"No, Toby probably won't notify next of kin until he gets a more conclusive ID on the body. We only recognized him from a picture, and his body's been through a lot." I was certain it was Tyler, too, but I wasn't sure how quickly I wanted that information to get out. Timing it for Rowan's benefit, one way or another, was my only goal.
Dr. Snider scooped up some buttery grits and spilled a bit down his shirt. "Not notified yet. Toby asked me for a better ID. That's right."
"Well, I'm ninety-nine percent positive it's him." She picked her fork back up and toyed with her half-eaten scrambled eggs. Then she stopped and peered at Dr. Snider, who was cramming a piece of jelly toast in his mouth. "Won't you need Luke to come and try to ID the body?"
Dr. Snider nodded, but his mouth was too full to properly respond.
She kept getting one step ahead of Dr. Snider-and, I had to admit, even me. Controlling information was key at this point.
I squeezed her shoulder. "Yeah, you're right. He'll know soon enough anyway. Doc, text Toby, would you, and tell him your office is handling the notification pending identification. That'll keep the ball in our court. E-mail me one of the pics you took of his face, and Caroline and I will drop by and see Luke this afternoon. Get the ID that way so he doesn't have to see the body."
"Can do."
"Good." She began eating again. "That way we can be kind in telling him and possibly solidify him as an ally for Rowan."
I canted my head at her. Her instincts were a mix of kindness and strategy.
She shrugged and gave me an innocent smile. "What?"
I grinned. I couldn't help it. Her deviousness rivaled my own, and I wanted to see more of her, more of what went on in that clever mind of hers.
She stared at me, her gaze traveling my face as color rose in her cheeks, painting them even redder than before. My chest expanded, as if there were suddenly more warmth, more space inside. I wished we were somewhere in private, somewhere I could show her how I felt.
Dr. Snider's less-than-stellar table manners were a reminder that we were, in fact, not in private. He slurped his coffee.
Caroline's sparkling gaze darkened for a split second, and then she broke our eye contact and sipped her coffee. What just happened?
"So, what's our next step?" she asked.
The urge to get her to myself, to ask her what she was thinking, verged on overwhelming. I forced myself to settle down. Dr. Snider was an important piece of our defense, and the next forty-eight hours could prove pivotal for the entire case.
"We need to visit Rowan. Can't talk about this over the phone. Too many ears listening in on the conversations at Angola."
"Can we go now?"
I checked my watch. "No, too late. They wouldn't let us in with such short notice. Tomorrow morning at the soonest."
Caroline fidgeted a bit and stared at the highway outside the window. "We should divide and conquer, then. I'll take the autopsy, and you go to Angola."
Fuck. She was right. We needed information as soon as possible, and I couldn't be in two places at once. "Are you sure you can handle an autopsy?"
Dr. Snider finished his breakfast with gusto, downing the last of his orange juice and eyeing the half-eaten food on Caroline's plate. He grabbed a piece of her toast. "It won't be too bad. All the blood's already gone."
Caroline grimaced but straightened her back. "I'll be fine. I'm sort of getting the hang of this whole dead body thing."
"I don't like it." I tossed my napkin on the table. "You shouldn't be going alone."
Though we'd only been working the case together for a couple of weeks, I'd spent the entire time with her. I didn't want to separate. Talking to Rowan about Tyler as soon as possible was imperative, but attending the autopsy to gather facts and keep an eye on Turnbull was just as important. Still, there had to be a way for me to attend the autopsy with her.
"I can handle myself, Wash. You don't have to babysit me for the whole case." She crossed her arms.
"It's not that. It's just-"
"What?" She glared at me.
I narrowed my eyes. "If you'd let me fini-"
"We need to talk to Rowan, right?" She arched an eyebrow.
"Yes, but-"
"We need to keep an eye on Turnbull, right?"
I sighed. She was crossing me. I was letting an associate cross me. I shook my head but couldn't stifle my smile. "Yes."
"You can't do both at the same time, can you?"
"No."
"You didn't get magical powers of omnipresence last night, did you?"