by Selena Kitt
In this way, she could operate on her own for a long time.
She had a second bag ready and waiting on the other side of her table. After opening the bag wide, she pulled the ends of it down over the stretcher sides and started laying out the bones of a small girl on her table. She grabbed a new numbered checklist and wrote that same number in white permanent marker at the top of the body bag.
And started anew.
It wasn’t just a slow job. She’d also call it a careful one, particularly when she could be looking at one of the three people destined to return to Seattle. A child’s skeleton lay in front of her, the bone clean and bare.
She quickly determined the child was female and the skeleton was relatively complete. She’d been wearing a sundress in a red to orange color. Jade grabbed a magnifying glass and used it to identify stars on the material. She made a notation of it, added a quick sketch to her page before beginning the slow job of cataloguing the details of the child. Her left leg was broken, most likely as a result of the earthquake, and her skull showed a small fracture on the left side. Jade spent the next hour learning every detail she could from the small skeleton. There was a piece of plastic between the largest toes on the one right foot and not on the other. The best deduction based on the bright blue color was the child had been wearing flip-flops at the time of her death. Testing for details wasn’t an issue on this job. No money. No time. No need.
Footsteps approaching the open door were followed by Meg’s cheerful voice. “Hey, how’s the work going?”
Jade smiled at her. “It’s moving. Not too quickly; I’m trying to be really thorough so I won’t have to do this twice.”
“I hear you there. The smell isn’t too bad in here.” Meg dropped her purse over by Jade’s on the corner of the counter. Her light sweater was dumped on top. “Have you done the dental impression?”
“Nope.” Jade looked down at the body on her table. “That’s next.”
Scooping up gloves on her way, Meg walked toward her, her work boots clumping on the thin floor. “Right. Then I’ll work on the DNA while you do that. Is the rest done on this one?”
“No.” Jade reached for the silicone then walked over and made the dental impression. “I’m not sure why we’re doing dental. How many of the kids here would have been to dentists?”
“Lots of them. Especially our girl. She had X-rays done when she visited her grandpa last time. They’ll be used to confirm identity.”
“Makes sense.” The two women worked together until each finished the job at hand.
Jade grabbed her checklist for the little girl and marked off the completed steps. “Okay, she’s done too.” Writing out a toe tag, she attached it with an elastic band around the bottom of the small tibia and zipped the bag closed. She’d deliberately placed the bones at the top end of the bag and rolled the excess plastic up at the bottom. Working with bags was different than with boxes. When she could, she laid out the remains properly and folded the spare plastic under. It felt better to her. More respectful. Plus this allowed for immediate visual confirmation of a child.
Not everyone’s system…but this worked for her.
Grabbing the cart, Jade pushed the stretcher toward the door. Meg walked behind her. “Let’s move her first.”
Lifting gently, they transferred the two sets of processed remains to the reefer truck. Inside the truck, they shifted the little girl first. Jade had added a simple system to let them know, without opening bags or searching for charts, that this was a female child. They were going to try and keep females on one side and males on the other, with children separated off as much as they could – given they didn’t know how the population would break down into each demographic until they were done. Lifting the second body bag, they placed it on the male side of the refrigerator truck.
Like everything here, their system had to be flexible. The conditions were rough and they didn’t have the amenities they’d like to have. As Jade checked her marking system to make sure it conformed, she asked Meg, “How are the men doing?”
“Dr. Mike is ranting that he needs to get into the labs but he’s been busy securing more equipment for us. Bruce and Susan have been in town all day, and Stephan and Wilson were at the site, shoveling to remove more of the top layer.”
“Good. Stephen’s going to be doing the database too, isn’t he?” Jade was quite good with databases. In fact, she half expected those skills to be called into service soon.
Meg frowned, brushing a hand through her curls. “Hmmm.” She rearranged the body bags until she was happy with them. “Are you ready? We can take one back now, if you want.”
Jade looked at her watch. “When, what and how are we getting lunch today?”
“I think there were supposed to be bagged lunches here. If there isn’t any food, I can bring something back for you when I run the morning’s samples to the refrigerator Bruce had delivered to the hotel.
They checked but couldn’t find anything edible on site. Once Jade realized it would be at least an hour before she could eat, she suggested, “Let’s move another body bag into the lab. I’ll keep working until you come back to feed me.” She patted her tummy, a big grin on her face.
Meg shook her head. “You and your stomach.”
Jade’s flashed her big grin again. “Hey, I lost a ton of weight when I was here last time. I can’t afford to lose any more.”
“I’ll say. You’re too thin now. Are you sure you don’t have worms?”
The discussion degenerated from there as they laughed and teased each other. But they transferred another bag onto Jade’s table using the portable stretchers. Right now, it looked like the reefer truck system might work out fine.
Stephen and Wilson had taken over looking after the reefer trucks – with a maintenance guy at the end of the phone should they have trouble. There was a backup generator large enough to handle any issues, should a problem arise. On top of their temperature concerns, condensation was becoming a problem.
As she walked out, Jade checked the temperature gauge outside the reefer truck. It was normal. Good thing, considering the daytime temperature of Haiti. She frowned. “Have to make sure we keep an eye on the temperature.”
Meg stepped over. “True. But it’s fine now.”
They returned to the lab. “If you want to grab those samples, I’ll get to work on the next one.”
“What you mean is I should go grab you lunch. The samples could stay here a little longer for all you care.” Meg shook her head. “As if I don’t get your ploy.”
“I imagine Stephen and Wilson have to be starving, too?”
“Not likely. You’re the only one starving around here.” She looked toward the gravesite. “I suppose I should check with them.” She shook her head. “Ten years of post secondary, another eight years of valuable experience and I’m doing lunch runs.”
Jade laughed. “And just think of the wage you’re pulling in to do them.”
“Good point.” Meg strode down the path, her tall slim frame disappearing quickly out of sight.
Jade turned back to her lab, wishing they had the databases set up already. Database work was Stephen’s domain. Still, she had to write and enter each chart and she found she missed her email access out here. The computers with Internet were at the hotel. She’d seriously considered upgrading her electronics before leaving Portland and then decided that the reception could be hit-or-miss on location, so had decided not to bother.
Frowning, she stood at the door to the lab and surveyed the long narrow room. The room would do fine for the now. Just as her return to Haiti was working out fine.
Surprisingly.
She’d been busy enough that she hadn’t had to worry about depression or grief overwhelming her. The team had been overwhelmingly accepting. Jade no longer worried about her placement here. She belonged. This had been the right decision. If she’d realized a change in focus would allow her to heal, she might not have wasted the last six months of her lif
e.
Jade grinned. She missed Duncan. She’d make time to send him a long email tonight. He had to be worrying about her. She’d come a long way toward recovery. Sure there’d been some back and forth with emotions. They could flare at the odd times – but she was fine right now.
He deserved to know that.
Emile had called in sick for work today and damn near shit his pants when Dane pulled in at the gravesite. Damn good thing he’d hidden behind the trees close to his father’s cabin. This end of the property was heavier in vegetation than the rest, being part of the original plantation. He’d planned on just checking out the place, seeing what they were doing.
He’d spied two men working on the grave with shovels. He shuddered. There’s no way he’d be doing that job.
Then he’d seen the tall brunette drive off, leaving the little blonde to work all alone in a small trailer with only one door.
Alone. In Haiti – where the normal trappings of civilization had been stripped clean and animal instincts laid bare by destruction. Sure some of those trappings had been quickly replaced, but only by some. Others had reacted wildly to the chaos – like during war times – raping the women they could and killing others over food. Life had gone animalistic in those first few weeks. They’d calmed down some – actually a lot. But that didn’t mean any of the men had forgotten that feeling of being what they truly were. Predators.
Leaving young, pretty white women alone and unprotected, now that was asking for those predatory instincts to go on a rampage all over again.
From what he’d seen, it looked like Dane had his eyes on the little one. He’d watched the two of them when they were talking outside the trailer. The little one was skittish, but Dane was making all the right moves, moving slowly, staking his claim.
He could appreciate that. Besides Dane was the boss. He should have first pick.
That left the tall one for him.
He couldn’t help himself; he licked his lips and watched as she walked along the path and clambered over the rocks to where the two men were shoveling. Both greeted her as he’d hoped. Just casually friendly. Good. No sign of propriety ownership. Idiots. They worked beside two single women and hadn’t he seen a third the other day? He cast his mind back, sure he’d seen a darker-haired woman with them too. Although, he didn’t know that any were single. Not that it mattered for his purposes.
Honestly, if a man couldn’t protect what was his, then he deserved to lose it.
And the woman? Well, according to his father, she didn’t get to have a say in the matter.
Chapter Eight
The next morning, Jade decided there was no use putting it off any longer. She needed to work on their ‘prisoner girl.’ The authorities had come, had a long talk with Dr. Mike, taken a few notes and pictures and then left.
At that point, the woman had been removed from the grave as carefully as glass slivers from skin. Jade had documented every step, taken photos at each stage. It was only right she continue the job. She knew how to follow procedures but she wasn’t a forensic anthropologist like Dr. Mike. Someone told her he’d also worked for a dozen years as Chief Medical Examiner in Dallas. She doubted there was much he hadn’t seen in his career.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled the cart over to her worktable and gently unzipped the body bag. The remains had been wrapped in something at one time – a sheet maybe. There was almost nothing left now.
Using her brush, she cleaned off the top of the body and was struck by the feminine bits and pieces of material that emerged. Bits of pink ruffles, pink pleats in the skirt – stiffened and dried – its original prettiness now a macabre imitation. She grabbed her camera and started taking pictures while the body lay in the bag. She’d done several at the gravesite, having been unable to throw off the concern that this was a crime scene – maybe not a killing site but definitely a dumping site.
She worked steadily for several hours.
“Hey.” Meg walked into the room, brown bag in her hand and a tall take-out cup in the other. “Wow, it’s warm in here. I brought food.”
Jade fired a wide grin at her. “Great. I’m starved.”
With an eye roll, Meg said, “See, I didn’t even make you ask today. Besides, Dr. Mike and Bruce are looking at the gravesite. They’re going to be here over lunch, too.”
“Oh good. I have our poor prisoner girl on the table. I’m hoping for a few more answers when I consult with Dr. Mike.”
“Interesting.” Meg stepped over to stare at the skeleton. “She looks young.” Pulling on gloves, Meg bent over, then gently opened the girl’s mouth to check the teeth. “Full dentition with the wisdom just crowning in the back. She could be anywhere from twelve to eighteen for that matter. How is the fusing of the bones?” She took a magnifying glass to the radius. “Not fused at the bone plate yet.” Checking the cranium next, she straightened and frowned. “Cranial sutures are still evident.”
Meg glanced over at Jade. “I’m thinking a female, a teenager approximately fifteen to seventeen years of age. Pretty rough sutures at that.”
Jade pursed her lips. “That matches my guess.”
“Interesting age.”
“Especially here. Girls are often married by then.”
Studying the bones, Meg asked, “Is she complete?”
“Yes. Appears to be.” Jade tossed her gloves in the garbage. She pulled a sani-wipe out of the dispenser and washed her hands thoroughly. Then, opening her brown lunch bag, she pulled out a container with rice, beans and vegetables. She dug in. It was food, hot and tasty. They’d been offered sandwiches for lunch but the team preferred to eat local fare. Turning back to Meg, she pointed out the remnants of the clothing she’d removed from the skeleton.
Meg let out a long whistle. “Pleats. Wow. I’m guessing it’s the multiple layers of synthetic clothing that kept those from deteriorating.”
Jade shrugged. “Possibly. I can’t analyze the material properly here, however it looks that way. There’s no jewelry on the body.
“Interesting.” She bent over the head area, then reached out a finger and checked the collarbone.
“Broken and healed.”
“Agreed.”
Jade munched happily. When her food was gone, she reached into the bag and pulled out a banana that she finished in six bites. She peered into the bag again, hoping there was something else.
“I guess we need to get you a double-sized lunch from now on.” Laughter filled Meg’s voice.
Catching her humorous look, Jade smirked. “Good idea.” She tucked the container back in the bag and put it by the door.
Meg shook her head. “I’m going to work on getting the DNA samples and might as well take the dental impression too – unless you want to?”
“Go for it. I’m still charting.”
“Right. We’re hoping to take over the extra dining room at the back of the hotel for a communication room.”
“Yeah, that side of the work is backing up.” Jade motioned to her laptop, open and running, beside her. “I just emptied my flashcard so I can take more pictures. I’ll need hours to go through the ones I’ve already taken.”
Meg studied the small workspace Jade was bent over. “Maybe we should have one person working in the lab in the morning while the other does the computer work, and then switch?”
Jade walked around the small space as she considered the options. There weren’t many. “The thing is, I’m not sure anyone should be left alone out here for long periods. I’m not worried about being alone, but it’s just common sense to stay together. And if we’re in pairs, we need to make them useful working pairs.”
Meg cast a glance through the open door. “I’m not sure we should ever work alone. Sometimes it’s like I’m being watched. It’s a weird feeling.”
Jade glanced up at her then at the open door. She shrugged. “It could be the locals watching what we’re doing.”
“True enough.” Meg reached for her tools.
Th
e afternoon passed quickly as they worked out a rhythm to sharing space.
Working on ‘prisoner girl’ took longer as they needed to use tweezers, brushes and magnifying glasses most of the time. They needed to make sure they collected all the evidence there was to collect. Once completed, they replaced her carefully in the same bag – after they’d upended it in case they’d missed anything. The bag had been empty and Jade made a note of that on the chart. The two women then moved her to the reefer trailer.
Jade stood and studied the layout. It was anyone’s guess if they had enough space for the contents of the grave.
At the sound of an engine, they both walked outside. “Looks like Dane’s here again. What’s he have in the back?”
Dane, driving a full-sized black pickup, backed toward the lab trailer kicking dust everywhere.
The women retreated slightly. Jade coughed once then took a drink from her water bottle. “Oh my gosh. He mentioned something about exchanging our small stairs for a big deck he had at another site. We were discussing the lack of natural light in the trailer and how nice it would be to do some of the work outside. Fresh air and all that.” She tried to make sense of the jumble of wood in the truck’s bed.
Meg dropped her gloves on the table. “And it looks like he’s a man of his word. Got to love that.”
“And he’s not alone.”
The two women waited until the truck stopped, before walking over to see who’d come with him. Dane hopped out, looking devastating in jeans and snug t-shirt rippling across his chest. He smiled. “As you can see, I didn’t forget.”
“Thank you. I’d forgotten about it.” Jade smiled at the silent Haitian by his side. He was smaller than Dane, dustier and with dark skin. “Hi.”
He inclined his head, but stayed silent. His black eyes watched her closely. She walked over to Dane.
Dane shot her a look. “I hadn’t.” He walked around to the back of the truck and dropped the tailgate. “They’re in several interlocking pieces.” He studied the set currently on her trailer. “Emile, give me a hand moving these out of the way.”