Page 13 of Close Quarters

Alex sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face. How did he end up with two difficult women in his lab?

Katie kept one eye on Amanda as they unloaded the van. The doctor stood off to the side, watching them all as they worked, offering an occasional “suggestion.” After the third time she told one of her techs how to do their job, Katie decided she’d had enough.

“How about you help instead of micromanaging?” She thrust a plastic tote full of dirt samples at the woman.

“Oh!” Amanda scrabbled to get a better grip on it as Katie let go and stepped away. “Well, that was rude.”

“No ruder than you’ve been to my team. Stop telling them how to do their jobs. I picked the best and trained them to be better. They know what they’re doing.”

Amanda huffed, her face tight, but she walked through the door at the loading dock without a word.

Yeah, this case was going to be a blast, Katie mused, following her inside with another tote. She stacked her box next to Amanda’s on a cart and went back out for another one. Once they off-loaded all the evidence, they could finally get to the two bodies they removed from their shallow graves.

Katie hopped up into the van, Alex behind her, and reached for the first body bag on the shelves lining the walls. She unhooked the straps holding it in place and slid it toward the edge of the shelf. The van bounced as Amanda stepped inside.

“Careful!”

She let go of the bag and glared at the other woman. “Okay. What is your problem?”

“Nothing. I just don’t want to see any damage.”

“Why are you so sure I’m going to damage the remains?”

Amanda bit her lip and waved a hand at her. “You’re, well—” She broke off and shrugged.

Katie narrowed her eyes, beginning to get a clearer picture of what was going on. “I’m what? And think very carefully about what you say. I’m tired, hungry, and one hundred percent done with this day.”

“Mandy, do you have a problem with Katie?”

The other woman crossed her arms and shrugged again. “I mean, look at her, Alex. How good can someone like her be?”

Her ex’s words ricocheted through Katie’s mind and to her horror, she felt tears prick her eyes. Doing her best to keep it together, Katie gave the other woman a tight smile. “Well, I think I’m done here.” She looked at Alex. “I think Dr. Elitist can handle things now.” She pushed past him and hopped out of the van.

“Katie.”

She didn’t turn around at Alex calling her. Instead, she let out a sharp whistle, signaling her team. Several heads turned in her direction.

“My team, go home. Dr. Pressley’s crew will take over.” She marched past several stunned faces and into the building.

“Katie, wait!”

Alex’s boots thudded over the asphalt, but she didn’t slow down or turn around. Whether it was fatigue or the emotional rollercoaster of finding six dead children or a combination of both, Amanda Pressley’s remarks had stripped away the final thread holding her emotions together. She was done.

A firm hand took hold of her arm.

“Let me go, Alex.” She kept her eyes on the top button of his shirt, knowing if she looked at him, she wouldn’t be able to hold in her emotions. He drove her crazy, but she trusted him. That connection would be all that was necessary to pull the cork on her tears.

“No. Don’t run away. I’ll handle Amanda and make it clear she’s very wrong. I need—want you to stay.”

She glanced up at him then, hearing the softer quality in his voice. His deep blue eyes watched her, a tender and imploring expression on his face.

“Please stay?”

Katie sighed. “Fine. But she has to stay out of my way. If she can’t handle that—handle me—she can take herself off this case. I meant what I said. There are other forensic anthropologists we can call to help.”

“I know, and I’ll make that abundantly clear. I’m not sure what’s going on.”

She grunted and walked around him. “Come on. I just want to get all this evidence stored inside and go home.”

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