As soon as Val was inside the metal doors, Betty said, “This is Candace Drapier. She’s our head administrator and pretty much handles everything going on here. She’ll show you where to go and get you sorted out.”

Candace was tall, an easy five feet ten, with short blond hair and wide-set blue eyes. She came forward, hand outstretched to greet Val. “I’m so happy to meet you.” With the opposite hand on her hip and the other taking Val’s in a firm handshake, she squeezed a little too tight, then peered down. It had a carnivorous feel and Val couldn’t help but sense she was being appraised, questioned and evaluated all at once. Candace suspects something, she thought. Or she wants to suspect something—which honestly, is worse.

“I have some paperwork for you to do. It’s all the standard first-day-of-work forms.” Candace handed Val a folder filled with various documents. “I need you to complete these and give them back to me ASAP.” She continued to rattle off the itinerary.

“We’ll get your ID done at some point today. You’ll need that for just about everything you do. The ID swipes to open all of the doors here, and you will have to display it at any death scenes you go to.” She pulled on the strap around her neck and showed Val her own ID card.

Val nodded, trying to make a mental note of the rapid-fire instructions.

“Well then, come with me. I’ll bring you by Dr. DeHaviland’s office first. I know she wants to say hello, and then I’ll take you to your office so you can get started,” Candace said.

As they entered the hallway, Candace pointed to an open door to their right. The sign outside the entrance read “toxicology department”. “This is where we perform all of our drug testing. Dr. Beauchamp is our head toxicologist. It’s amazing what they can find in tissue samples nowadays, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It is.” Val had a decent knowledge of medications. She had to prescribe them for her patients when she practiced. She poked her head in the room and was surprised by the large size. “They must do a lot of drug analysis here.”

“A lot is an understatement. This is a pretty busy morgue. We handle about a thousand autopsies per year. All of our departments are worked to the max. You’ll be a welcome addition for Dr. Blythe and Dr. DeHaviland.” Her tone seemed sincere and Val felt her tightly wound nerves ease a little.

They continued down the hallway.

“In addition to the toxicology lab, we also have a histology lab so we can check for pathology in the tissues quickly. Of course, most autopsies take place in the main morgue area. There is one private room for high-profile cases, but only Dr. Blythe and Dr. DeHaviland use that.”

“DNA testing isn’t performed here?”