Alone (Bone Secrets, #4)(15)

The doctor put a hand in the middle of his back and arched it, grimacing. “I’ve got some more girls to take care of. This is going to be handled right.”

Seth Rutledge stepped into the autopsy suite in full scrubs and gown. He acknowledged the detectives with a nod and greeting. “I can give you a hand,” he said to Dr. Campbell.

“Much appreciated,” he said. “I can put you to work.”


Seth followed Dr. Campbell into the next suite and wondered what Tori was doing. Their brief run-in this morning hadn’t gone smoothly. He’d been looking out from a window, waiting for her to arrive. He felt a bit like a stalker, but he’d simply wanted to see her, study her a bit without her knowing. She was still adept at throwing up defenses. It’d been years since they’d crossed paths the last time. A forensics conference in Denver had put them face-to-face for the first time since they split in college.

They’d both been in relationships at the time. Him with Jennifer, and her with Rory. He’d been confident enough to engage her at the conference and suggest dinner. After all, they were both committed to other people. Why couldn’t they have a simple meal to catch up? What could go wrong?

What went wrong was too much wine and too much reminiscing.

It’d been one kiss.

Its indications had been explosive.

Seth shook his head, forcing the memory out of his thoughts. The night hadn’t ended well, and Tori had left the conference without saying good-bye.

He’d flown back home to Sacramento to his wife, realizing he’d failed her and their daughter. But that failure hadn’t occurred in Denver. It’d occurred when he’d agreed to marry Jennifer for the wrong reasons. He’d always known it wasn’t the right path for either of them, but it’d seemed the best for their daughter.

How wrong he’d been.

He pictured Tori as she’d walked into the medical examiner’s building earlier.

Her looks were slightly exotic with dark eyes too large for her face. Her last name was of Hispanic origin, but she’d always appeared more Mediterranean, more Proven?al. She’d eventually told him that she’d been adopted. She’d laughed and said her parents were lucky to adopt a dark-haired daughter instead of a blue-eyed blonde. Fewer questions.

In college, he’d felt instantly connected and later had wondered why he hadn’t missed her before he’d known her. Why hadn’t the giant hole in his heart been obvious? Once she’d filled that hole, he’d seen his emptiness with clear eyes.

Today he was back to square one with the gaping hole in his soul. Its emptiness resonating every time he thought of her. He missed the woman he’d clicked with so long ago. He placed part of the blame on Jennifer. She’d lied and manipulated him, capturing him where he’d been the most vulnerable. But he could have ended things better with Tori.

Or could he? A breakup sucked no matter how it was handled.

He’d asked “What if?” a million times over the years.

Now he was determined to make amends.

Dr. Campbell’s voice entered his thoughts and Seth started. “I’m sorry, what’d you say?”

The older man’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “You’re a million miles away.”

Seth smiled. “You don’t know the half of it.”

“Dr. Peres?”

Dr. Campbell noticed more than he’d let on.

“Yes, she’s part of it,” he admitted.

“You two have a history? Is it something to keep you from working together?”

The question had been on Seth’s mind. “Yes, we have a history. But I don’t think it’s an issue. It is something I need to talk to her about. If I’m going to make her uncomfortable, then I won’t take the position.”

Dr. Campbell strolled over to study the X-rays of his next subject. He rubbed at his chin, his gaze on the black-and-white images. “Victoria’s the best forensic anthropologist I’ve ever worked with.”

Seth understood what the man hadn’t said out loud. “I don’t want to hurt her,” he replied.

The ME turned and took a long look at Seth. The ME’s scrutiny was intense, and Seth fought not to squirm. “You’re divorced, right?”

“The divorce process started quite a while ago. They take time.”

Dr. Campbell nodded. “Is it going to be messy?”

Seth took a deep breath. “It could get that way. That’s part of the reason I left. I need to be away from her while this happens. It doesn’t help her to see me. She needs to go on with her life and not trip over me once a week somewhere.”

“What about your daughter? She’s what, eighteen?” The older man’s eyes were fierce, flashing concern for the innocent girl in the divorce

Seth swallowed. “I waited until she was off to college. I’ve talked with her over and over about the divorce. She’s my primary concern, and she’s fully aware of the type of person her mother is. She told me she was surprised I stuck it out this long. She says she understands.”

“They always say that. They don’t want to hurt you.”

“I know. But she’s at least accepted it on one level. I don’t know if any child of divorce totally gets over it, even in the smoothest divorce. But she’s a smart kid, and I really believe she’ll get through it. She knows her mother and I still love her. We just can’t live in the same house. Or city.”