Chapter 30

CHAPTER

THIRTY

Tori tried to push down the wave of nerves she felt as she stared at Thomas Morris.

She'd seen a picture of the man online. But in real life, he looked larger—probably six foot five—with broad shoulders and a rounded belly. He was probably in his late fifties, with short salt-and-pepper hair accentuated with a receding hairline.

Even though it was September and still fairly warm, he wore a sweater vest as he stared at them. "If you're selling something, I'm not interested."

Tori broke out of her stupor and held up her hand before he could totally dismiss them. "Wait. We're not selling anything."

She knew there were many ways they could approach this. More aggressive styles or more civilized ones.

She, of course, wanted to go the more civilized route.

Dr. Morris paused with his hand on the door, a sure indication that he was prepared to close it in their face at his whim.

"I'm here about Nathan Bristow," she announced.

He squinted. "Who is Nathan Bristow?"

"He died of a cardiac arrest two weeks ago, and you did the examination," Tori reminded him.

An unreadable emotion flitted through his eyes, and he stepped back. "Those findings are confidential. And I especially don't appreciate people showing up at my house uninvited to try to discuss my work."

He started to shut the door, and Kai extended his leg. His foot blocked it.

Based on the scowl Dr. Morris gave Kai's foot, he didn't appreciate the move.

"We've traveled a long way, and we really need to speak with you," Kai said.

Now, more than anything, Tori wanted to talk to Dr. Morris. The fact he'd even remembered examining Nathan told her something. He probably dealt with hundreds of bodies every year—not just murders but natural deaths and suicides as well.

But he'd recognized Nathan's cause of death. That had to mean something.

"As I said before, autopsy results are not something I can discuss—" Dr. Morris started.

"You can discuss them with me. My name is Tori Bristow." She held her breath as she waited for the doctor's reaction. "Nathan Bristow was my brother."

Kai watched Dr. Morris, trying to anticipate his next move.

Part of Kai feared that as soon as he moved his foot, the doctor would slam the door and lock it, refusing to speak with them.

Kai stared at Dr. Morris as he waited to see if the doctor would do this the easy way or the hard way.

Finally, Dr. Morris released the door from his grip and took a slight step back. "I'll give you five minutes."

"Thank you." Kai slowly removed his foot.

Dr. Morris opened the door wider and invited them inside. But Kai watched as the man glanced outside, almost as if looking to see if anyone was nearby.

Had someone been watching him lately?

Dr. Morris pointed to a formal living area, and Kai and Tori sat on a stiff leather couch. The man didn't bother to offer any drinks, which was fine.

"What do you want to know?" Dr. Morris sat rigidly in a chair across from them.

Kai glanced at Tori, giving her the chance to take the lead. She was the one who'd started this investigation and the one who'd lost her brother.

She cleared her throat before starting. "Something about my brother's death never rang true to me. So I began doing my own investigation into what might have happened to him. And I don't believe he died of natural causes."

Dr. Morris's expression remained stoic. "What do you think?"

"I think that, for some reason, you fudged the results of the autopsy. I believe my brother had a pacemaker near his heart that caused it to stop beating."

"You're accusing me of altering the results of the autopsy?" Offense stretched through Dr. Morris's voice.

"Someone did," Tori told him honestly. "And I'm starting with you."

"Why in the world would I fudge the autopsy results?" He might as well have rolled his eyes the way he said the words with such disdain.

Tori exchanged a glance with Kai, who gave her a nod of encouragement. "I'm not sure exactly why. Maybe you were paid off. Maybe you were threatened. Maybe you didn't do it at all, but maybe after you turned in the report someone you work with did it. That's what I need to know."

Kai held his breath as he waited to see what the man would say this time.

Would Dr. Morris continue to deny what had happened? Would he kick them out? Call the police?

Kai prayed they'd finally get some answers . . . for Tori's sake.