“I assume that’s a safeguard to prevent records being hacked?” Emmett guess.
Scarlett smiled. “Talia said you were quick on the uptick.” She used her badge to open another secured door.
“Oh, wow.” Janie hugged herself close. “This place is freezing.”
“This is nothing.” Scarlett held the door so they could walk past. “You should feel what it’s like where the bodies are kept.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” his partner in crime quipped.
Emmett looked at Janie before mouthing the word “creepy” with a waggle of his brows. He nearly chuckled aloud when she pulled her lips inward to keep from laughing as they followed Scarlett down the lengthy hall.
“The Chief’s office is through here.”
The impressive woman led them through a set of double-doors, which opened into another long hallway. She stopped at the last door on the right. Mounted on the wall next to the doorframe was informative plaque that readChief Medical Examiner.
Janie eyed the electronic keypad attached to the door. “It takes a code?” She looked to Scarlett. “How are we going to get inside?”
“Easy.” Scarlett shrugged. “I know the code.”
“The chief gave you the code to his personal office?” Emmett shared in Janie’s surprise.
“I wouldn’t exactly say hegaveit to me.” She opened the door and stepped aside, giving them room to pass. “But I may have seen him enter it the first time I was here.”
“And you remembered it?” He found that impressive.
A shimmer appeared behind Scarlett’s green eyes as a knowing smile lifted her full, bow-shaped lips. “Talia didn’t tell you much about me, did she?”
“Just that you were incredibly smart and the best at what you do.”
“She’s right on both counts.” The woman shrugged. “And that’s not me being conceded or arrogant. It’s just a fact. But what I’m guessing our mutual friend failed to mention is that I have what’s known medically as a Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory. Basically, it’s what people think of when they hear ‘photographic memory’.”
Janie slid awkwardly to the nearest corner as if she wasn’t sure where to stand. “So you see something onetime, and then what? You remember it for the rest of your life?”
“Pretty much.”
“Wow.” Scarlett’s long lashes fluttered with several quick blinks. “That’s such an incredible gift.”
“Most days, it is. Others, not so much.” Scarlett went to one of five file cabinets lining the room’s far wall.
Emmett stood inches from Janie while the spunky redhead pulled something small and silver from her front pocket. Within seconds, she was using the small tool to pick open the top drawer’s lock.
“Okay, seriously.” Janie gave a tiny snort. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
The lock clicked loudly, announcing it had been set free. Scarlett opened the drawer and immediately began a cursory search of the hanging files inside.
“Cook,” she answered bluntly. “I’ve tried countless times, but I always end up burning whatever I’m trying to make. Here we go.” Scarlett pulled one of the files free and faced them. “This is everything Nguyen has on Amy Weaver so far.”
He and Janie joined her at the well-organized desk. Together they hovered around the opened file and began a quick scan of its contents.
“What are you looking for?” Janie asked Scarlett as she flipped through the pages of scribbled notes and photos.
Emmett was impressed by her show of strength. A few of the pictures made her flinch, but even then, she never once looked away.
When Scarlett didn’t respond, Janie added, “The news said it was a suicide.”
Scarlett tucked some hair behind her ear to move it from her face. “It wasn’t a suicide.”
Emmett’s spine grew stiff as he and Janie immediately turned toward the other woman. “You can tell just by looking at a few pictures?”
