Remains to be Seen: Everyday Goddesses, #6

By Faith O'Shea

Cerridwen Moore is still looking for normal. She knows it isn't avoiding a parking garage for fear it will collapse or checking every building she enters for fault lines or, the most pitiful, using a night-light. Since the day of the cave-in in Turkey over four years ago, her life has become a series of what if's, the biggest one that hovered like a dark cloud concerning a body buried in a cavity below ground. It hadn't happened yet, but there was always tomorrow.

When Zain Bishara is hired by the medical examiner, the same office where Cerri works, he comes with a resume that reads like an Indiana Jones movie. Archeologist turned pathologist, he knows exactly why Cerri is afraid of her shadow, and it has nothing to do with their similar backgrounds. Even as he builds trust between them, he continues to hide a secret that he guards like the Holy Grail.

When tomorrow comes and Cerri's worst fears turn into reality it's Zain who helps her regain her footing but any hope he had of putting their relationship on solid footing in the aftermath is dashed when his secret comes spilling out. What will it take for him to convince her he's not his brother's keeper?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Faith O'Shea
• Release date: Apr 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781734733686

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Cerridwen Moore walked briskly down the sidewalk, anxious to get to Magic Bean before her friends left. They’d been meeting for coffee and some tribal gossip since Rhea opened the doors to her café last fall, but this morning she was running late. It didn’t help that she’d had to park further away than usual, the price she’d paid for tardiness. Last night’s call had put her to bed well after midnight, and she’d kept snoozing right through her alarm. After racing around to shower and dress, she was horrified to find herself without any clean clothes. She’d forgotten about the load she’d thrown into the washer before she got called away, and it was still in there this morning, smelling faintly like mildew. She’d scoured her closet for the pair of scrubs Brigid had given her last Christmas, ones that she’d sworn, she’d never wear, and grimaced when she looked in the mirror. Anyone who knew what she did for a living would think the dancing skeletons were taking gallows humor a bit too far. Her co-workers would have a field day at her expense.

She picked up her pace, chanting, Please, please, please be there.

She was dying to see them. She’d been out of town for most of the week, overseeing the examination of a corpse in another county, gone for a couple of days the week before for the same reason, her expertise in reading bones seeing her gone periodically. It was her version of tea leaves, but she wanted her routine back. She didn’t usually mind being loaned out but having it come within twenty-four hours of her return from Denmark, had been off-putting. She’d wanted to get her groove back after her vacation and had yet to find it.  

When she pulled open the glass door, she closed her eyes, letting the cool air soothe her. When she opened them, she grinned, relieved to see five of them still here, chatting away in their regular booth. She waved as she hurried to the counter to order and bumped into Brigid, who held a cup of iced raspberry tea in her hand.

Breet issued a child-like giggle and gave her a one-arm hug. You’re wearing the scrubs I gave you.

Without thinking, she explained, Had to. Laundry’s piled up and I had nothing else.

Brigid’s bottom lip came out. You don’t like them.

Backtracking as well as she could, not wanting to hurt Breet’s feelings, she said, I did...do but ...I hadn’t washed them yet and they’re a bit scratchy.

That was partially true. The stitches along the seams were itchy, but she’d have to deal. Scrubs were necessary for rounds, and more comfortable under all the PPE they had to wear when examining corpses, but she had no intention to wear this particular pair all day. She’d thrown some jeans and a couple of shirts in her bag, in case she got called out. No way was she wearing the scrubs to a crime scene

Breet said cheekily, But they’re so you.

Someone had suggested calling her Skeleton, the nickname Bones, already taken. Brigid had taken that as a cue to buy the gift as a joke, or so Cerri had thought.  

She gave her friend a weak smile and said, Let me grab a coffee. I didn’t have time for a cup at home and my body is ready to revolt.

She needed the caffeine to get moving. With it being her first official day back to the medical examiner’s office in over a week, she didn’t want to be dragging when she got there.

Rhea was behind the counter, her usual cheerful self.

Hey, you. Welcome back.

This morning Rhea was wearing a shirt that read Woman Up. She was the queen of tees and never failed to advertise her philosophy.

Nice shirt and thanks. It’s good to be here.

Your regular?

Please.

Cerri pulled out some bills from her pocket, but Rhea put up her hand. This one’s on the house.

Cerri brushed her hand through her short crop of hair, which had plastered itself to her forehead, quipping, You are too nice.

That’s what they tell me but it’s too late to change spots now.

Like they’d want her to change. Rhea’s megawatt smile lit up a room.

When the large moose tracks coffee was ready, Cerri hurried to the booth and Lil scooted over to make room for her. She’d just taken a careful sip of the steaming brew when she noticed a gold band sparkling on Lil’s finger. She choked, almost spitting it out. You’re married? When the hell did that happen? And why didn’t I know you were thinking about it?

Lil gave her a serene smile although her eyes were shining with mischief. Yesterday. And I didn’t even know it was going to happen until Monday. I’ve officially lost my mind.

Who’s the...guy?

Lil gave her a look that read, Are you really asking me that?

Minnie laughed and said, Niall, who else?

Graeme?

Gwen added, And they have a kid.

Cerri shook her head. The cobwebs had taken over and her mind was lost in a fog. The couple had only started talking again right before she’d left for vacation mid-month, after being at odds for years, and then there was the fact that Lil was the most ardent feminist she knew.

That she’d gotten married? Unfathomable.

Cerri looked around the table and asked, Did anyone see this coming?

They all shook their heads, seeming as flummoxed over the deed as she was.

Ina pointed out, We just found out,— she looked down at her phone, — about twenty-six minutes ago. We’re as surprised as you are. She brushed her hair back and said, My secret didn’t have anything on this.

Cerri asked, still floundering, Where’d the kid come from? Last I heard, it took nine months for gestation.

Lil smiled, took a sip of her coffee and said, Niall was busy while we were at odds. Can’t blame him for my obstinate procrastination.

Niall had a kid? With whom?

She didn’t remember him being serious with anyone...ever.

Where’s the mother?

Lil lost the smile, more serious now. She died a few months ago in a car accident. Niall had been tagged as a possible sperm donor and was asked to take a paternity test before she passed, and when it came back positive, he took Ella out of foster care and brought her home.

It didn’t surprise Cerri that Niall had taken on the responsibility. He was her brother Derek’s best friend, and she’d known him for years. He was as solid as they came and he was probably the only man who could take Lil on, on equal terms.   

She glanced over at Lil and said, Good man, that Graeme.

There was a look of pride on Lil’s face, which said it all. He’s the best. I have to admit, this marriage thing isn’t bad.

Brigid crowed, Look at her. She’s glowing.

Lil was distinctly uncomfortable with anything that bordered on maudlin sentimentality. It surprised none of them when she said, I’d shut it now, if I were you.

They all laughed at the look on her face. She was glowing, but no one dared poke the lion any further.

Knowing she had to get moving soon, Cerri asked, Anything else I missed while I was gone?

She knew nothing could rival Lil’s startling announcement, but it was nice catching up on the comings and goings of her tribe.

Ina was exactly one month free of morning sickness. The earth-shattering news of her pregnancy had come just over a week ago at their July gathering. Cerri had returned from Denmark just in time to join them, her flight arriving at six, leaving her just enough time to get to Lil’s house by seven. So much had happened since then. 

Brigid had been asked to fill in a couple of days a week in the adult section of the library, the head librarian out for a few months due to cancer treatments. Hina’s certification in equine-assisted therapy had come through and her first class started a week from tomorrow. Rhea and Aisin had set the date for their wedding at the end of August, Gwen and Ioan’s training center was more than half-way toward completion, the blueprints for Ace’s golf course were close to being approved, Minnie’s mate, Simon, had already begun renovations at what would soon be his new restaurant, Delos, and Lil and her sister Veronica were speaking again after a four-year estrangement. Their talk use to revolve around themselves, but it was a whole new world today.

Four of them had hooked up, with serious intentions, and had veered off the track of their circle. She wondered what that would mean for them as a whole. Would they be able to retain their friendships? Or would they succumb to the responsibilities that commitment brought with it?

She had to admit, the men her friends had chosen were solid. Not one of them seemed inclined to dismantle the foundation the women had built over time, but life often intervened. Where would that leave her? She still needed their support and their abiding confidence in her. If it hadn’t been for them, she wasn’t sure she would have healed after the cave-in. They’d helped temper her fears, and it was only because of their love had she been able to resume her life, albeit differently than she’d envisioned.

A life she had to get back to.

After rising from her seat, she said, I’ve got to go. I don’t know what’s waiting for me, and it being Friday, I might be looking at a long weekend of catch-up.

Lil got up as well. Me, too. I’ve still got a lot of work to do on the Newman case. I want to awe and amaze the jury with my soon-to-be-brilliant trial skills.

Lil had just taken on the job of litigator for the advocate center where she worked. Not only would she be championing Lisa Newman’s cause, she’d be defending her against a murder charge. The women had made a pact the last time they were together, that every one of the tribe would be in the courtroom that first day in support. Cerri had gone one further and promised to take a look at the ME’s report, to translate whatever Lil didn’t understand.  

Ina stayed seated. Ti’s picking me up when he’s finished loading the truck. I have time for another sip of coffee before I go.

Ina had been cutting down on her main-line drink since she’d found out she had a baby on board. They’d thought it was the stomach bug that had her abstaining, until the big reveal. She’d been a trooper, weaning herself down to one cup which she tried to make last.

Gwen wasn’t in any hurry, either. Yo and Karzan have gone to pick up the boxing bags. He told me to chill out until they got back. I figured, why argue.

She was using her bionic arm to eat her bagel. They never understood why it had taken her so long to get it. Cerri glanced down to see the woman wearing her combat boots and smiled. The army vet hadn’t taken them off since she’d gotten the new fingers to lace them. Didn’t matter that August had been the hottest in years.

Brigid was staying put, not needing to get to the library until nine, but Minnie, as judge with the Suffolk family court, began her day at eight-thirty sharp and got up to leave with them.

Goodbyes were exchanged, and the three of them walked out together.

Lil’s car was right in front, but before she could get in, Cerri said, Congratulations, if I forgot to offer them. I still can’t believe you did it, and so quickly.

Minnie laughed. Shock will do that to you. I was speechless when she told me what she was planning.

Lil laughed. That makes all of us. I never expected to find a man who was right for me, but then Niall was there, loving me in spite of myself. It didn’t take long to figure out he was just who I needed. And as soon as I held that baby in my arms, everything irrevocably changed. She needed a family, not a live-in arrangement. Her expression changed when she added, There are a couple of seconds every morning at five when I second-guess my decision, but that only lasts until Niall brings her in with us. She’s beautiful, and so sweet. She’s got Niall’s temperament, which helps. Come for dinner tonight and you can meet her.

Let’s see how my day goes.

There might be a dozen bodies waiting for her scrutiny after a week away, or none.  

Lil nodded, understanding that when work called, you answered.

Text me and let me know. I’ll have Niall cook enough for all of us.

Her eyes bulged. Niall’s cooking?

Well, one of us has to and I’m not there yet. My lessons with Simon don’t start until tomorrow.

Okay, the world has officially three-sixtied on its axis. If I come, I’ll make sure to pick up some Pepto-Bismol on the way over.

Lil grinned. You won’t have to. He’s become a regular grill master. I don’t know what we’ll do come winter, but for now, he’s acing it.

In one smooth move, Lil got into her car, started it up, and waved before pulling out.

Cerri turned toward Minnie. Like I said, I never saw that coming but it seems she’s adapting well.

Better than. I’ve never seen her this happy.

Her tribe was evolving one woman at a time. She wondered if she’d ever be able to shed her past and emerge from the darkness.

Minnie interrupted her thoughts. "Where are you parked?’

I’m all the way down at the corner of Main and Central.

Then I guess this is goodbye. I’m across the street. It pays to be early. Before she turned to walk away, she laughed, And nice duds, by the way.

Cerri looked down and groaned. Laundry would have to be her first priority tonight, even if it meant skipping supper with Lil and Niall.

Traffic was manageable on the way into the city which was the second good thing to happen this morning. Maybe all it had taken to shift the vibe was the meeting with her friends. Just thirty minutes after leaving the Bean, she was walking along the brick building that housed the medical examiner’s complex. She’d been itching to get back and felt the excitement grow as she drew closer. Her two-week stint in Denmark had been a fascinating study of ancient bones, and there was more than a moment of regret that she wasn’t still working in the field, but it had also confirmed that those days were a part of her past. This was her present and she was grateful for the work and the people with whom she shared the space. That wouldn’t change even though some of the faces had taken on new roles. Gary was out as chief, having moved to be closer to his new grandchild, and Helen Monroe was in. For as much as she loved and respected Gary, she was more than glad that Helen was at the helm. One of her first appointments had been to make Michel Kasko head of morgue operations. His organization skills were beyond compare, and Cerri knew the morgue would run with a new efficiency. Helen had also hired two new examiners. Niall had mentioned meeting one of them and had nothing but good things to say. She’d know for herself soon enough.

She pulled open the glass door of the government building and walked across the old marble-pebbled floor. This was where she felt safe, and safety had become her first priority since that day in Turkey over four years ago.

The memory still sent shivers through her.

She’d been an intern on an archeological dig, working with a crew from the University of Massachusetts, who’d partnered with a research team from Turkey on an exciting new find. During demolition for an urban renewal project, a honeycomb-esque city had been uncovered, dating back to the Bronze Age, some of the complexes going stories deep, all connected by a network of tunnels in the soft rock. Soluble materials such as limestone or gypsum were often dissolved by acid in the groundwater, and seeped through the bedding, planes creating instability. While she’d been working an area supposedly secured by one of the Turkish men, a sink hole had opened up and swallowed her.

One minute she was couched down, brushing at the dirt, the next, she was freefalling downwards, the ground beneath her, giving way. She’d landed on her back with a thud. The landslide of rocks and dirt had rained down and pummeled her unprotected body, until it had compressed like concrete around her. The gritty material had flooded her mouth and nasal cavity, cutting off her oxygen supply. The shock was immediate. So was the pain. The terror had taken time to take hold.  

Only when she’d begun clawing at the loose dirt covering her, digging like crazy, had the panic set in. The exertion of muscle only made it worse. The flying shards of limestone had nowhere to go but down and back on top of her, but she was able to clear a small area of open air around her. One arm had been trapped beneath her, and with the weight pressing her down, she had no way to free it. Waves of pain had ebbed and flowed, as she shivered in the complete darkness, and the deep-seeded fear that she was going to die had blossomed and burned. The only thing that had kept her tethered to reality was the muted sounds of voices over her, like sound waves radiating out or, in her case, down. She had to trust her team would get her out, hoping they’d get to her before she suffocated. Refusing to give in to a loss of consciousness, she’d begun to hum Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. It was the only song she could think of that mentioned killing a man. And she wanted to wring the privileged asshole’s neck who’d caused this. He was the son of some high mucky muck in the Turkish hierarchy of archeologists and thought he could get away with minimal effort. She hadn’t liked him when she’d met him. The dislike had turned to loathing as soon as the ground opened up.

It had taken under twenty minutes to get her out, but it had seemed like forever. An ambulance was waiting to transfer her to the nearest hospital, where they attended to her scrapes, bruises, and fractured ribs. After her release, she couldn’t get out of town fast enough and had taken the first flight she could find back to Boston. The doctors in Turkey had wanted to operate on her fractured scaphoid bone but the only man she’d let near it was Niall’s father. He’d repaired the broken wrist within days of her return, and there’d been no lingering after-effects, no limited mobility. She could rotate it as well today as she could before the catastrophic event. As soon as she was well enough to do so, she’d changed fields, and majors, switching into a program that would grant her an MS in forensic anthropology. As soon as she’d graduated, she’d gotten a full-time job with the medical examiner’s office and it was the only place she wanted to be today. No way would she ever go back into the field and risk her life again. She didn’t have it in her. The cave-in had not only harmed her body, but it had also tortured her mind. The panic had settled in and refused to leave. Over four years later, she still slept with a night-light, and denied herself the use of an elevator.

When Cerri popped out of the stairwell, Helen was standing there in the middle of the autopsy suite, her arms folded over her chest, talking to two unfamiliar faces. She must have heard the door swish open, because she turned to grace Cerri with a smile. Helen was in her late fifties, a compact woman who always looked somewhat disheveled. With no sense of style, she mismatched blouse and skirt, with whatever sweater she had handy to compensate for the air conditioner, which added to the usual chill of the place. It was probably one of the reasons she’d been passed over as chief before this. Cerri was glad that the governor had based his decision on skill set and not appearance. She was definitely the right woman for the job.

She was smiling when she said, Welcome back. We missed you.

Cerri glanced around the familiar space and felt oddly at peace. It’s good to be home.

How’d it go in Worcester?

Helen’s Boston accent made it sound like Woostah.

Pretty well. It took forever to get an ID on the victim. Missing person’s report went out over ten years ago, so it took some time sifting through them. Only when we got her medical records could I begin to compare her past injuries to her more current ones. Then we had to determine the weapon used to kill her.

She’d been called on to determine cause of death, and as always she’d jumped right in, taking meticulous care, which meant taking more time than most but when she was finished, she’d been able to determine that the woman had been tortured and killed with the kind of knife used for skinning animals. If the police ever found her killer, she knew she’d be called in to testify at the perpetrator’s trial. 

Sorry it took so long.

No worries. I would have pulled you if we’d needed you here. I have no problem sharing you, but only if I can afford to. You’re on my payroll, so I get to call the shots. I’d like to introduce you to our newest team members. Jessica Brennen and Zain Bishara.

Cerri stilled. With her focus on Helen, she hadn’t taken a close look at the couple standing on either side of her. When she finally noticed the man, her heart began to hammer, and her nerves began to hum. His complexion was ruddy, and he had dark hair, black stubble, deep brown eyes, and bushy eyebrows. He could have stepped out of a magazine featuring Middle Eastern men and it raised every hackle in her body. Taking a breath, she forced herself to stop with the comparisons. She’d felt the same thing when she’d met Karzan Amedi, a friend of Ioan’s, and made a complete fool of herself. It might be a natural extension of her dislike for the man who’d caused the cave-in, or the result of embedded psychological trauma, but she couldn’t let it affect the way she treated people.

She forced a smile, wiped her clammy hand on her pant leg, and thrust it toward him. "Nice to meet you.

CHAPTER TWO

Zain gripped her hand firmly, noticed the moisture in her palm. He knew she must recognize him on some level, but he gave nothing away. Same here. I’m looking forward to working with you.

She merely nodded before she offered Jessica a greeting as well.

Unlike him, Jessica hadn’t planned this type of career. During their first week here, attending to all the administrative pieces of the office, he’d learned she’d intended to be a surgeon, but had quit during her residency, the crazy hours and lack of sleep driving her out of the field.  She was pretty, with long brown hair and matching eyes, in her late twenties, olive skinned, in a Mediterranean kind of way. She’d asked him out, but he’d declined, not wanting to mix business with pleasure. Besides, he had something else on his agenda that needed to be dealt with before he could think about dating anyone.  

Cerri had stepped out of his space once the introductions were made and began backing away. In a wobbly voice, she told Helen, I need to put my things away before you start rounds.

I’d like to talk to you before we start.

Cerri’s eyes darted from Helen back to him before she nodded and made a mad dash down the hall.

She’d become skittish as soon as she’d noticed him standing there. Had she made the connection or was it merely the fact that he looked Middle Eastern that made her jittery? He’d heard she’d been so traumatized she’d left the field, and he’d bet it wouldn’t take much to trigger the memory, a face, a scent, a situation. Being buried under a ton of rubble could do that to a person. He wouldn’t be surprised if she avoided everything that brought back images of free-falling, being trapped, feelings of how it felt, how it tasted, but mostly, who was at fault. Niall had confirmed as much over dinner one night, suggesting Cerri stuck pins in a voodoo doll fashioned after the man who’d caused the collapse. He didn’t really blame her.

He’d been in shock when he found out she worked here. He’d considered looking for her over the last few years, wanting to apologize, see how she was doing, but had never moved on it, unsure what he could say to make it better. It didn’t mean she hadn’t lived on the periphery of his mind, a phantom image, who often haunted his dreams. When Gary had mentioned that she was the resident forensic anthropologist during the interview process, he’d been stunned that he’d stumbled upon her without even trying. It made him more determined to get the job, although he had no idea what he’d do once he’d achieved the goal. He was still struggling with that, and still beating himself up for something his brother had been responsible for. It was irrational, defied logic. But for some reason he wanted to atone for the carelessness that had led to her accident.

He’d been waiting with bated breath all week for an introduction, his new co-workers regaling him over the last four days with stories about her expertise and efficacy, adding to the little he already knew, but the meeting had come later than anticipated. She’d been on loan, and there’d been more than a few complaints made to Helen about it. Her absence had made a dent in their productivity and it wasn’t surprising. She was responsible for all the human remains that were decomposed, burnt, fragmentary, cremated dismembered, or fully skeletonized, and was an integral part of their team. They not only respected her, they liked her, as well.

He’d taken her in as discreetly as possible while she was speaking with Helen, but when she turned her eyes on him, he read fear, and her fight-or-flight response was immediate. Knowing she accompanied Helen on rounds, making herself available to anyone who might need her anthropological perspective, he kept glancing down the hall waiting for her to come back.

He was at loose ends, the autopsies already in progress. They started at eight sharp, and each examiner assigned had an hour and a half to complete the external exam. It included radiographs, blood tests, fingerprints, and comparing dental records. Clothing and jewelry were documented; superficial marks, injuries, previous medical treatments, and wounds were assessed and labeled. Lastly, all trace evidence was inspected, such as insect larvae, bodily fluids, and foreign fibers. Everything would be bagged and tagged and sent off to the appropriate department for analysis.

He’d completed an autopsy on his own yesterday, Jason switching places for his first solo since arriving in the lab on Monday. Thinking he’d be back at it today, he’d been surprised when Michael, the pathologist in charge of assignments, had bypassed him. He’d been worried until Helen had mentioned she had another task in mind for him.

I’m going to have you working with Cerri.

He was more than pleased with the prospect even though he was sure, from her reaction, she wasn’t going to share his enthusiasm. 

It took fifteen minutes before she came ambling back down the hallway, and she approached cautiously, as if there was a snake hiding, that could slither out and bite her.

All her attention was on Helen. Do you have a case for me?

Helen stuffed her hands in the pockets of her sweater. I’d like Z to do a rotation with you, beginning today, through next week. We were lucky enough to hire another examiner with a background in archeology, and he might be an additional resource if we need it. See what he knows, teach him what he doesn’t.

Deep blue eyes flashed up at him in shock. Her brow furrowed as she studied him. He would have preferred to keep his prior occupation a secret, but he’d listed it on his resume, and there was no taking it back once it was out there. She was looking at him suspiciously. He not only saw her agitation, but he could feel it coming off her in waves.

Cerri shifted from one foot to the other, her aversion to him clear. Helen must have read it, as well, and asked gently, Do you have a problem with that?

Cerri wrapped her arms around her middle but shook her head, her verbal and body language in direct opposition. No. It’s fine. She bit her lip, and asked, Did you hire him to replace me?

Helen look startled. God, no. You’re the best. Why would I do that?

Cerri gave her a look that suggested the chief might know exactly why she asked. Placing a hand on Cerri’s arm, she said, I just want to cover our bases. He has specialized training. We might as well take advantage of it. He’s been working with Jason, who says he’s supremely qualified. He’s already completed an autopsy on his own and didn’t miss anything. It’s the only reason I can start his rotation with you this quickly.

She seemed to regain her equilibrium at Helen’s reassurance and