Page 17 of The Big Fix

I took a breath. Between her professionalism and Lee’s surprising humanity, I found myself calming. Her direct manner was to be expected. And though Lee had apparently corrected her earlier, Darius wasn’t paying the woman for her empathy, but for her expertise.

Following the doctor and Lee to the rear of the building, we passed through a set of double steel doors with small windows in the centers. Out of habit, I looked through them before entering and saw a large laboratory built into the hangar bay, dominated by machines and computers. All the shiny, sterile steel brought to mind every morgue I’d ever been in. Going in, Dr. Lens had all of us—me, Lee, Jing, and Arden, who had rejoined us—stand off to the side while the ground crew placed the body bag on one of the steel tables. Needing a moment, I turned away.

Dr. Lens glanced at me sideways. “How much sleep have you had in the last two days?”

“Three hours, give or take.”

“That’s inhuman, even by my work standards,” she scolded me gently. “I have everything I need here to get started. Let’s get you to your hotel where you can get some proper rest.”

“Really, I’m fine,” I assured her, trying to smile but unable to. I was exhausted, and there was no hiding that.

Dr. Lens put up her hand. “Really, Colonel, there’s nothing you can do here. And I don’t need you hovering.”

I wanted to argue but took a deep breath instead.

“It’s okay, boss,” Arden soothed me, her eyes filled with worry, reaching out to take hold of my hand. “I’ll be here with the doctor, and I’ll call the moment we know anything.”

I glanced at Dr. Lens.

“Again, Colonel, let me do my job. I record all my autopsies, so you will have that as well as”—she looked to Arden—“an immediate phone call.”

Arden smiled at her, nodding.

Dr. Lens sighed, clearly at ease with my pilot. It wasn’t a surprise. Everyone always warmed to Arden.

“Okay,” I agreed, too weary to argue. They were both right. I had little to offer the forensic process beyond my impatience. I was jet-lagged as well, and my body wasn’t adjusting to the time change with so little sleep. “Thank you.”

I turned to Lee. “Do you know what hotel I’m staying at?”

“Of course. Do you want me here, or with you at the hotel?”

“You can go home, Lee. I don’t—”

He stopped me with a lifted hand. “It’s a simple question. Here, watching over the autopsy, or with you at the hotel?”

What did I want? “Here,” I said, my voice cracking. I felt fractured, terrified to know the truth and needing to know at the same time. “Jing will go with me to the hotel.”

He glanced at Jing. “Are you good?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “More than capable,” she assured him, her tone icy. She was not a fan of people second-guessing her ability just because she was beautiful and wore four-inch heels.

“Then I’ll stay,” Lee said. “There’s a car outside waiting for you.”

“Okay,” I husked, then looked at Arden. “You’ll call.”

“You know I will.”

With a nod, I turned and left.

“Hasana packed you a small bag,” Jing informed me. “Arden picked that up from her before she flew to Bangkok to get us. I had that put in the car already.”

“What about you and Arden?”

“Yeah, I’ve got our stuff too. Don’t worry about it.”

“How did you know the car was for me?”

She huffed out a breath. “If you weren’t so tired, you wouldn’t be asking these inept questions. You’re dead on your feet, so let’s go.”