Dr. Maddox put on latex gloves and inspected the body briefly in the opened bag. “Val, Gwen, can you lift her out? We’ll unwrap her on the exam table.”

Gwen took hold of Gabrielle Morgan’s shoulders, while Val held her ankles, and the two moved the body to a stainless-steel table where the autopsy would be conducted. Dr. Maddox placed a metal tray under each of Gabrielle’s hands, making sure it extended up her forearm, then he carefully took off the plastic wrap. “Looks like these branches belong to a fir tree. Val, start with photography and then we’ll get them out of her hands. We’ll need to find out exactly what kind of tree these belong to, might have some relevance to the case. We’ll have to identify the seeds, too.”

Val nodded, taking mental notes of Dr. Maddox’s instructions. He was right. The kind of tree and seeds should have some significance to Gabrielle. Val pulled out the camera as Detectives Gavin and Warren walked through the door. “Any more news?” she immediately asked.

“Yes, big news… Gabrielle Morgan is the daughter of James and Rachel Morgan, of Morgan Foods.”

Val’s jaw dropped open and everyone in the room suddenly stopped, stunned. All heads turned towards Gavin.

“She was one of the Morgans?” Gwen finally broke the silence.

“Yes.” Gavin took off his coat and placed it on a counter by the door.

“That fact isn’t listed anywhere in the missing person’s report,” Val said. Hell, nothing in that report, nothing about how Gabrielle lived, hinted that she was part of this family. Plus, Morgan was such a common name that Val wouldn’t have even suspected this connection.

Morgan Foods manufactured packaged bread, whole-wheat crackers, and breakfast cereal. Almost every supermarket in the country carried Morgan Foods products. The company was started in Buffalo and dated back to the late 1800s when the family ventured into the lucrative grain industry that was skyrocketing in the area. Val knew this because the history of the family business was printed on every package.

Val was Buffalo born and raised, migrating for only ten years to practice dentistry in Clearwater, Florida, leaving behind snow and skiing for sun and beaches. She returned home when her dental career was cut short. This city was in her blood, and with nothing to keep her in Florida the choice to come back to Buffalo was an easy one. The community was tight-knit, friendly, welcoming. Everyone helped everyone, the rich included, some more so than others.