Page 78 of Her Only Hero
“Hello?” I said tentatively.
“June, it’s Aram.”
I let out a breath. “Oh, hi. What can I do for you, Dr. Hamid?”
“Could you come down to the autopsy suite? There is something here I think you’ll want to see.”
“Aram, I can’t,” I whispered.
“I completely understand, but I promise this won’t take long, and, more importantly, it will answer some of your questions.”
What could he be referring to? “Okay. I’ll be right there.”
“Heading to the morgue?” Edward said.
“Yes, is it all right if I leave for a bit?”
“Yeah. You better do what the doc wants,” he said.
I nodded. “Right,” I said, with no idea of what the doc really wanted.
My hand trembled as I pushed the elevator button to go down to the dreaded basement. I scanned my badge to get into the autopsy suit foyer and knocked on the door that was open a crack. Inside, Aram was fully dressed in a protective gown, gloves, and mask. He had been mindful enough to put a sheet over the body.
“Come in, June. I finished the examination, and I’ll make this as quick as possible.”
“I appreciate that,” I said and also put on protective wear. The danger was over, but being here was still traumatizing. My chest constricted, and my heart hammered.
“Around here.”
I walked around the gurney and put fingers to my forehead, ready to shield my face.
“I’m sorry. I thought this would be good closure for you. Would you prefer I show you photographs instead?”
“No, no. I’m good.” My heart still pounded, but I didn’t feel woozy like the last time.
“All right. Here it goes.” He lifted the sheet to reveal David Moreno’s shoulder wound. I stared at a crimson hole surrounded by jagged skin.
“Anterior wound,” he said.
I couldn’t speak.
“Now, I will show you the posterior wound.” He rolled David over enough for me to see the back of his shoulder. There was a tiny round hole, no blood, barely noticeable. Aram carefully released David onto his back again.
I made eye contact with Aram. “He was hit twice?”
“No, June. Just once. Mr. Moreno was shot posteriorly.”
“How could I have done that? Did the bullet ricochet off the concrete wall?”
“No, again. I won’t get technical, but in a nutshell, David Moreno was hit point blank. He received a bullet in the back that exited the front. See how the exit wound is larger, more irregular, and has an outward beveling of tissue? From where you were standing, the bullet couldn’t have been from your gun.”
I stepped back and exhaled the breath I was holding. My eyes welled up with moisture. “Whoa. You have no idea what a relief that is.” A heavy burden dropped from my heart. “Wait, Aram. If I didn’t shoot him, then who did?”
“Good question. My guess would be someone who had it out for him.”
Beneath the still sheet lay a lifeless body, housing so many unrevealed secrets.
“June, could you meet me in my office later today? To go over the rest of the autopsy findings.”
