Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Max answered, "Right. Real-world experience trumps everything."

I stopped listening. My previous mentor was the vice dean of our school, a man of considerable influence, but even he spoke with a hint of flattery before Max and had come to the hospital to communicate with him.

Max's mystique only deepened. And he was the reason my plans hadn't gone smoothly. He claimed he was testing me, dangling an opportunity before me only to snatch it away at his whim. And to think I was about to thank him. That afternoon, I totally ignored Max whenever I could. Even at lunch in the cafeteria, when he tried to join my colleagues and me, I dragged them to another table.

My colleagues were puzzled. "You and Dr. Hilton were all good this morning. We thought you guys were celebrating something. Did you fight?"

I said indifferently, "No fight. I can't stand Dr. Hilton."

Max hadn't done anything wrong. He was trying to gauge my true abilities, which was fair since he didn't know me well at first. But being toyed with like this just felt wrong. There I was, reborn, yet still not in control of my destiny.

It wasn't until I was leaving work and heading to the parking garage for the car Richard had arranged for me that I saw Max's car across the aisle.

Was he still at work? Thinking it over, maybe I was being too harsh. After all, he had every right to choose his students.

As I contemplated whether to clear the air with him, considering I'd still be his student and would need his guidance, I hadn't even started the car when I saw a Rolls-Royce from the Hilton family pull up, stopping across the aisle. The driver got out and opened the door for Max.

As he descended from the elevator

and got into the car, I couldn't help but follow them when they drove off. Max's ties to the Hilton family piqued my interest, but then he got off at the police station and walked in with Ronald.

That wasn't what I expected. And was Max's visit to the police station related to another burnt body case?

I parked and went in, asking for Ronald.

Seeing me, Ronald exclaimed in surprise, "Ms. Floyd, what brings you here? Since you're here, you can assist your teacher with the autopsy."

The foul smell hit me hard, making me grimace and almost gag.

"The body was burnt and soaked in concentrated sulfuric acid, making the examination even more

complex l didn't ask you to comeet

because I thought you'd find it,

repulsive. You can leave if you want." Max was always serious at work, his tone cold, and he didn't bother to look up.

Ronald tried to comfort me, "I told Dr. Hilton to call you, but he said he could

Dr. Hit I didn't expect you toContent from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

show up on your own. Are you okay? You're looking pretty green.

I couldn't understand why the smell was affecting me so strongly. Remembering I had left my prenatal check-up midway today, I realized I needed to look into this further.

"Ronald, take her outside," Max said without looking away from the charred remains. To Ronald, he added, "I have a hunch Kate is involved in this somehow."

Ronald shook his head. "We've been watching her for a while, but Kate is nowhere near the scene whenever these incidents occur. She has no social connections to these people."

It seemed the predator often targeted the most vulnerable women, typically those who had recently discovered they were pregnant.