County Morgue. Here's the number."
Tom called the coroner and set up an appointment for early the next morning.
***
Early Thursday morning, Carole and Sam took the Red Line to the Loop. Everyone was rushing to his or her work. After a short walk from the “L” station, they arrived at Office Temps on Wabash.
Upon entering the office Carole and Sam were greeted by a guidance counselor. The counselor led Sam into a computer testing room to determine her skills.
When Sam finished the keyboarding test, she waited in the counselor's office to get the results.
"Samantha, can I call you Sam?"
"Yes."
"With your current skills, there aren't many options available to you. I do have a filing and data entry at a major company in the loop. Would you be interested?"
"I realize I don't have many options."
"Okay. Here's the skinny. The job pays $15.00/hour. Paydays are bi-weekly through our office after you present signed time sheets to us. I understand you don't have a social security number."
"According to the police Samantha Goodrich isn't even my real name."
"While you were testing, I spoke to Carole. She is getting you a Tax Identification Number that you can use until your memory comes back. Paychecks are based on the hours you work. How does this sound?"
"Fine."
"Okay, you will report to the Personnel Department as Robinson—Williams Publishing Company next Monday morning. Here's the time sheet, address and contact name in personnel. I wish you the best of luck and sincerely hope you regain your memory soon."
Sam took the paperwork and thanked the counselor. Carole stood up, smiled and they left the office heading for the elevator.
In the elevator, Carole turned to Samantha, "Sam you are not to worry. Robinson—Williams has had some of our clients work there in the past. They are a very compassionate company. As long as we're downtown, I think we should have your eyes checked out."
"Why?"
"Sam, you avoided the television in the hospital and at the house. When it is on, you squint at the picture."
"Is it that noticeable?"
They walked down Wabash until they were in the front entrance of Visionhouse. Two hours later Sam was wearing fashionable Prada eyeglasses.
***
Tom arrived at the Kane County Coroner’s Office Thursday morning. Dr. Reynolds, Medical Examiner, greeted him.
"Detective Cassell, welcome. Let's go right to the morgue. I have a lot on my workload today."
They entered the cooler that housed rows of metal chambers for deceased persons. The examiner went to the drawer where the Route 60 woman was housed. She engaged the handle, and the body glided in front of Tom.
"Is this your sister?"
"No. Can you tell me anything about the victim?"
"Well, let’s start with what we know. The unidentified victim is approximate 23-28 years of age. She was found nude with no visible signs of a struggle. Cause of death appears to be suffocation. We don't have the blood work up available yet. There was no evidence of rape."
"No defensive DNA at all?"
"That's the strange part. Her body was thoroughly cleaned before she was unceremoniously left along the highway. Any clues?"
"Not now. I'm working on a case that has some similarities to this one. I'll get back to you if I find something out. Thank you.”
***
On the drive to the precinct, Tom knew there was someone out there who was good, very good at hiding his identity. He was sure he would see more victims unceremoniously dumped along roadsides—the preps' modus operandi.
When Tom reported to the precinct, he brought Steve on board of what the coroner had to say.
"It looks as if we have someone out there that knows the system. The victim had red hair like Samantha's. This victim, too, had no visible signs of identification. Our perp has fine-tuned his action so
Tom called the coroner and set up an appointment for early the next morning.
***
Early Thursday morning, Carole and Sam took the Red Line to the Loop. Everyone was rushing to his or her work. After a short walk from the “L” station, they arrived at Office Temps on Wabash.
Upon entering the office Carole and Sam were greeted by a guidance counselor. The counselor led Sam into a computer testing room to determine her skills.
When Sam finished the keyboarding test, she waited in the counselor's office to get the results.
"Samantha, can I call you Sam?"
"Yes."
"With your current skills, there aren't many options available to you. I do have a filing and data entry at a major company in the loop. Would you be interested?"
"I realize I don't have many options."
"Okay. Here's the skinny. The job pays $15.00/hour. Paydays are bi-weekly through our office after you present signed time sheets to us. I understand you don't have a social security number."
"According to the police Samantha Goodrich isn't even my real name."
"While you were testing, I spoke to Carole. She is getting you a Tax Identification Number that you can use until your memory comes back. Paychecks are based on the hours you work. How does this sound?"
"Fine."
"Okay, you will report to the Personnel Department as Robinson—Williams Publishing Company next Monday morning. Here's the time sheet, address and contact name in personnel. I wish you the best of luck and sincerely hope you regain your memory soon."
Sam took the paperwork and thanked the counselor. Carole stood up, smiled and they left the office heading for the elevator.
In the elevator, Carole turned to Samantha, "Sam you are not to worry. Robinson—Williams has had some of our clients work there in the past. They are a very compassionate company. As long as we're downtown, I think we should have your eyes checked out."
"Why?"
"Sam, you avoided the television in the hospital and at the house. When it is on, you squint at the picture."
"Is it that noticeable?"
They walked down Wabash until they were in the front entrance of Visionhouse. Two hours later Sam was wearing fashionable Prada eyeglasses.
***
Tom arrived at the Kane County Coroner’s Office Thursday morning. Dr. Reynolds, Medical Examiner, greeted him.
"Detective Cassell, welcome. Let's go right to the morgue. I have a lot on my workload today."
They entered the cooler that housed rows of metal chambers for deceased persons. The examiner went to the drawer where the Route 60 woman was housed. She engaged the handle, and the body glided in front of Tom.
"Is this your sister?"
"No. Can you tell me anything about the victim?"
"Well, let’s start with what we know. The unidentified victim is approximate 23-28 years of age. She was found nude with no visible signs of a struggle. Cause of death appears to be suffocation. We don't have the blood work up available yet. There was no evidence of rape."
"No defensive DNA at all?"
"That's the strange part. Her body was thoroughly cleaned before she was unceremoniously left along the highway. Any clues?"
"Not now. I'm working on a case that has some similarities to this one. I'll get back to you if I find something out. Thank you.”
***
On the drive to the precinct, Tom knew there was someone out there who was good, very good at hiding his identity. He was sure he would see more victims unceremoniously dumped along roadsides—the preps' modus operandi.
When Tom reported to the precinct, he brought Steve on board of what the coroner had to say.
"It looks as if we have someone out there that knows the system. The victim had red hair like Samantha's. This victim, too, had no visible signs of identification. Our perp has fine-tuned his action so
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