Okay, more like sixth guessing, but I didn’t have a lot of options. Either way, I’m definitely not as comfortable as I would’ve been in scrubs and clogs. Maybe I should’ve worn those so I’d look the part of a coroner like Jeff looks like a sheriff?

Do scrubs or business casual better portray that I’m someone you can trust about autopsies?

“Figure this’ll be quick, and I’m working a speed trap out on highway 14 later. Shh.” He holds a finger to his lips.

“Who would I tell?” I ask with a small laugh. “No one talks to me anyway, and I’m only going downstairs after court, but I hope you get the bad guys.” Speeders aren’t really all that bad in the big scheme of things, but I appreciate Jeff keeping our county roads safe. “What about the other investigation?”

He is doing something, right? He said he would, but he could’ve been giving me lip service so I’d leave well enough alone.

Jeff frowns, going quiet for a moment. His eyes scan the room, and I wonder what he sees. Does he plan exit strategies or store away details in case he needs accurate recall later?

I only see a place where I’m going to be the center of attention for the minutes I have to testify. I reach in my purse, under the guise of checking that my phone is on silent, but I actually touch the coaster from Blake that I stashed there.

I’m not sure what luck I’m hoping for . . . me testifying or Jeff investigating, or both . . . but a tiny bit of luck seals over the fissure in my nerves. Finally, Jeff leans toward me, his voice deep and low to say, “Remember, you’re here for your expert opinion. Keep it short and sweet, just the facts.”

“But I know a lot more than that report shows. The judge should have all the information to make a decision.” My intrinsic sense of right and wrong knows that for sure.

Jeff sighs and takes a deep drink of coffee. “You and I are here to answer the questions asked of us, nothing more and nothing less. If you tell more than that, you’ll put Yvette on notice and my investigation will go nowhere, I can promise you that.”

“But she might get the claim settlement.”

Jeff looks at me from the corner of his eye. “So?”

“What do you mean, so? It’s not right.”

“Money’s not my concern, yours either. The law is.”

I let that sink in, mulling over my own human nature that doesn’t want Yvette to get something that isn’t rightfully hers and mixing it with my responsibilities as a coroner and representative of Williamson County.