Chapter 6 To Be a Forensic Doctor

• Over the span of three years, a miracle doctor has ascended to global renown for her unparalleled mastery of medicine, remedying countless intricate and enigmatic maladies across lands both near and far.
• Many presumed they could deduce her true identity based on her outward guise, yet curiously, she presented with ever-changing countenances during each therapeutic encounter. Scores endeavoured to uncover her name and lineage, but none succeeded. Those seeking her aid, irrespective of their standing, were left only to dispatch emails and patiently await an audience.
• As for her inclinations towards offering succour ... it hinged entirely upon the whims of this healer of divine repute, none other than Elsie, presently toying with a mask.
• "My dear, 15 million is no trifling sum. Who seeks me? What ailment shrouded in mystery beckons?"
• "Mummy, the supplicant is Jonathan Storm, a tycoon of Frolida's real estate realm. Three moons past, he was stricken with a stroke, followed by complications. Presently, he languishes, his lower limbs immobile and his speech plagued by impediments."
• Upon hearing Jonathan's name, Elsie curled her lip.
• "Uninterested."
• "Mummy, he offers 15 million. Why did you hastily dismiss him?"
• "You believe this sum could purchase my conscience? Do you know how much ill-gotten gain has Jonathan amassed over the years? In this world, the wealthier the heart's beastliness, the greater the dread of death!" A flicker of disdain flashed in Elsie's gaze as she nonchalantly discarded the mask onto the tea table.
• "So, Mummy, that is why you forsook your position as miracle doctor to return to the realms of forensic medicine?"
• Elsie did not demur. "The heart of man ever craves more. Physicians are not all-potent, yet some deem their wealth can compel miracles beyond reach. Rather than that, I prefer to advocate for the departed than capriciously tend the living."
• "Mummy, I applaud your sense of righteousness!" Joel's cherubic countenance glowed with reverence for Elsie.
• Chin propped on her hand, Elsie smiled faintly. "Indeed, who could resist loving me?"
• Joel saw his mother's unmasked visage and couldn't help recalling the clingy maiden he encountered earlier at the airport.
• "Mummy, the little one who clung to you today at the terminal, she bears a striking resemblance to you ... "
• "Do you reckon so?"
• Mentioning the young girl inevitably drew Elsie's thoughts to her own daughter.
• Years ago, upon discovering her pregnancy, she departed entirely from the wolf pack to shield her child, entering the realm of human society. Yet, against her hopes, Juliet managed to trace her nonetheless.
• Her father and Juliet had always regarded her as a blemish upon the Blue Moon pack. The fate of the twins taken by Juliet appeared bleak indeed.
• At this reflection, Elsie's heart throbbed fiercely. Could her daughter yet survive? Might she be akin in age to the charming child she encountered at the airport today?
• ...
• The following day, just past five o'clock, Elsie was roused by the ringing of her phone.
• In a half-dream state, she fumbled for her mobile, pressed it to her ear, and heard the voice of an elderly man on the other end.
• "Elsie, forgive the imposition before your formal duties commence. Chunks of corpses hidden in snakeskin were recovered this morning from the St. John's River, steeped for some time. An urgent matter for autopsy, and your assistance is needed promptly."
• "Mr. Jimenez, send me the location. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
• Elsie rubbed her weary eyes, adjusted the blanket displaced by her younger son, and rose from her bed.
• After a brisk ablution, Elsie once more donned the unappealing human skin mask before the mirror. Instantly, the once striking beauty reflected became an unassuming figure amidst the populace, save for her limpid eyes sparkling with a playful glimmer.
• True to her word, Elsie arrived punctually at the scene within the allotted fifteen minutes.
• The area was already cordoned off with blue-and-white tape. A uniformed officer obstructed her path.
• "Madam, this route is closed. Only authorized personnel may proceed."
• "I am Elsie, Forensic Consultant appointed by the Frolida Major Crimes Unit." From her pocket, Elsie produced an identification card and presented it to the young officer.
• A swift glance at the card transformed the officer's demeanour instantly. A Forensic Consultant was directly under the command of the highest chief of the police and devoid of affiliation with any specific unit or department within the Major Crimes Unit. No one could direct her but the chief, and she alone could issue directives as required.
• Upon observing the young man's lingering bewilderment, Elsie's brow knitted faintly.
• "Pardon me, may I proceed?"
• "Indeed, this way."
• The young man crisply saluted Elsie, granting her passage.
• Approaching the riverbank, Elsie encountered as anticipated several serpent-skin sacks strewn about, one already laid bare. Within, the bags housed fragmented anatomical remains, their blood trickling steadily onto the earth.
• Two forensic physicians adorned in pristine coats were already present, enveloping and capturing photographs of the remnants destined for return to their precinct.
• The aesthetic impact of the dismembered forms was daunting, compounded by a reeking and repulsive odour. The two physicians laboured with meticulous slowness, one female among them wavering on several occasions.
• Surveying the scene, Elsie discerned the rationale behind Mr. Jimenez's premature summons.
• Sleeves rolled up, she descended into a crouch, unlocking a nearby case for autopsy. "You proceed with such tardiness, the cadavers will rot before work can even start."
• Bradley and Yvette exchanged glances.
• Yvette Jimenez, in particular, battled an unsettled stomach provoked by the putrid stench of the remains before her, exacerbated by the displeasure of this arrogant and unattractive woman issuing commands.
• "Are you the forensic expert, or are we? By what right do you assert authority over us?"