”So she's the serial killer? Are you serious?”
”Sounds like. Drake's phone calls have also picked up. He used to make one every once in a while. To his lawyer, to the newspapers, to anyone who would listen to him cry his innocence. Recently, he's been calling two numbers we can't trace.”
”Prepaid phones?”
”Probably. The calls never last more than ten, fifteen seconds.”
She wrinkled her nose. ”How weird.”
”Tell me about it. We now have a tap on every phone he's used and someone monitoring it. I want to hear his next conversation.”
Serena s.h.i.+vered at the look in his eye.
Gwendolyn checked her phone and saw that her contact had tried to reach her. Frustration bit at her. She didn't need his constant calls and texts. She'd call him when she was ready.
Unfortunately, he wasn't very good at waiting. If she knew who he was or had any way to trace him, she'd be tempted to put a bullet in that sweet spot in his forehead.
But he paid well and she needed the money.
Besides, the a.s.signment had turned into an amazingly entertaining game and she wasn't ready for it to come to an end.
She hadn't realized how everything would happen. How the past and the present would collide. Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was just one more chance to prove to everyone that she was the one who mattered. She was the important one. The old feelings welled up in her. Pride that her father had chosen her. Happiness that she was the one he loved. Drake Lindell had taught her that everything she could ever want was hers. He taught her that if she wanted something someone else had, she could take it. He taught her that life was meant to be lived to the fullest and that everything was all about her.
He taught her to be a winner. To play the game and win no matter what the cost.
He'd taught her well.
33.
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