The new digital X-ray equipment was positioned next to the gurney, equipment Julia had wanted to get for the office. Val grew sad at the thought of Julia, but it was short-lived. Val missed her a little less each day, mostly due to her friendship with Gwen Carmondy. Her relationship with Gwen was taking a turn she would have never expected. Since their evening out, several days ago, the two began spending more time together. Val really liked her. Now, the issue of Oliver Solaris had taken another costly twist. Not only would she lose her job, she could lose her friend if this secret got out.

But after today’s mishap she might not need the help of the Oliver Solaris lie to lose her job.

She was so mad she could spit and she wanted to strangle Dr. Blythe for doing this to her.

Though he didn’t say it directly, he was testing her with this victim. She was convinced of it. He had instructed her to get dental X-rays and provide a complete preliminary report of her findings about this individual. Except for the X-rays, this was an unusual request since this victim was already at the morgue. Everything else she would have performed at the crime scene. The only reason Blythe would ask her to do this now was so that he could evaluate her skills as a death investigator. He had every right to use any poor performance as grounds for firing her.

Val looked at the dead man on the table, trying to figure out how to fix the problem, cursing herself for not taking more time to understand the equipment. But in all honesty, taking dental X-rays was something she could do in her sleep.

Seeing as she thought it would be the easiest part of the examination she decided to get these first. This was a digital system however, and the part that went into the mouth was an electronic sensor, which was quite a bit thicker than typical dental film. Getting it positioned so that she could take the pictures was something she thought she’d learn by trial and error. Unfortunately, today’s experience had been entirely error.

Though she’d been as careful as possible, while trying to put the sensor in, she broke off four of the lower front teeth.