Page 29 of Lost Kingdom

Flynn only shrugs. “This is the method I’m dealing with today.”

“Do you have an ID yet?” Minka asks. “Tentative?”

“Nope. Middle-aged, mid-build. No apparent scarring except for the injuries sustained immediately prior to death. No tattoos. No piercings. His hair wasprobablydark brown, and heprobablykept it about an inch long. No wedding band. No jewelry at all. Cops are running down leads, but if they have an ID, they haven’t shared that information with me.”

I bring my focus around and catch my boss’ deep brown stare. Because execution down at that bay, sadly, screams mafia. And if that’s the case, then we both know a couple of Malones who are going to be pissed today.

“Alright.” She gestures to Doctor Catlin. “Thanks. Next.”

“My slab is clear. I wrapped one up before I left last night, but I know there are a couple waiting for today.”

“There are always bodies waiting.”

“Dang those pesky humans and their propensity to die,” Raquel taunts. “Can I go? I have a backlog longer than my years left on this planet, so…”

“Yeah.” Minka flicks her hand toward the door. “Everyone can clear out. Callen, stay. And Catlin, take your pick of the few who are waiting. Delegate the others out for me.”

“Yes, Chief.” She makes her way to the door and holds it open for our colleagues. Meanwhile, poor, sweet, shy Callen meanders closer to Minka’sdesk and wrings her fingers together to work through her fear. Because Minka Mayet can be somewhat… scary.

“Y-yes, Chief?”

“Sit.” She points toward the chair perched in front of her desk. “I’m gonna need you to get a little meaner. For everyone’s sakes, I need you to find your big girl pants and learn to be assertive.”

“Uh…” Panicked, she looks from Mayet to me. “Chief?”

“Fifi has never, in the history of ever, looked like she was gonna wet her pants just because I asked her to stay back and talk to me.”

“F-Fifi?” she stammers. “You mean Seraphina?”

“What did I miss while I was gone? You’ve been here for a month now, so I expect you could manage in my absence.”

“Y-yes, Chief.” She nervously fidgets. But she speaks, at least. She has answers. “The execution thing,” she hooks a thumb over her shoulder, “The one Doctor Flynn is running. The mayor has some thoughts about that. He’d like you to call him this morning, now that you’re back at work.”

“To talk? Or to talk about the execution?”

“Uh… Yes?”

“Anything else?” I question, before Minka reaches into her drawer and takes out her metal ruler. She might stab somebody with it someday. And personally, though I have no affiliation or personal affection for our newest staff member, I’d prefer it wasn’t Callen.

I’m sure she didn’t deserve it.

“No, Doctor Emeri.” She turns in her seat and clings to me. She’s in stormy seas, and I’m the buoy thatmightsave her life. “It was business as usual while you were both out of the office. We’ve deferred most statements back to primary investigators, and families who needed to see their deceased have been processed and brought through with their corresponding tech. I have a handful of messages for Chief Mayet, though none are urgent. I’ll get those sent over as soon as I go back to my desk. And as I mentioned?—”

“The mayor.” Minka waves Callen off and has the poor girl jumping to her feet. “Thanks.”

She darts out of the office and runs so fast, I’m surprised the split in her skirt doesn’t tear all the way to the top. But while she clobbers the elevator call button, I bring my attention back to my best friend.

My boss.

I’m not sure which order it goes in.

“You’re cruel.”

“Odd. Since I feel I was uncharacteristically nice.” She brings her coffee up and takes a long, ‘ahhh-ing’ sip. “The mayor continues to light up my phone.”

“He misses you.” I sit back in the chair I started this morning in, snatching up my coffee and downing a little before it deteriorates from blistering hot to annoyingly warm. “How was New York?”

“Same as always. You were there. You saw how it was.”

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