Page 47 of Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites

“Hello, this is the Twisted Sisters. What can we help you with?” I answered on speaker.

“This is Dr. Grey, the new coroner,” a brisk voice said on the other end. “I need you and your sisters to come down to the office immediately.”

“Is something wrong?” I asked, glancing at Dre, who was already grabbing the bags we’d taken to carrying around.

“There’s something you need to see. Now.” And with that, she hung up.

I stared at my phonefor a moment, processing the abruptness of the call. “Apparently, we’re needed at the coroner’s office,” I announced to the group.

“That was incredibly odd,” Kota observed as we headed for the backdoor.

“I would have liked a few more details. I hate going into situations blind.” I shrugged, feeling a bit thrown off by the curt exchange.

Phi raised an eyebrow. “She’s got to be trustworthy since Terence brought her here, right?”

“I’d say so,” I replied, pocketing my phone. “I guess the swamp can wait a bit longer.”

Dani nodded and climbed into the backseat. “Alright, let’s see what’s so urgent.”

We piled into the car, the atmosphere tense with unspoken questions. As we drove, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever awaited us at the coroner’s office was important, maybe even critical. We waved to the hotline workers as we headed upstairs.

The door to the new coroner’s office was open. And rather than the air freshener we had flowing throughout the building, it was thick with the sharp scent of antiseptic. It was odd to enter the space. It was like stepping into another world. One where death was examined under fluorescent lights rather than mourned in the shadows. Although, there were no fluorescent lights here. Dani wouldn’t dream of installing those. Instead, we’d installed stylish new light fixtures with regular bulbs.

Our footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor. The room had previously been empty. It now had a few basic items the coroner needed. There was a body on one of the two newly installed stainless-steel tables. I don’t know why I was so surprised to see them. The medical instruments laid out with meticulous precision were just as shocking. However, thevarious charts and magical artifacts affixed to the walls and on shelves weren’t. I had come to expect the mystical.

Shaking those thoughts aside, I considered how this location wasn’t going to work well. We needed to add sinks so the coroner could wash up. We would also need an elevator in the building for easy access. And we’d have to install a wall of fridges to store bodies until they were claimed.

My mind went blank when the doctor looked up from her work. She was tall, with strikingly pale skin and long, silvery hair that shimmered under the light. Her eyes were an unusual shade of green. They were luminescent and gave her an otherworldly appearance. Her white lab coat contrasted sharply with the dark, intricate tattoos that peeked out from the cuffs of her sleeves. I recognized some of them from working with Temperence. They symbolized she had a necromantic lineage.

“Good to see you all,” she greeted us with a nod. “I’m Dr. Alexandra Grey.” She followed my gaze and said, “I’m a necromancer and pathologist. I’ve been working in this field for longer than I can recall. Mostly in Europe, but I’ve come to New Orleans to assist with the increasing supernatural activity here.”

We introduced ourselves, exchanging brief pleasantries. The gravity of the situation quickly pulled us back to the matter at hand. Dr. Grey gestured for us to follow her to the examination table, where the newest victim lay under a white sheet.

“I just finished the autopsy,” she began, her voice steady and professional. “This victim is one of the Montclairs.”

A collective gasp echoed through the room, the implications hitting us all at once. Dre was the first to voice what we were all thinking. “This means they’re behind Garrick’s actions, doesn’t it? They’ve been pulling the strings all along.”

Dr. Grey arched an eyebrow. “It’s a strong possibility.What I wanted you to see is that the wounds on the body aren’t all new. They’re both dark magic and physical trauma which is slightly consistent with the patterns Terrence described from other attacks. However, there are new and old injuries which isn’t. Some of the symbols were carved over a week ago. And then there is a particular residue that matches what you’ve found at previous scenes.”

Dea looked troubled, her brows furrowing. “But why would they target one of their own? What’s the angle here?”

I leaned in, trying to piece it together. “Maybe this was a punishment or a warning. Internal conflict, perhaps? It could be a power struggle within the family.”

Kota grimaced and added, “Or it could be an attempt to throw us off their scent. Make us think they’re victims too.”

Dr. Grey folded her arms, and her expression turned thoughtful. “Whatever the reason, it’s clear the Montclairs are deeply involved in this. The evidence is pointing more and more towards them orchestrating these events. I’ve asked if the previous victims are available for me to examine. It will help me understand better than word of mouth alone.”

Dre’s eyes narrowed with determination. “We need to go to the Montclair estate and see what we can learn. If they’re behind this, we need to confront them and get to the bottom of it.”

As the conversation shifted to practicalities, my mind went back to the limitations of the makeshift lab. “Dr. Grey,” I began, “we are beyond glad to have you here, but I can see you’re working with less-than-ideal conditions. Would it help if we built you a proper lab? Somewhere you could work more effectively?”

Dr. Grey's eyes widened slightly and a flicker of surprise crossed her features. “That would be incredibly helpful. The nature of my work requires specific tools and environments that this room simply can't provide.”

Dani nodded and spun in a circle. “Consider it done. We'll talk to the council and make sure you get everything you need. Why don't you look around the building and see which rooms would work best for you? Keeping your office here is best for all involved, so that is the one limitation we will need to work with.”

“I’m confident there will be spaces we can use here,” Dr. Grey replied, genuine gratitude in her voice. “Having a fully equipped lab would significantly enhance my ability to assist in investigations. There are certain analyses and rituals that I’ve been unable to perform here.”

“We'll start on it right away,” Dre assured her. “In the meantime, keep us updated on anything you find. Every detail could be crucial.”

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