Touched by Death

by Dale Mayer

  "Hey, doc."

  Dr. Mike squinted. John's brother-in-law walked toward him. Emile. Dressed for the heat in tank top and blue jeans – the uniform of choice the world over – he strolled toward the lab trailer.

  "Hi. Are you looking for Dane?"

  "Nah, I know where he is, we're all looking for my father who's gone wandering. He's not quite right in the head and gets lost easy." Emile's gaze shifted from the lab trailer to the rocks surrounding the clearing.

  "Oh dear. I haven't seen him around. Sorry." Dr. Mike couldn't help but glance around the clearing at the same time.

  Emile shoved his hands into his pockets. "No problem. I figured you were here, so I asked."

  Dr. Mike hesitated. He hated to ask the young man, but a few minutes of his help would be huge. He needed to get the remains stored away. "Hey, while you're here, would you mind giving me a hand moving a few things over to the other trailer?"

  Emile's face twisted. "As long as it's not bodies. I don't hold on touching the dead."

  "It is bones, only you won't have to touch them. I already have them in sealed bags, on the stretchers." His words rushed out to reassure Emile. "I just need you to grab an end and help me move them to the other trailer."

  Emile looked like he wanted to refuse but couldn't figure out how. Dr. Mike pressed his advantage. "Honest. A five-minute job – not even that. I can't leave them here over the weekend. They need to be locked in the reefer truck."

  Emile's face scrunched in horror.

  Dr. Mike spoke faster, before Emile could run as far and as fast he could in the opposite direction. "I promise. You won't even see them. They are packed up. They're so small I can even put them both on the same stretcher." He stared hopefully at Emile. "Please!"

  Emile stared around as if hoping someone else would show.

  "There's no one else. It has to be you."

  Emile's shoulders sagged. "One trip – and I don't touch anything but the stretcher handles."

  "Done." Dr. Mike brightened. "Let's do it right now. It'll be over in five minutes."

  Emile, once the decision was made, followed along willing enough. He grabbed the one end of the stretcher and waited while Mike shifted the bags and laid them on top of each other. Mike grabbed his end of the stretcher. "Okay, here we go."

  He'd been right. The trip took about two minutes. And Emile, true to his word, refused to help open doors or touch the bags. Mike shook his head, trying hard to understand. Not everyone could handle his profession. Death freaked out so many people.

  Too bad. Everyone came to the same end, regardless of how hard they tried to avoid it.

  "Thanks Emile. I can take it from here." Emile backed out of the freezer room as if afraid he'd be bagged and laid next to the others. Mike watched him almost hyperventilate with relief.

  "Hey, are you all right?" He walked down to check on him.

  Emile glanced back. "Yeah. I'm okay. Just don't want to be in there." He motioned toward the trailer. "Have these ones been identified now?"

  "Not yet." Mike looked back down the long interior. "We have lots to do."

  "What about the ones we just brought over. Are they done?"

  "They've been processed, just not identified." Mike walked out the rest of the way and slammed the heavy door shut. He slid the bolt closure across and snapped on the big lock.

  "Most are on one side. We put those on the opposite side," Emile pressed.

  "Yeah." Mike gave him a weary smile. "Those ones are special."

  Emile's gaze narrowed. "Why? Are they not all special?"

  With a long look at the gravesite and the bodies that still waited to be uncovered, Mike couldn't help but agree with him. "That is so true. Yet even in a large grave like that there are some that are different." Mike headed back to the lab. "Thank you for the help."

  Emile followed him back and glanced around the small room. "Lots of equipment. Not much space."

  "Yeah. That should be our new logo." Mike glanced up at him with a smile – in time to see horror scrunch Emile's face. "What is it? What's wrong?"

  Emile pointed to the floor where they'd moved the stretcher. "What's that?"

  Bending down, Mike found two chain links that must have fallen out from one the women's body bags. The rusty iron clanged as he placed the links into a clear bag. "Damn. I missed these. I wonder which bag they came from."

  Emile's face paled. He straightened and raced outside.

  "Thanks again for your help, Emile," Dr. Mike called after him.

  He never responded. Mike walked outside, sealing the chain in a small plastic bag. Emile was bent over a bush off to one side. Uh, oh.

  As Mike watched, Emile coughed and spewed again. Mike stepped back to give him some privacy. Damn. He hadn't meant to upset him. Some people just didn't handle this stuff well. He set about putting the piece of chain away properly.

  He walked out to check on him a few minutes later but Emile had left.

  Mike hoped he'd find his father. This wasn't a good place to go missing. Then again, this was the old man's property and he'd lived here for decades. He probably knew every rock and tree in the area. Positioned in the rocks and hills as their camp was, the sun had long disappeared behind the greenery, throwing lengthening shadows and weird fingers of light through the area.

  Straightening he stretched out his sore back and shoulders. Lord he was tired. Long day. Long week actually. He double-checked the temperature and the lock before heading over to lock the lab trailer.

  Time to leave.

  ***

  Emile slipped around the rocks, watching as the old man left the smaller trailer. His mouth still smarted from the sour retchings of his stomach. How could any people work in there? Touching the dead, violating their bodies, their souls. He shuddered.

  How wrong could life get? He'd thought things had been bad after that big earthquake. He'd seen things that still gave him nightmares. He'd watched things people had done to each other in the name of survival.

  Survival also had little to do with some of what he'd witnessed. Predators had preyed on the dead, the living and those caught in between. He'd seen thieves empty pockets, steal shoes, grab anything that could be removed and run to the next body, alive or dead. It hadn't mattered.

  The things he'd seen in town had been unbelievably difficult. And none of it touched on the horror of what he'd found later. Something so horrific, so terrible he hadn't been able to stop thinking about it since. He'd had to clean up the mess and doing something to protect another had seemed right at the time – until he'd been seen.

  His stomach dry heaved with the painful memories.

  He hadn't been the same since.

  Then the horror had turned to fascination and that scared him even more. The very idea had settled into his psyche and rooted, spouted into another horrible concept, only this time he was a part of it.

  He shuddered.

  He couldn't do that to a woman.

  He shouldn't do that to a woman.

  But he would – if he got the chance.

  With one last look at the empty lab trailers, and the place he'd find two unprotected women, he refocused on finding his old man.

  Damn him, anyway.

  ***

  The beautiful evening and cool breeze blowing over Jade's heated skin made warmth blossom inside. She sighed happily. Her hotel room held a lightness that she enjoyed and it certainly beat the afternoon mugginess that had settled in today.

  She'd spent all week in a state of nervous anticipation. Listening for vehicles, checking out every unusual sound and doing lots of heavy sighing. Much to Meg`s amusement.

  For tonight, she'd chosen her one decent sundress and a light sweater just in case a wind came up. Sandals and a little light makeup too. Why she'd brought makeup when she almost never wore it, she didn't know. She'd be
en thinking ahead obviously. Plus she thought it was a good sign that she wanted to look special for Dane...and that made her smile.

  She missed the closeness, the specialness that came when she was part of a loving twosome. Even if it had been a long time ago. Even if it hadn't stood the test of time and trauma.

  At the same time, trust and confidence were now bigger considerations for Jade before entering a new relationship.

  Dane made her heart warm; she'd be happy to see where this went. Actually, she'd be more than happy to help it along. He did make her hormones pay attention. She'd always enjoyed sex. She hadn't missed it because she'd been so busy being mad and hurt. Now however, a part of her was raring to make up for lost time. How contrary could she be?

  Still the butterflies in her stomach wouldn't calm down, and honestly, she was starving again. She hoped he'd planned for a decent meal. She took a deep breath and walked downstairs to the lobby.

  Dane walked in the door as she reached the front desk. The sight of him stopped her in her in her tracks. Damn. He looked beyond good. Black jeans and a white cotton shirt with stand-up collar. Only it wasn't the clothes that caused her breath to hitch. It was the way he wore them.

  She sighed. All that casual muscle and grace. Like a lion roaming his territory. He knew how he looked, was proud of it, and didn't need to show off to be appreciated.

  "Hi." Dane stopped in front in her, a warm welcome on his face. His eyes ran appreciatively over her.

  Yeah, he was good for her self-confidence. "Hi. You didn't tell me what we were doing or where we're going and I only have a limited wardrobe with me, so––"

  "You look great. Come on. Let's get out of here." He put an arm over her shoulder and walked her out to his truck. "We're heading to a place my brother told me about."

  "Perfect. I haven't been anywhere here so it will be new and different."

  "Good. I like an adventurous spirit." He opened the truck door and helped her up to the passenger seat. After walking around to the other side, he hopped in and started the engine.

  She buckled her seat belt and settled in for the drive. "Adventure is nice. Life has been a little depressing lately."

  "We can fix that. That's one thing I learned in my time here. Every day is a gift. Haiti has been through so much that sometimes we all need to work a little harder to find the good in the bad."

  Jade glanced at him. He drove the same as he did everything else. Capably and with restrained power. Sexy.

  She sighed. Lord she had it bad. When she'd decided to move on with her life, she'd done so with a vengeance.

  "Problems?" He frowned, glancing over at her quickly.

  "No. I've been thinking the same thing about Haiti. Everyone here has been through so much; it makes our lives back home look easy in comparison. It's been good coming back here. I needed to see the progress."

  "Coming back? Were you here before?" He turned the truck around the next corner and headed for one of the main roads.

  "I was here in the aftermath of the big earthquake. Did a three-week stint with a mortuary team then. It was brutal. Emotionally and physically."

  He whistled softly and gunned the truck forward. "Then let's show you some of the better sights of Haiti and replace those more painful memories with beautiful ones. Help you to put these old memories where they belong – in the past."

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The quiet dignity of the small restaurant surprised her. As if it were proud to be standing after all these years. Old, distinguished and family run, the bulk of the seating area was under the open sky on decks of different levels. Jade and Dane sat on an outside edge, surrounded by brightly colored hanging lanterns. Several other tables full of diners were discreetly placed throughout. Small screens offered privacy while allowing almost everyone a view of the sleepy harbor. The tang of salty ocean mixed with the heavenly smells coming from the kitchen.

  Beaches were everywhere here – gorgeous blue water, smooth sand, with the locals working their boats from one side of the bay to the other. Not the typical resort beach but a working, living, breathing part-of-the-people beach.

  Now that work had settled into a routine, Jade would like to take a day off every weekend and explore. Going out on a date, like tonight, was a wonderful way to start the new plan.

  While they watched, the sky slipped through a rainbow of colors. The sunset shifted and changed so quickly, she couldn't take her eyes off it. "I've never seen anything so beautiful," she murmured. Warmth wrapped around her heart. She wasn't lying. Right now everything felt perfect. She smiled, turned her face up to the evening sky and closed her eyes.

  "Neither have I."

  Startled, she turned to face him. "Sorry?"

  "I haven't seen anything so beautiful either."

  Only he was staring right at her. Heat swamped her cheeks as she blushed like a schoolgirl. "Wow, thanks," she gave a light laugh. "I'm not used to flattery."

  "And why is that?" His curious gaze studied her face. "You're seriously gorgeous, you know."

  Flustered from his sincerity, she answered with a soft smile, "Thank you again. I haven't been out much in the last year and I've forgotten how to accept a compliment."

  "Nursing a broken heart?"

  Her fingers tapped a tempo on the table as she tried to sort out the best thing to say. "Not quite. Started that way. Now it's a matter of not allowing my history to dictate my future. In other words, not to see my ex and his deficits in every man."

  "Ouch." He winced.

  A giggle escaped. She clapped a hand over her mouth, staring at him in astonishment. He gave a shout of laughter. When her merriment calmed, she said, "Sorry, I was trying to be honest, only maybe that was too honest. I'm not judging you, and if I were, you've already got him beat by a mile. So, let's change the subject; this evening is too nice to ruin."

  Deep blue eyes gazed into hers. He reached across the table and clasped her hand in his. "Nicely put. And you're right. It is too nice an evening for such conversation. However, I am sorry about the bad experiences."

  "Everyone has them." She smiled down at their hands. His so rough and strong, working man's hands. Hers so soft and small – she lived in surgical gloves. Yet, their hands fit together like interlocking puzzle pieces. She stroked the long line of his thumb, loving the instant response as her hand was captured between both of his.

  "I don't know… My life hasn't been filled with drama or heartache."

  His tone held no suggestion of anything dark in his history. No censorship either. She searched his gaze. "No bad breakups?"

  Dane frowned and stared down at his plate, his fingers clenching automatically.

  Her fingers, of their own volition, squeezed back. She didn't want him to be alone with bad memories. Like she had been. "Yeah. That's what I mean."

  He looked at her in surprise. Then understanding lit the depths of his gaze. "Not me. My brother. He's the reason for whatever you were assuming. He's been through some seriously bad periods in his life. I thought he'd found better times."

  "John?"

  Dane nodded. "There're just the two of us left, so I tend to keep an eye on him, although he's an adult." Dane shrugged self-consciously. "Family. You can't let them wallow."

  Jade laughed, a warm smile blooming across her face. "Isn't that the truth? You sound just like my brother Duncan. I'm here because of him. He convinced me to come back."

  "It was that bad?" Dane searched her face. "John won't talk about it much."

  "It's not easy. Duncan wanted me to spew everything too. Only talking about it actually made it all come alive again. I had to relive stuff I'd rather not see again."

  He leaned back, though his index finger gently stroked the back of her hand. "I'm sorry. Sorry that so many people suffered. I never considered the impact on volunteers and rescuers." He stared off at the s
unset. From the look on his face, Jade didn't think he was enjoying Mother Nature's artwork. "John has slipped back to someone I barely recognize. The things he's doing or, rather, not doing..." He shook his head. "It's hard to stand by and let life happen to those you love."

  "Duncan basically said the same thing." She studied their interlocking fingers. That felt right somehow. She hadn't expected to feel anything in Haiti except pain and anguish. She'd been wrong and Duncan had been right. She'd have to remember to tell him that. "I'll call my brother tomorrow and tell him that he's the best brother anyone could have."

  Dane chuckled. "See, that's the difference between having a little sister versus a little brother. John would die before saying something like that."

  "That's a guy thing. Duncan pushed and prodded me for months now. He deserves to know that I'm healing."

  "Absolutely. What does he do?"

  She gave him a quick rundown, turning the conversation to more general issues. Several hours later, after they'd worked through many topics, dinner and dessert, Dane looked at her and asked, "Are you wanting to go back to the hotel now or would you like to walk down by the water?" He pointed out a path that led to the beach via the side of the restaurant.

  "Oh perfect. I'd love to go for a walk. I'm in no hurry to return."

  She waited by the path as he took care of the bill. When he walked over, he slipped an arm around her shoulders, and led her down to the water's edge.

  Tonight was about magic. About possibilities. About the future.

  They spent a sensual hour in the moonlight, with water lapping at the shore as they walked close together, discussing anything that came up. By the time they came to a small wooden bench, Jade realized how much she'd learned about Dane and his character. The more she learned, the more she liked and respected the man. He reminded her of Duncan.

  She sat down on the bench, tugging him down beside him. "I'm having a wonderful evening tonight. I know we have to leave soon, but this is truly special."