Page 26 of Hunting Justice
“I’ll go keep an eye out for the paramedics.” The admin rushed out the door.
“Feel like answering some questions? Or do you need a few more minutes?” Decia asked.
Jonah swallowed a sip of coffee and grimaced. “I’m good.”
Noelle glared at him. “Quit downplaying it.”
“I’m serious. I’m cold from my time in the refrigerator, but I wasn’t in there long enough to do damage. My throat is sore inside and out, but I don’t have serious injuries.” He pinned her with his intense gaze. “As I said. I’m good.”
At times, she wanted to clock her friend. Jonah tended to take care of others but not himself. She’d seen it when he’d cared for her last summer. He’d taken a week off, then when he finally went back to work, he’d work his shift, go home to feed his cat Samson, and within thirty minutes, he’d arrive at her house and stay until midnight with her. Then he’d do it all again the next day.
“You can talk all you want, but the paramedics will take a look at you, then I’m escorting you to the EGA office to talk with Alana and Juliette before taking you home.” She folded her arms, daring him to challenge her.
Matt choked on a laugh. “She told you.”
Decia elbowed her partner in the ribs. “You’re not helping.” The detective focused on Jonah. “Tell us what happened. And Noelle, jump in when you can.”
Noelle nodded and waited for Jonah to speak.
Jonah took another sip of the hot coffee and lowered the mug. “I pulled two bodies for a visual examination. I’d placed them on the roller tables and turned to close the drawer when a guy wrapped something around my neck and proceeded to strangle me. I fought back, but he’d surprised me, and I didn’t have time to react. Right before I passed out, I heard Noelle call my name. Then I fell and don’t remember anything until I woke up inside the drawer.” His gaze drifted to the cold storage. “Can’t say I ever want to do that again.”
“I don’t blame you.” Decia turned to Noelle and raised an eyebrow.
Noelle wanted to kick herself for not trusting her instincts. She’d known something wasn’t right. But she’d pushed it aside, and Jonah had paid the price for her not acting on that gut feeling. “Jonah called me a little while ago, asking for an investigative eye on the two cases he’s referring to. I agreed to come down and got here soon after he called. I went straight to autopsy two, where he said to meet him, but the room was empty. So I called out. When he didn’t respond, I continued down the hallway and came in here. The two bodies on the table were mangled, and the sheets were on fire, but the smoke had yet to fill the room. I grabbed the fire extinguisher and put out the flames. That’s when I heard Jonah pounding on the inside of the drawer.”
Decia finished jotting down her notes. “I bet that was a bit disconcerting.”
Noelle snorted. “Ya think?” The look on Jonah’s face when she opened the drawer might haunt her for years to come. “Anyway, that’s how I found him.”
“Anything else?” Decia asked.
She shook her head. “Not that I can think of. Jonah?”
He stared at the floor. “No. Nothing.”
Decia glanced at Matt and back to Jonah. “Why did you pull those bodies?”
Jonah jerked his attention to the detectives. “I…um…”
Noelle scrambled to come up with an answer. She knew he didn’t want to reveal Ken’s secret—yet. Decia and Matt would have to put it into a report, and the information might leak. If Juliette’s theory about an insider was correct, they’d tip off Ken’s killer. “He’s helping with a case.”
“Riiiiight.” Matt scowled. “Want to try again?”
“Not especially.” Determined not to expose the falsified reports without evidence, she’d do what she hated. Beg. “Decia. Matt. I appreciate you have a job to do. But please, trust me—us?—on this. At minimum, give me a little more time.”
Decia snapped her small notebook closed. “I know you have law enforcement privileges, but that doesn’t mean you’re above the law.” The detective appeared more concerned than irritated.
“Believe me. I’m well aware.” So far, all they had was hearsay. Confessions of a dead man. Once they had evidence, then she’d have to bring them in on the investigation. Noelle rested a hand on the detective’s arm. “I won’t do anything to make you regret my request.”
“Good enough,” Decia said as the paramedics entered the room. “We’ll get out of your way and send in the crime scene techs. But Noelle, I expect a call.”
“You’ll get one.” And she would. As soon as she and Jonah confirmed Ken’s confession.
Matt patted Jonah on the shoulder. “Take care, Doc.”
“Thanks.” Jonah shifted his attention to the paramedics and consented to the examination.
While the medics got busy treating his injuries, the crime scene crew arrived and snapped pictures and dusted for fingerprints. Noelle used her cell phone and took a few pictures of her own.