The morning air outside is cold enough to cut through the last alcohol in my system. By the time I get into my car, my thoughts are racing so fast they almost blur together.
The Arbiter. The man the police have been chasing for years. Did he really do it? Did he actually kill Jake? Who else would it be? Jake didn’t have many enemies. At least none who would be brave enough to take down a cop.
If he did this for me… then I’m not just part of the investigation anymore. I’m the reason it happened.
The road to the mortuary appears ahead of me, familiar and quiet in the early morning light. My pulse quickens. Because in a few minutes, I’m going to walk into work. And inside that building… Jake’s corpse is waiting.
The parking lot is already half full when I pull in. Nothing unusual about that. Morning shifts always start early. But I have a feeling that I won’t be going home before nightfall today. There’s a lot of work waiting for me. I’ve walked through those doors hundreds of times. Today it feels different. He’s inside.
In my entire career, I’ve never had someone I knew personally on my table. The thought sits heavy in my chest, but I force myself to breathe normally as I push through the glass doors.
The smell of disinfectant greets me immediately. Familiar. Clinical. Safe. Or at least it used to be.
“Morning, Madeline.”
I look up to see Bryan behind the front desk, already halfway through his first coffee of the day.
“Morning,” I reply automatically, offering a small nod as I pass.
The hallway buzzes with a quiet activity. Phones ringing. Distant voices. The soft hum of fluorescent lights. It feels much more alive here during the day. Night shifts are completely different. But everything appears exactly the same as every other morning. Which somehow makes it worse.
I swipe my badge at the security door and step into the elevator. For a second I just stare at my reflection in the polished steel. I look… normal. A little pale. A little tired. But normal. No one would guess that an hour ago a detective told me my ex-boyfriend is dead.
The elevator dings softly as it reaches my floor. I step out into the corridor.
“Madeline.”
I turn to see Dr. Halvorsen walking toward me, a tablet tucked under his arm.
“Morning,” I say, adjusting the strap of the bag on my shoulder.
“We received a body about twenty minutes ago,” he says.
“You’ll be alone in the mortuary today. Only Bryan will stay downstairs. Leave when you’re done with everything.”
Of course. My throat tightens slightly.
“Already processed through intake?”
He nods.
“Preliminary documentation is done. It’s in the autopsy room.”
My pulse jumps. Ready. Waiting.
He glances down at his tablet before looking back at me. “The name is Jake Sullivan,” he adds.
Suddenly the hallway feels too quiet. Too still. But years of training kick in before the reaction can reach my face.
I nod once.
“Alright.”
My voice sounds steady. Professional. Exactly the way it should.
I’ll finally see what he did to him. And if I’m right, I won’t be just looking at my ex-boyfriend. I’ll be looking at the work of the most dangerous man in this city.
The preparation always takes some time. I need my morning coffee. To set up my office. Check the incoming files. Change into the clothes meant for the autopsy. Only then, I’m finally ready to face him. By the time I step into the autopsy room, it’s already getting close to afternoon.
