Page 5 of Close Quarters

She shook her head. “I’m from Colorado Springs. I started working here right after I finished my master’s, then took over as department head shortly before you arrived when our other one quit to move to Florida.”

He shook his head. “You know, if I hadn’t looked at your personnel file when I started, I wouldn’t have known you had so little experience. You’re very good at your job.”

Her smile was shy, which surprised him. She had so much confidence when it came to her job, it seemed strange that she didn’t when it came to herself.

“Thank you.”

He picked up his shake and sat back. “That’s also the only reason I haven’t fired you.” He smiled around his straw, softening his words.

She pressed her lips together and glared at him. “Funny.”

He grinned.

She rolled her eyes and took another drink. “What do you think we’ll find tomorrow?”

“A mess.” He set his glass down. “I’m just hoping for the low end Seb quoted me, which is four.”

Katie’s mouth pulled down, and she pushed her shake away. “I know you told me to prep for eight, but I’m really hoping there won’t be any.”

“Yeah, me too. Some people are sick.” He sighed and picked up his shake again. “But that’s why I do what I do. To bring the depraved to justice and give families closure.”

She raised her glass. “Hear, hear.”

Alex knocked his glass against hers and sucked down another mouthful of the thick shake. Becca walked up to their table carrying two plates of burgers and fries.

“Here you go.” She set them down. “Can I get you anything else?”

They both shook their heads.

“I think we’re good for now,” Alex said.

The girl gave them a thumbs up. “Okay. Wave me down if you need anything.” She whirled on her heel and walked away.

Both starving after the long day, they dove into their meals, conversation ceasing as they assuaged their hunger. But that didn’t mean Alex didn’t study her as they ate. She was an enigma. The woman was brilliant. But she didn’t look like your typical brainiac. Shades of vibrant blue and purple threaded her naturally dark hair, and tattoos colored her arms. He was sure there were probably others he couldn’t see. In her Converse sneakers and flannel shirts, she reminded him of a skater chick. A skater chick who would soon have a Ph.D.

“How’s school going?” he asked. She’d told him about her doctoral program, needing approval to be absent for certain days and times to attend classes, but he’d heard little about it since.

“It’s good. I’m nearly done with my dissertation.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Really? I didn’t think you were that close to being finished.”

“It’s been two-and-a-half years since I started, so I would hope I’m about done.”

“It’s seriously been that long?”

She nodded.

He shook his head. “It doesn’t feel like it. So, what’s your topic?”

“The use of CRISPR as a tool for better DNA matching.”

“Really?” That was an intriguing idea. “How so?”

“Using it on degraded samples that normal sequencing methods can’t build a profile from because the chains are too busted up and piecing them together creates errors. CRISPR allows for the accuracy in reassembly that other techniques lack.”

“Have you had any success?”

She nodded. “Seb let me use the county’s DNA database. I compiled cases where DNA evidence was used to convict a subject, got permission from the convict and the victim if one was directly involved, and ran the DNA using my technique. It’s confirmed the cases that were a complete match, several that were only partial, and I exonerated two others.”

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