Read Online Alone (A Bone Secrets Novel) by Kendra Elliot - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kendra Elliot
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people.”
“So you looked at the fillings and stuff on those girls? And you’ll compare them to what their parents and dentists say they had done to their teeth?”
“Exactly.”
Trinity tried to remember Brooke’s teeth. She couldn’t remember anything obvious. They were white and straight likemost people’s teeth these days. Except her own. Her lower teeth were a little bit crooked, but her foster mom said it wasn’t noticeable and that Trinity was lucky to have such good genes she hadn’t needed braces. Which was extra-lucky because as a foster kid, dental care was scarce.
“You’ve already looked at all their teeth? Brooke had perfect teeth… in the front, anyway. I don’t know if she had any fillings on her back teeth.”
Dr. Campbell nodded. “I’ve looked at four of them so far. For the most part, they have great teeth. What I’d expect to see on healthy, middle-class teen girls.” She didn’t volunteer any more information.
Trinity slipped her cell phone out of her back pocket.
Would the doctor look at a picture of Brooke?
“Umm… would you…”
Dr. Campbell placed a hand on her arm, stopping her, her eyes sad. “You can show your pictures to the police, okay? We’ll let them figure it out by the evidence, not by me guessing from a picture.”
Heart sinking, Trinity dropped her gaze and shoved the phone in her jeans. The doctor was right. She didn’t want to hear it
might
be Brooke; she wanted to know the truth.
“Brooke wouldn’t kill herself,” she said quietly. “They’re saying on the news it could be suicide. I know her. She was looking forward to the homecoming dance next week. She had her dress and everything.”
Dr. Campbell pressed her lips together. “The reporters are speculating. Don’t listen to them. They don’t know what happened and they’re simply saying what will get the most attention on TV. The police and the medical examiner are the only ones you should listen to.”
Trinity looked into her earnest brown eyes and nodded. Dr. Campbell was deadly serious.
“Victoria asked me to bring you to her. The police aren’t ready to talk to you, and she was worried about you sitting alone out there. She has a project you can help her with.”
“Ah… okay.” Trinity had no idea how she could be helpful. Maybe the doctor needed some filing done. Or maybe Dr. Peres was simply trying to keep her distracted. She followed Dr. Campbell through a maze of hallways and into a large room that looked like a lab. But this lab had bones. Lots of them. There were three small metal tables, each with a skull and a shallow bin of bones. Dr. Peres was taking bones out of one bin and organizing them on a table.
Sweat sprouted on her temples and Trinity’s vision tunneled. Foggily she felt Dr. Campbell grab her arm and push her into a chair. She shoved Trinity’s head between her knees. “Take deep breaths.”
“Didn’t you tell her what we’d be doing?” Dr. Peres asked, concern filling her voice. Her feet moved into Trinity’s view and she squatted next to her, her hand on Trinity’s shoulder.
“No. I thought I’d let you do that. I didn’t know you’d already have the skulls out on the tables when we came in,” answered Dr. Campbell.
“Are those… are those…” Trinity’s mouth was too dry to form the words. She stared at the floor as it moved in and out of focus.
“They’re real, if that’s what you’re asking,” said Dr. Peres.
Trinity closed her eyes.
How had they removed the flesh so fast?
“Oh, honey!” Dr. Campbell kneeled and tried to look Trinity in the eye. “These aren’t the girls! These are some old skeletons. Dr. Peres thought you might like to help lay themout. She said you were interested in anthropology. I should have warned you!”
Trinity exhaled.
Of course. They wouldn’t have cleaned the bones already.
“I’d like to help… I think.” She lifted her head carefully, expecting to see black shadows rushing her vision
“So you looked at the fillings and stuff on those girls? And you’ll compare them to what their parents and dentists say they had done to their teeth?”
“Exactly.”
Trinity tried to remember Brooke’s teeth. She couldn’t remember anything obvious. They were white and straight likemost people’s teeth these days. Except her own. Her lower teeth were a little bit crooked, but her foster mom said it wasn’t noticeable and that Trinity was lucky to have such good genes she hadn’t needed braces. Which was extra-lucky because as a foster kid, dental care was scarce.
“You’ve already looked at all their teeth? Brooke had perfect teeth… in the front, anyway. I don’t know if she had any fillings on her back teeth.”
Dr. Campbell nodded. “I’ve looked at four of them so far. For the most part, they have great teeth. What I’d expect to see on healthy, middle-class teen girls.” She didn’t volunteer any more information.
Trinity slipped her cell phone out of her back pocket.
Would the doctor look at a picture of Brooke?
“Umm… would you…”
Dr. Campbell placed a hand on her arm, stopping her, her eyes sad. “You can show your pictures to the police, okay? We’ll let them figure it out by the evidence, not by me guessing from a picture.”
Heart sinking, Trinity dropped her gaze and shoved the phone in her jeans. The doctor was right. She didn’t want to hear it
might
be Brooke; she wanted to know the truth.
“Brooke wouldn’t kill herself,” she said quietly. “They’re saying on the news it could be suicide. I know her. She was looking forward to the homecoming dance next week. She had her dress and everything.”
Dr. Campbell pressed her lips together. “The reporters are speculating. Don’t listen to them. They don’t know what happened and they’re simply saying what will get the most attention on TV. The police and the medical examiner are the only ones you should listen to.”
Trinity looked into her earnest brown eyes and nodded. Dr. Campbell was deadly serious.
“Victoria asked me to bring you to her. The police aren’t ready to talk to you, and she was worried about you sitting alone out there. She has a project you can help her with.”
“Ah… okay.” Trinity had no idea how she could be helpful. Maybe the doctor needed some filing done. Or maybe Dr. Peres was simply trying to keep her distracted. She followed Dr. Campbell through a maze of hallways and into a large room that looked like a lab. But this lab had bones. Lots of them. There were three small metal tables, each with a skull and a shallow bin of bones. Dr. Peres was taking bones out of one bin and organizing them on a table.
Sweat sprouted on her temples and Trinity’s vision tunneled. Foggily she felt Dr. Campbell grab her arm and push her into a chair. She shoved Trinity’s head between her knees. “Take deep breaths.”
“Didn’t you tell her what we’d be doing?” Dr. Peres asked, concern filling her voice. Her feet moved into Trinity’s view and she squatted next to her, her hand on Trinity’s shoulder.
“No. I thought I’d let you do that. I didn’t know you’d already have the skulls out on the tables when we came in,” answered Dr. Campbell.
“Are those… are those…” Trinity’s mouth was too dry to form the words. She stared at the floor as it moved in and out of focus.
“They’re real, if that’s what you’re asking,” said Dr. Peres.
Trinity closed her eyes.
How had they removed the flesh so fast?
“Oh, honey!” Dr. Campbell kneeled and tried to look Trinity in the eye. “These aren’t the girls! These are some old skeletons. Dr. Peres thought you might like to help lay themout. She said you were interested in anthropology. I should have warned you!”
Trinity exhaled.
Of course. They wouldn’t have cleaned the bones already.
“I’d like to help… I think.” She lifted her head carefully, expecting to see black shadows rushing her vision
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