Secretive Society

Warm Up

The previous coroner drove an old cargo van on call, but that was the FIRST thing to go when I was elected. My sweet choice was a 2021 Honda Pilot. It blended in well; it was cozy, and it didn’t smell like stale blood. All I had to do was remove the seats and place a metal tray on the back to load up stretchers. I could still feel like a functioning member of society, instead of the outcast that collects the dead. The village was a 25-minute drive from my small duplex in Dover. That gave me time to wake up my brain and go into medical mode.

In my previous life, I was a medical examiner in Miami-Dade County, FL. That has been my dream career since I was a pre-teen, watching CSI: Miami. The sun, the palm trees, hot men, and bombastic food made the move from my small-town upbringing worth it! I was months away from being promoted to Chief Medical Examiner. My life was bliss! I wished I could have stayed, but my dad needed me more. Thankfully, with my dad being the former Police Chief, I was able to land my job as the County Coroner with ease. Everyone voted for me because they loved him and respected him despite my secret abilities. Oh, how I missed being in Florida!

Soon enough, my GPS was screaming at me that I was arriving at my destination. Immediately, the smell of death greeted me in the air. Something sinister happened here and I was going to figure it out. Officers were everywhere, keeping people out of the scene. Good. I was going to need my space. Exiting my vehicle wasn’t fun. It was raining and cold. Good thing my hair was braided so it would be easier to put a hood over it. I still didn’t want them to get wet with it being so fresh. I inspected the area, taking in everything in sight. Emergency vehicles with their lights flashing. Officers, creating and maintaining a perimeter. There were various people with their smartphones outside, recording the scene. Goodness! No one respects the dead or their families anymore. I didn’t notice anyone, seeming out of place. Now, it was time to head into the apartment.