Chapter 3

"The body's face has been destroyed, and the fingerprints have been smoothened. We're unable to identify it just yet, Dr. Goldman."

Ruth was relieved when she heard her assistant, Morgan Hall, say that. It was fortunate she hadn't left any traces that could help identify the corpse.

"Bring the body back to the station for now. I'll ask Captain York for more details."

Ruth approached Joseph York, the police captain. He was also my mentor. She wanted to know more about the corpse.

"The corpse has been severely damaged, Captain York. It's going to take a while to identify him through an autopsy. Is there any evidence found at the scene?"

Joseph had no clues. "This isn't the murder scene, and it rained last night. We can't find anything useful—this is a tough case. It doesn't help that Eugene is on a break now!"

Joseph deliberately mentioned me before Ruth. A trace of anger flitted across her face when she heard my name.

"Has he contacted you?" Joseph asked. He knew Ruth was angry with me because of that incident and wanted to help ease the tension.

"I'm returning to the station to get started on the autopsy, Captain York." She turned and left.

Joseph shook his head and sighed. "Oh, youngsters nowadays. I have no idea what goes through their minds!"

After that, he pulled out his phone to call me. "I still can't reach Eugene. Jamie, can you try calling him?"

…

My soul couldn't be far from Ruth, so I followed her back to the station.

"This murderer is really cruel, Dr. Goldman. This victim died at such a young age," Morgan said while looking at my body.

When he saw Ruth was ready to start the autopsy, he stepped aside to make way for her. "We have to seek justice for this victim, Dr. Goldman!"

Ruth was holding a scalpel, ready to start. Her hand trembled at Morgan's words.

I noticed her eyes were slightly red. She was probably sad that she'd helped Ivan escape persecution.

What would she think once she learned the body before her was mine? She would probably be happy, right?

Her mother had died because of me, after all…

...

A month ago, our precinct worked with the state authorities to crack down on illegal activities. I'd worked overtime for a month. I was so busy that I'd even forgotten Ruth's mother, Tracy Moore's birthday.

Tracy understood the responsibilities that came with the nature of my job. She'd felt bad for me for working overtime for a month, so she'd cooked chicken soup and brought it to the station so I could have it.

After she called me, I was about to head outside to bring her in when a couple of the police officers on duty nabbed a runaway criminal. They brought him in, wanting to interrogate him.

I joined them for the interrogation, forgetting about Tracy. Once the interrogation was over, I saw Ruth charge at me, looking furious.

I remembered she didn't need to work overtime because there weren't any urgent cases. What was she doing at the station in the wee hours of the morning?

I could tell something was wrong and was about to ask her what had happened when she slapped me hard. "Do you still remember that you made my mother wait for you?"

Only then did I remember Tracy was waiting outside the station for me.

"I'm so sorry! I honestly forgot about her. I'll apologize to her right now!" I was about to run outside when I saw Ruth remaining where she was.

I wanted to ask her what was wrong when Joseph came in, looking grim. "Come with me, Eugene, Dr. Goldman."

We followed Joseph into his office. Only then did I learn that Tracy was dead.

"Tracy's dead? What happened?"