Chapter 88
Just like that, the meeting was over and the team split off, each heading out to their respective tasks. Ward didn’t get up straightaway, so Jamie stayed seated as well. He noticed Vicky and Aaron also lingered. Once the rest of the members were gone, Aaron said, “Vicky and I can go through the names if you’d like, compile a list of suspects based on medical experience.”
“Excellent,” Ward nodded. “So long as it doesn’t take you out of the field.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Vicky said, smiling. “You know we never sleep.”
“Dr. Joplin, if you don’t mind, could you go over a few things with Vicky and Aaron, let them know what kind of medical expertise we might be looking for? I know we need to send you back to Jordan soon, so if they have some sort of idea what to go on, it might be helpful.”
Ignoring the fact that Ward seemed to think he could enlighten the pair on years of medical expertise in a matter of minutes, Jamie smiled and nodded. “Of course. I’m happy to.”
“Very good, then. I’m going to go follow up with the police on that possible victim last night.” Ward clapped him on the shoulder again, harder this time, and Jamie winced a little, as Ward pulled himself out of his chair and headed toward the door.
Staring across the table into those intense blue eyes made Jamie uncomfortable, so he looked into Vicky’s instead. “Your record is impressive, Dr. Joplin,” she said with smile.
“Thank you,” Jamie muttered with a shrug, “but I’m relatively new at this. At all of this.”
“You graduated early from Harvard, didn’t you?” Aaron asked, and Jamie had a hard time telling if he was impressed or if his raised eyebrows were a result of his own smugness.
“I did. But, frankly, Transforming was really never my choice. It was my sister who led me here.” He wasn’t sure why he felt compelled to tell the pair this. Perhaps it was in order to compensate for any shortcomings they may witness as he attempted to help solve this puzzle. It was clear that the Jack the Ripper case would be unlike anything any of them had ever encountered before.
“Well, I’m impressed,” Vicky said, standing. “Do you have some advice for what we might be looking for?”
Jamie scratched his head as he thought. “Really, whomever is responsible for these dissections is a rather skilled surgeon, someone with a medical background for certain, but likely a great deal of practice as well. If we were talking about a human, I’d say he’d need to be in his mid-to-late forties or early fifties, but since he’s undead, there’s really no way to judge how old he might appear or proclaim to be.”
“Indeed,” Vicky agreed. “So we need to be looking for surgeons and no one else?”
Weighing her question for a moment, Jamie began to nod. “I would say yes. I think if, as your informant says, Jack is on our list, he is amongst the surgeons.”
“Can you explain a bit about how you can tell?” Aaron asked. “What is it about the cuts that have led you to this deduction?”
Again, it was difficult to tell his reasoning for asking the question, so Jamie decided to assume it was curiosity and not that he believed the doctor didn’t know what he was talking about. “Some of the organs that have been removed are fairly difficult to access as they are entombed by other organs and various bodily layers. For most people, even those who have been practicing general medicine or who are new to performing surgeries, removing them without damaging the organs, as Jack has done, would be extremely difficult, and yet he does it under the pressure of potentially being caught without making a single false move. Most of the organs were without a nick. It’s quite impressive.”
“Well then, if I ever have an appendicitis, I shall know who to call.” Vicky rolled her eyes and made a coy smile. “Your help has been invaluable, Doctor.” She stood and reached across the table, bringing both men to their feet.
Jamie accepted her hand. “My pleasure,” he replied, smiling at the beautiful blonde. Aaron’s gaze seemed even heavier on him, and Jamie silently wondered what the story might be between these two.
Once he had released Vicky’s hand, Aaron offered his, and Jamie took it, forcing a smile. “We’ll go have a look at the list.”
“Very good. Best of luck to you. I’m headed back to the police station and possibly the morgue.”
“How long will you be in town?” Vicky had already taken a few steps toward the door but turned back to look at him as Jamie came around the end of the table.
“I’m honestly not sure,” he replied, “but hopefully for a few weeks. I’d like to see this case through, though I have no idea how long it might take.”
“None of us do.” Aaron sounded exasperated.
“We should have dinner one night,” Vicky said, turning back and heading toward the door. “It would be nice to hear more about America. I hear it’s an exciting place to be.”
Jamie wasn’t sure what to say. He’d assumed that there was something going on between Aaron and Vicky, but the other Guardian didn’t protest her offer. Of course, Jamie also didn’t know if her request was friendly or something more amorous. “I’m sure that would be lovely,” he replied, following the pair out into the hallway.
“Good,” Vicky said, turning to smile at him. “I just love your Boston accent. It’s so… adorable.”
Jamie chuckled nervously. He found her British accent more intoxicating than cute. “Thank you,” he managed, trying to avoid Aaron’s penetrating gaze.
Vicky shrugged at him demurely and then headed down the hallway.
Aaron lingered, and Jamie was forced to look him in the face. “Thanks again for your assistance, Doctor.”
The expression on his face was unreadable. It was almost as if he found the conversation slightly amusing. Jamie nodded, and Aaron turned and followed his partner down the hallway. Jamie had a feeling dinner with Vicky would never happen, but if it did, he was sure it would be a night he would never forget.
