Page 35 of Solid as Steele
She shook her head. “We decided to be surprised, which isn’t easy these days with the ultrasounds.”
“After losing my memory, I think I would want to know. It would at least be information I could control.”
Kelsey frowned. “I can’t imagine how hard this is on you. Sierra and I are praying, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask the rest of our team to pray too.”
“That would be great.” He smiled but it was forced. This was clearly still very disturbing for him.
Mackenzie wouldn’t dwell on it. “Please give them my congratulations. Any other news?”
“We’ve hired a number of new techs to keep up with demands from law enforcement,” Sierra said. “It’s keeping me hopping to get them trained. And we’ve interviewed a few new staff members. That’s all I can say for now, but it will be great to add additional disciplines to our team.”
“Sounds exciting,” Mackenzie said.
“It is. Always great to be on the cutting edge. I’m participating in a new research study regarding burnt bones.” Kelsey’s face brightened. “It involves scanning the bones and then printing a 3D model. Might be very timely for today’s discovery.”
Was she saying the skeleton was burned without saying it? A hint. Sounded like it. Mackenzie hadn’t noticed any charred bones, but then she’d only taken a quick look. “What does the study involve?”
“Now you’ve done it.” Sierra grinned. “Kelsey will talk your ear off.”
Mackenzie laughed. “That’s probably good since we keep asking things we shouldn’t.”
“Since you insist.” Kelsey set her sandwich on her plate. “Burnt human bones can be very fragile to hold. When there are fragments, we often have to do what is called a physical fit analysis. Basically we match bone fragments and put them together. That relies on the manual handling of the fragments. These fragments are often fragile, sharp, or embedded in other materials and it’s difficult to do. So we’re piloting a program that makes 3D models of the fragments which keep us from manually handling the delicate bones.”
Owen leaned forward. “Sounds fascinating.”
“It is, but like any new development in forensic science, we have to set precedents in the courtroom to be accepted.” Kelsey sipped her water. “Getting a jury to buy into the technique is the easy part. Getting judges and defense attorneys to buy in is a whole different story.”
Owen picked up his sandwich. “Mackenzie said you all were the best at what you do, but I’m most impressed.”
“We’re most blessed.” Sierra set her glass on the table and reached for a cookie. “We’re offered many opportunities to pilot projects and that allows us to stay on the cutting edge.”
Owen fixed his gaze on Kelsey. “You mentioned that it might be timely for today’s discovery.”
“Did I?” She blinked her long lashes. “Hmm.”
“In other words, that’s all you are going to share.”
She smiled and then chomped on her sandwich, obviously ending the conversation.
“Do you all have snacks at the crime scene or should I pack some things for you?” Mackenzie asked.
“We’re good.” Sierra held out her cookie. “But maybe a few of these cookies would be a nice add. We often reach that point in a recovery when things seem particularly dismal. A cookie would be nice right about then, and these are extra good.”
Mackenzie couldn’t imagine what they must go through but the horrified look on Owen’s face said he could. That left many questions in Mackenzie’s mind, but as she was clearly coming to care for him, she didn’t know if she wanted any answers at all.
After delivering Sierra and Kelsey to the crime scene, Mackenzie led Owen to the slipcovered couch with down cushions that felt like sitting on a pillow. She’d appreciated his effort to try to join in the lighthearted conversation at the end of dinner, but he failed and put his focus on the food. Was he just not a social guy or did he fail because he didn’t know much about himself, and it was hard to participate? And how could he when he knew nothing much about himself? He couldn’t possibly know his opinion on anything.
Mackenzie settled her laptop on her knees and entered Cassie Collins into a search engine. She turned the computer allowing him to see several articles that appeared in the Oregonian a little less than two years ago, declaring the woman missing.
Mackenzie opened the first story. It included a picture of an apartment building in Vancouver where Cassie had lived with her husband, a Vancouver police officer. Her parents were the last people to see her the morning she’d disappeared. She was dressed in hiking clothing and said she was going hiking, but not where.
Owen stared at the picture of the upscale building like he was hoping it would jar a memory.
“Anything?” she asked.
He clutched his hands into fists on his knees. “Nothing but that same familiarity and feeling of dread.”
Mackenzie resisted resting her hand on his and read the article.
