Val stood still for a moment, not moving. Then she mechanically held out her hand. Gwen shook it and then let go. Val felt her body go limp, as if the wind had been knocked out of her. She heard what the woman was saying but somehow it wasn’t registering. This couldn’t be true. She was suddenly standing in the middle of a very bad dream. Then reality hit hard as she stared at the person she’d stolen the job from.

“Are you okay?” Gwen questioned. “Maybe you should sit down. You don’t look well.” She pulled a chair over and tried to coax Val into it.

“I’m fine.” She waved away the chair.

“Anyway, Dr. Blythe hired me yesterday and asked me to start today. He said the office was pretty busy.”

Val had wondered how much time was left before her days at the medical examiner’s office were over. With Gwen Carmondy standing in front of her, the end might be sooner than she thought. Choosing her words carefully, Val asked, “How did you find out about the position? I mean, how did you know there was an opening?”

“Oh, I was good friends with Oliver Solaris. He used to be one of the head death investigators here. I heard you knew him too. I can’t believe he’s gone. Wasn’t he awesome?”

“He was the best.” Val placed a hand on the counter to steady herself. Oliver Solaris could have been an ax murderer for all she knew of him. The room suddenly became hot and she felt dizzy.

“Are you sure you don’t want to sit?” Gwen patted the chair.

Val just shook her head.

“This is such a funny story. I was actually supposed to be interviewed about a month ago. After Oliver died, they decided to hire someone else he knew. That must have been you.”

Val nodded. She felt the lie was written all across her face and waited for Gwen to ask something that would make it all too obvious that she’d never met this man. She held her breath, as Gwen continued.

“I called out of the blue and spoke to Dr. Blythe. I told him who I was and asked if he could keep my résumé on file in case a position should open up. He offered me the job on the spot. He said with the death of the deputy medical examiner, he needed help. I can’t believe what happened to her. I hear her husband did it, that he’s a serial killer. He’s killed more people, right?”