Read Online Eerie by C.M McCoy - Free Book Online

“if you would please hold all yelling until the Shelby comes to a complete stop.”
    â€œOkay,” Hailey mouthed. She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in her hands. Being in his car felt like a roller coaster, aside from the traffic noise. She heard more than a few horns honking, some squealing tires, and part of an expletive someone yelled at Fin.
    He didn’t respond.
    â€œWas that fast enough for you?” Fin asked with more than a little hostility as he skidded to a stop next to the coroner’s office.
    They’d made it there in under five minutes.
    Hailey uncovered her eyes and un-cringed. Fin’s driving was . . .exhilarating.
    He got out of the car and trotted to the passenger side. But when he opened Hailey’s door, something in the alley next to the coroner’s office caught his attention.
    His smile vanished.
    â€œWait here, Hailey,” he said in a voice so serious that Hailey actually did stay put . . .for a few seconds—long enough to see him disappear around a building. But, as soon as he was out of sight, she got out of the car, headed for the coroner’s office, and asked to see the body.
    An older lady with gray hair and shaky hands sat at the reception desk and answered Hailey in a painfully slow voice.
    â€œThat was Dr. Grabstein’s autopsy,” she said. “I’ll see if he’s available.” She picked up her phone.
    â€œOh, he’s expecting me,” Hailey lied.
    The old lady looked up at her, her hand hovering over the keypad, then the desk, then the keypad.
    Hailey didn’t have the patience to wait for this old dear. She needed to see Grabstein now.
    â€œHe told me to meet him in his office.”
    â€œÂ . . .his office,” the receptionist snickered. “He thinks that’s so funny.”
    â€œYeah,” she agreed with an uncertain laugh. “Could you point me in the right direction?”
    â€œJust push the ‘down’ button, and the elevator will do the rest.” She motioned to the hallway on the right. “Dr. Grabstein’s been at it all night. He should still be down there . . .”
    Hailey pushed the button for the basement, which was very conclusively labeled, MORGUE. The doors clanged shut, shaking the entire platform, which dropped her off at the end of an underground hallway with harsh fluorescent lights and air that felt cool and heavy, smelled a bit metallic, slightly like bleach, and reeked of another pungent, synthetic yet rotting ick she couldn’t identify.
    Voices echoed in the hallway, and she made her way in their direction until she found a couple of men bent over a stainless steel gurney, each wearing scrubs under a black rubber apron.
    Hailey opened her mouth to announce her presence, but nothing came out, so she cleared her throat, and one of the men looked up.
    â€œCan I help you?” he said from behind a plastic face shield. He had a scalpel in one hand and a bloody glove covering the other.
    â€œYes. Could you tell me where I might find Dr. Grabstein?”
    â€œYou’re looking at him.” He held his arms out and smiled. “Please, step into my office.” He bowed and still smiling, looked like he was waiting to see if she’d laugh. He really did think that was funny.
    â€œDr. Grabstein,” she said using her most mature voice, “I’m here to see Holly Hartley.”
    Grabstein looked at her expectantly, and Hailey figured he needed more information.
    â€œShe came in last night . . . Detective Toll’s case . . . A knife wound?”
    â€œKnife wound?” he scoffed. “They took her head clean off, but not with any knife.” He put his scalpel down and picked up a folder.
    Hailey reminded herself it wasn’t Holly.
    He scanned one of the pages inside.
    â€œMost of her injuries were consistent with tearing, except for the foot, which