Free Break No Bones by Kathy Reich Page A

you?"
    "Whole squadrons." Emma flicked at a nonexistent something on the blanket. "I'm not the freakoid loner you think I am."
    "I don't think that at al," I lied.
    At that moment, an ER resident stepped into the cubicle. He had greasy black hair and looked like he'd been up since Reagan held the White House. A plastic rectangle on his scrubs said his name was Bliss.
    Or was the badge some sort of subliminal greeting? I wish you bliss.
    Bliss began flipping through the pages of Emma's chart.
    "Tel her you're not eyeing me as today's organ donor," Emma said.
    Bliss looked up. "You're fine."
    "Two hours ago she was passed out cold," I said.
    "The treatment she's undergoing can be debilitating." Bliss turned to Emma. "You shouldn't run a marathon, but otherwise you're good to go. Assuming you contact your regular physician."
    Emma gave a thumbs-up.
    "She's planning to go straight back to work," I said.
    "That's not a great idea," Bliss said. "Go home. Take some time to recover your strength."
    "It's not like I play tackle for the Carolina Panthers," Emma said.
    "What do you do?" Weary, making notes in the chart.
    "She's the coroner," I said.
    Bliss stopped writing and looked at Emma. "That's why the name seemed familiar."
    A nurse appeared. Bliss instructed her to disconnect Emma's IV
    "Your friend's right." Bliss flipped back the pages of the chart. "Take the day off. If you don't get rest there could be a repeat performance."
    Seconds after Bliss's departure, Emma was on the phone to Gulet. The sheriff was out. Emma said she would personaly drop off the NCIC forms.
    Disconnecting, she dressed and strode from the cubicle. I trailed behind, determined to talk her into going home. Or, failing that, to stay close in the event she took another header.
    Together, we zipped CCC-2006020277 into his body bag and asked a tech to return him to the cooler. Then we stored his X-rays and gathered his paperwork.
    Throughout, I pushed my plan for bed rest.
    Throughout, Emma repeated, "I'm OK."
    Leaving the hospital felt like walking into a vat of warm honey. Emma fired down the ramp, as though trying to put space between us.
    Catching up, I tried one last salvo.
    "Emma." Sharper than I'd intended. I was frustrated and out of arguments. "It's ninety-five. You're exhausted. No case is so important it can't wait until tomorrow."
    Emma let out her breath in annoyance.
    "The cal I just took was from one of my investigators. Couple of boys found a body in the woods this afternoon."
    "Let your investigator handle it."
    "The case could be sensitive."
    "Every death is sensitive."
    "Damn, Tempe. First two, three thousand cases I've worked, I guess I didn't see that."
    I just looked at her.
    "Sorry." Emma pushed the hair from her forehead. "About three months back an eighteen-year-old kid vanished. History of depression, no money, passport, or possessions missing."
    "The cops suspected suicide?"
    Emma nodded. "No note or body was ever found. My investigator thinks this could be him."
    "Let your investigator handle the recovery."
    "There's no margin for error on this one. Daddy's a local politico. Guy's angry, vocal, and hangs with the power boys. That's a dangerous combination."
    I wondered again if blowback from the cruise ship incident was affecting Emma more than I knew.
    "What tipped your investigator?"
    "The remains are hanging from a tree. The tree's less than a mile from the kid's last known address."

    I pictured the scene. That picture was al too familiar.
    "Has Daddy been told?"
    Emma shook her head.
    Plan B.
    "How about this?" I proposed. "Tel Daddy that his son's disappearance is being given top priority. A body has been found, but three months' exposure complicates analysis.
    Outside expertise is needed to make an identification."
    As usual, Emma got it right off. "The coroner's office wants the best, and cost is no obstacle."
    "I like the way you think."
    Emma smiled a weak smile. "You'l realy do it?"
    "You have the authority to bring me