Chapter 5 You Want To Desecrate Her Further

Leaving Skyline Casino, Eleanor hailed a taxi and headed directly to the police station.

If the deceased woman had truly swallowed the memory card, it must hold vital information.

Recovering it could mean a commendation-perhaps even a step forward in her career.

The thought fueled her resolve.

But as the taxi pulled up outside the station, she froze in surprise.

It was already 3 a.m., yet the station was unusually alive with activity. Officers hurried in and out, their faces tense under the harsh lights.

Eleanor quietly edged closer to the scene, curious and wary.

Inside the bustling police station, a middle-aged man sat, his face etched with fury and grief.

Eleanor approached, her brow furrowed. "What happened?"

A young officer nearby gave her a weary glance and sighed.

"The corpse brought in last night was Officer Cooper's daughter. She went into Skyline Casino as an undercover agent, thinking it was just an entertainment spot and a quick path to promotion. She had no idea of the danger, and... it cost her everything."

He glanced over his shoulder toward the grim figure of Jeremy Cooper. "Now he's demanding swift justice. He's ordered the team to capture her killer within three days and bring down the entire criminal network behind Skyline Casino."

Clenching her fists, Eleanor thought back to the memory card.

Summoning her courage, she stepped forward through the crowd.

"Excuse me, Officer Cooper..."

Her words were cut short as Jeremy turned to her, his expression thunderous. "Who are you, and what makes you think you have the right to speak here?"

Momentarily taken aback, Eleanor hesitated.

But the thought of the memory card, possibly holding the key to justice for Jeremy's daughter, drove her forward. "I have information that might be important," she said firmly.

Jeremy's stare bored into her. "Then speak," he commanded.

"I'd like to conduct a further autopsy. There's a chance we will find something..."

Before she could finish, Jeremy slammed his cup down with a resounding crack.

"How dare you?" he growled. "My daughter suffered enough, and now you want to desecrate her further?"

As he spoke, something shifted in his eyes-a realization, cold and sharp.

"You're the one who conducted her autopsy, aren't you?"

Eleanor gave a tight nod, meeting his gaze, feeling the chill of his deepening fury.

"So, it was you who told everyone she had been... assaulted by a dozen men?"

Eleanor's eyes widened, a chill running through her.

She shook her head fiercely. "No, that wasn't me. I would never do such a thing."

As a medical examiner, she held the privacy of the deceased as a sacred duty.

But Jeremy's skeptical gaze told her he wasn't convinced.

With a curt nod, he motioned for his subordinates to dismiss the onlookers outside the door, and even the other officers were ushered out, leaving the room empty but for the two of them.

Eleanor faced Jeremy, taking in the lines etched deeply in his grief-stricken face, the silver strands in his hair, and felt a wave of empathy.

She drew a steadying breath, preparing to speak.

"Officer Cooper, I've collected the sperms from your daughter's body. With a match, we could identify those who have assaulted your daughter."

But before she could continue, Jeremy snatched up an ashtray and swung it at her.

Pain exploded as it struck Eleanor's head, warm blood trickling down her face, blurring her vision.

Eleanor raised her head slowly, her expression one of hurt and disbelief, her lips trembling as she looked at Jeremy.

Without hesitation, Jeremy tossed the ashtray aside and slapped her, the sound echoing in the room.

"You dare use my daughter's death to advance your career?" he spat, his tone dripping with contempt. "You'll never get anywhere as a medical examiner."

A dark intensity smoldered in his gaze, each word carrying an edge of malice.

"I refuse to allow any of this. My daughter's dignity is mine to protect, even after her death."

He fixed Eleanor with a final, chilling stare that left her cold, his eyes unreadable, like a predator lying in wait.

Jeremy firmly opposed further autopsy on his daughter. Given the clear cause of death, no one pressed the matter.

After all, if the family chose to relinquish the investigation, who would dare challenge them?

After leaving the police station, Jeremy slipped into a waiting car and pulled out a spare phone, dialing a number.

A casual, almost amused voice answered on the other end. "Officer Cooper! What brings you to call me? Wanting to hang out together?"

Jeremy's face darkened, his grip tightening on the phone.

"The situation's taken care of. If anything more comes up, you deal with it yourself. This mess is on you."

Without waiting for a response, he ended the call, his jaw set in grim determination.

Back in the police station, Eleanor slumped to the floor, her vision clouded by the thick stream of blood trickling from her forehead.

Her heart felt heavy, sinking deep into despair.

Was this what it meant to be powerless?

You would be left unheard, just because of your position?

After a few moments, she forced herself up, finding some medical supplies and carefully bandaging her wound.

With Jeremy gone, the station slowly grew quiet, leaving only a handful of officers on the night shift.

Eleanor took a steadying breath, drinking a glass of water as she cast her gaze toward the morgue, a new resolve hardening in her eyes.