chapter fourteen

word count: 392 words

Bud sipped his coffee and laid the cup down without making any noise when the cup hit the saucer. His eyes remained glued on the waitress. She was in obvious distress. Her hair lay in a tangled mass matching the appearance of her disheveled clothes. Her eyes darted about like frightened mice running for the corners. And was her hand shaking? It could be her. He got up and headed over, empty cup in hand.

As he got more java, he watched her. She filled inmate's plates with mashed potatoes, eyes cast down, plunking the white mounds onto their waiting platters. Bud moved in for the kill. Holding the steaming cup with one hand, he reached the other into his pocket to produce his ID.

"Miss, I'm Bud Kramer, the Medical Examiner. I'd like to speak with you, please."

The potato spoon went rattling to the floor as the frightened woman gawked at him. Panic raced across her face as she stood rigid, speechless, and trembling.

"Are you okay, miss?" Bud stepped closer. He feared the woman might faint.

"You want to talk to me?" she stammered.

"Just for a few moments." He shot her an uncharacteristic smile. "I don't bite."

The little joke didn't appease her as she followed Bud's nod to a nearby table.

"I have your record here from Human Resources. I see you're single. Is that right?"

"Yes."

"Any significant other in your life?" He shot her a smile, this one phony.

The girl paused before stammering, "No."

Bud closed the folder and folded his hands on the table. "I'm not going to play games. I'm just going to get right to it. Did you recently miscarry a baby and dump the body?

The girl half stood as though ready to bolt, but then burst into tears.

Bud Kramer was used to dealing with hardened criminals. This he did not expect. He jumped and ran to her, but she pushed him away.

"No! How could you ask me such a thing?" She got up and ran...pushing past tables, knocking over a chair, rushing from the cafeteria.

Bud followed. He watched as she bolted down the hallway and ran straight to the pantry. When she'd vanished inside, he smiled. "That's where they store the canisters," he murmured.