Chapter 25

The air inside the cube-size office smells strangely like gingerbread and is too warm and claustrophobic for my taste. I am sweating under my uniform and at the back of my neck where I can’t reach the annoying itch beneath the shirt collar.

“I’m here regarding the death of Ms. Cora Findings. You picked up her body this morning.”

“Ah, yes.” He leans forward on his table and interlaces his bony fingers together, gazing up at me with a lazy eye.

“Have you performed an autopsy on her yet?” I ask.

“Actually, I finished an hour ago.”

“Do you have a time of death?” I walk to the edge to the filing cabinet next to the door and lean against it.

“Yeah.”

“Would you mind if I have a look at the report?”

He shrugs, and pushes away from his desk to stand. “I don’t see why not,” he says, grunting and complaining about getting older. “What exactly are you looking for?”

I hedge. “I might’ve missed something in my report. I’m just covering all bases.”