She had several textbooks open and quickly glanced through the chapters that dealt with burn victims, trying to find out what to do. But this body didn’t look like any of the ones in the pictures. Skin shrinks when it’s burned. She knew that, and the photos showed the typical appearance of charred flesh around the oral cavity as the tissue pulls back from the teeth, exposing what’s left, and what was left in the photos wasn’t much. According to the book this person should be devoid of front teeth: they should have disintegrated in the fire. This wasn’t what had happened here.

The left side of his face appeared unaffected, and the lips were mostly closed. All of the front teeth had been there before she touched them. Now, the fractured pieces rested on the man’s tongue.

She read further, panicking. The next few paragraphs in one book did warn to be careful in the circumstances where the teeth seemed to be intact, stating they may be fragile and breakage was a possibility.

“Great, it’s a little too late to see this now.” She slammed all of the books closed and was still assessing the situation when the door opened and Jack Styles casually walked in.

Val stared in disbelief and then quickly jumped, grabbing a few stray paper towels that were lying on the countertop, hiding the textbooks as best she could with them.

“Who let you in?” She spoke with authority. This certainly wasn’t the time to be anything less than assertive. With a catastrophe on her hands the last person in the world she wanted to be standing with her was Jack Styles. Surely he’d see how inexperienced she was. Plus, what would he think of her if he noticed that she, a dentist, couldn’t take X-rays without screwing up? She cringed at the thought of Jack Styles telling the renowned Thomas Hayden that they hire idiots at the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office.

“I was told I could find you here.” He waved his visitor ID at her. “See, I even have permission.”

“Dr. Blythe’s in autopsy room one. You’ll want to speak to him.” Val resumed her work. Maybe he would just let her be and leave quickly if she didn’t engage him in conversation. She couldn’t risk him staying in the room long enough to notice anything wrong.

“He’s busy. I was hoping you’d keep me company while I wait.”

“I’m busy too,” she said, knowing that Blythe must have blown Jack off again. She continued working, though really not doing much.

Jack made no motion towards the door. He wasn’t leaving. Val took a deep breath, trying to focus, but it didn’t help with him in the room. She couldn’t think of what she needed to do next.