Page 23 of Wolf's Mark

I was suddenly warm and fuzzy inside.

My phone rang again and my body stiffened before I slowly turned around. The same unknown caller was bugging me on a Sunday morning and I wasn’t in the mood.

“Hello, asshole and happy Sunday. I don’t want any insurance, extended warranties, or whatever other shit you’re selling. It’s Sunday, a holy day, and I’m on the do not call list. Got it, sucker?”

The silence on the other end of the line added to my fury and I almost hung up.

“Doctor Willis?”

Very few people called me ‘Doctor.’ Most believed I was just a coroner, which meant nothing more than getting a license, not a medical degree. “Who is this?”

“My name is Agent Janie Drummand. I’m with the Chicago chapter of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I need your help.”

I was completely caught off guard, heat rising to my face from calling her so many names. I was about to apologize when something hit me. “Hold on. How did you get my number?”

She laughed. “Doctor, it’s not hard for an agent to retrieve whatever phone number they would like.”

“Of course. What do you need?”

“I have an autopsy that I need performed in a timely manner.”

“If you’re from Chicago, you’re completely aware there are several medical examiners’ offices.”

“Yes, I know. But as I said, time is of the essence.”

Sighing, I returned to the cabinet, determined to stick a pod in the Keurig machine. I didn’t need sharp instincts to know I was going to need that thermos. “When are we talking about?”

“Today at the latest, this morning if possible.”

“Whoa. What is the urgency, Agent Drummand?”

“That’s classified.”

“Why call me other than I’m here and the only medical examiner in my office?” I wasn’t certain what to think about this other than it was bone-chilling weird.

“Because you come highly recommended.”

I wasn’t entirely certain what to say. I pressed the button on the machine and turned around to lean against the counter. “I have obligations later today.”

She had piqued my curiosity. The only reason I could think of that she’d need an autopsy so quickly was to catch a criminal before he or she struck again.

“I take it the person was murdered?”

The agent sighed. Maybe she wasn’t used to having questions asked. “Apparently he was.”

Gotta love FBI agents with vague answers. “How did he die?”

“That’s what I need you to determine. This really is urgent, Doctor Willis. And as you might imagine it’s also quite confidential. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use any of your staff members.”

Of course not.

I glanced at the clock glowing on the microwave. It was a little after six in the morning. Jesus. “Can you meet me at my office there later this morning?” Why was I giving in?

Answer? Because the death could be something juicy I could dig my fingers into.

Mattie would scream at me how sick I was.

“One hour. I’ll be there at seven. I do appreciate your help with this, Doctor.”

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