Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 146477 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146477 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Izzy flies to her feet, scrambling for her things. “I’ll call you later,” she tells me. “But just so you know, I wanna go out on Saturday night. I need to let loose and shake my ass. And by letting loose and shaking my ass, what I really mean is that I need to get wicked drunk and be railed in a filthy club bathroom by some sweaty stranger with a huge cock.”
I nod. Some things never change.
“You got it,” I tell her, not really down for a messy weekend, but if I don’t go, then she’ll end up going by herself, and I can’t let her do that. After all, she needs someone to make sure her bad decisions aren’t going to come back and bite her on the ass.
“Yes!” she cheers, racing through my door. She doesn’t bother with a goodbye, and I move across my apartment behind her, closing the door and making sure every last lock and bolt are firmly in place.
As soon as I turn back around, my phone chimes with a new voicemail notification, and I laugh to myself, because honestly, if I don’t, I’ll probably cry. I can only imagine what kind of message my mother has just left for me, but just because it’s there, doesn’t mean I have to check it. I can save that disappointment for another time.
For now, I have a scheduled appointment with a blue bean and every last battery-operated toy in my bedroom drawer, and I don’t plan on leaving until the job is well and truly done.
11
HARPER-RAYN
Nerves pound through my veins as I walk into work for the night. Dr. McKullan would have spent the day going over my notes from last night, and I’m sure he’s bound to have some questions.
He’s the best at what he does, and while the black rose has been entered into evidence, there’s no way he would miss the carvings on the victim’s chest, fingers, and heart, and not be capable of figuring out the message.
He’ll know, and he’ll ask all the questions that I won’t be able to answer, and once he realizes that I’m not exactly safe working here alone at night, he’ll revoke my night shift privileges. I’ll have no choice but to go back to working the day shift with everyone else, and while it’s not particularly the end of the world, it doesn’t work with my preferred lifestyle.
Making my way to the door, I swipe my access card and head inside the morgue to find the day shift workers packing up. They mind their business, going about whatever they’re doing, not sparing me a second glance.
My brows furrow, and I turn my attention to Dr. McKullan as he strides across the morgue collecting his things. “Ahhh, Dr. Madden, ready for a busy night?”
Uhhhh . . . What? That’s not quite what I was expecting. Where’s the lecture or the refusal to allow me to work without security? What about being reprimanded for bailing halfway through my shift last night? Hell, the last two shifts I’ve bailed early and haven’t completed the work laid out for me. Why isn’t he handing my ass to me for that? And why the hell isn’t he asking me why my name was spelled out on the knuckles of a victim who’s currently chilling out in our refrigeration unit?
“Yes, Dr. McKullan,” I say, my fingers nervously twitching at my side, waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Anything new come in today?”
“It’s Blackstone. There’s always something new,” he chuckles.
“Indeed, there is.”
“Okay, I’m heading home. I’ll be on my cell if you need anything, though you rarely do.”
I give him an awkward smile, trying to take the compliment, but I’m far too confused to take it for what it is. “Sure thing.”
Dr. McKullan gets back to gathering his things, and within the space of three seconds, the room empties out, and once again, I’m left alone in the eerie morgue. A few days ago, I would have bragged about how much I love being alone in the morgue, but after my past few shifts, it doesn’t quite hold the same allure.
Trying to shake it off, I settle in for the night and dump my bag on my desk before going over the few files that have been left out. After determining what needs to be prioritized, I wander over to the refrigeration unit and find who’s up first.
My fingers curl around the handle, preparing to open the locker, when my gaze shifts across the unit to the locker that holds the unlucky bastard who became a pawn in my stalker’s sick game. A shiver sails down my spine as my stomach clenches with unease.
All I need is one shift where I don’t have to run out of here absolutely terrified. What I really need is to find a shred of self-preservation and not show up to work. I might as well paint a target on my back at this point, but I never claimed I was smart. I enjoy my work, and I’m not about to let this bullshit keep me from doing what I love. However, there’s no denying that before getting into my car and driving here tonight, I wondered if it’s even worth it.