Shadowed Reunion by Loretta C. Rogers

Author:Loretta C. Rogers [Rogers, Loretta C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romantic Suspense, Drug Cartels, Texas, Dead man walking, South America, Mexico, headless corpse
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2015-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Mitch reached out to catch Laura. She bumped against his wounded shoulder, and he flinched and groaned. Virgil stretched his arm across the couple as if protecting them from an unseen enemy. “Stand back.”

Dr. Mercado backed away but leaned forward as close as possible and yet maintain a safe distance. It was there. He saw it, too. “I’ve never in my life encountered a…a living corpse.”

Virgil fumbled with the safety clasp on his holster. He hefted the butt of his .357 Sig in case he had to pull the weapon. All observers watched as the corpse’s left cheek bulged.

Mercado and his assistant both soldiered backwards. Mitch observed everyone’s faces. Laura stood wide-eyed and fascinated. The ME and his morgue attendant both wore pale, tight expressions. His uncle stood like a sentry ready for war.

Before anyone in the room had a chance to relax, the cadaver’s lips pooched out as if straining against the stitches holding its mouth shut.

Mitch tried to relax the tension in his body, hoping to relieve the throbbing in his shoulder. He wasn’t sure why he was whispering. “Laura, for your safety, I’d like you to leave.”

She edged closer. “Not on your life. I’m staying with you and Virgil.”

Mitch’s uncle gave her an unexpected pat on the shoulder and offered a weak smile. He stole a look at Mercado. “Doc, what’s going on here?”

Mercado’s voice quavered. “Honestly, I don’t know. The body was found in the extreme heat of the day. I’m hoping it’s gases from decomposition.”

This time both cheeks bulged. Moving from side to side. Then, unexpectedly, the corpse’s eyes opened. Laura clamped a hand over her mouth, the scream filtering between her fingers. “Oh, my God! He’s looking at us.” In spite of her intense trembling, she managed to switch the camera to recorder mode. “And m-maybe I can capture what’s happening.”

Mitch licked his lips. “Whoever killed this poor bastard put something inside his mouth. That’s why it’s sewn shut.”

“Holy shit.” Mercado’s olive complexion had changed to pasty and pale. He made the sign of the cross over his chest. “I’m a few weeks away from retirement. In thirty-five years nothing like this has ever happened to me. What a way to end my career.”

Virgil said, “One thing’s for sure. We can’t stand here all day trying to figure out what to do. The best plan of action is to act.” He kept his voice as calm as possible. “Doc, you have the scalpel. You need to cut those seams.”

Mercado’s expression was wild-eyed; he was definitely scared shitless. “I don’t think I can. No! I won’t do it.”

Virgil’s tone was commanding. “Get hold of yourself, man. You’ll do it. We need the autopsy results. Besides, whatever is in there has to come out and be destroyed.”

The ME’s scientific mind seemed to rectify itself. He inched toward the body slowly, very slowly. He blew out as if releasing his tension. “Okay, everyone, goggles on.”

All attention was on the frenetic distortion of the cadaver’s face, until Mitch stopped the ME with a near-yell.

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