The doctor nodded to a female assistant in a white lab coat standing next to the table, and the woman pulled back the sheet.

“Oh, my God.” The bile rose in Kate’s throat. She swayed, and the doctor caught her arm to steady her.

“Is this your sister, Christina Gallagher?”

The body on the table in no way resembled the beautiful young girl who had been her little sister. At only eighteen, this young woman was gaunt, her cheeks hollow, her skin chaffed and sallow and clinging to her bones. Her closed eyes were dark and sunken. Bruises covered her face, shoulders and chest, all Kate could see of the body.

Tears welled and slipped down her cheeks. “It’s her.” It wasn’t Chrissy in any way Kate remembered her, and yet there was no doubt she was the thin, brutalized, lifeless form lying on the stainless-steel table.

The doctor nodded at the assistant, who drew the sheet back over Chrissy’s face. Dr. Maxwell kept a firm grip on Kate’s arm as he turned her toward the door and guided her out of the room, back into the hallway. Her legs were shaking, her throat too tight to speak.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” the doctor said, finally letting her go.

“Thank...thank you.”

“We have your contact information. You’ll be notified when the body has been released.”

She swallowed, wiped at the tears on her cheeks. “Do you...do the police have any leads on the killer?”

“I’m sure they’re working hard to find whoever was involved.”

Kate nodded. Without saying more, she started back down the hallway. The doctor didn’t follow and she was glad. There was nothing left to say, nothing more he could do.

Tears blurred her vision and her head swam as she walked out into the sunlight and crossed the parking lot to her car. She wouldn’t be returning to her office today. She needed time to deal with her crushing emotions, the sense of loss and pain. The terrible sense of failure.

She needed time to grieve.

Kate slid in behind the wheel and shoved her key into the ignition. Fresh pain struck so hard she couldn’t breathe. Instead of starting the engine, Kate put her head down on the steering wheel and started to weep.

Copyright © 2019 by Kat Martin

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