Chapter 2

When I suddenly proposed switching assistants, Jessica was, of course, unwilling to comply.

She pouted pitifully and brought up my boyfriend, Maddox Carr, to pressure me. "But Dr. Gardner, Mads—"

"He doesn't get to decide how things are done in the coroner's office," I cut her off firmly.

Though Jessica was highly reluctant, she had no choice but to leave the autopsy room. She had only been an intern for a month. So, she hadn't been qualified enough to participate in this autopsy.

Back then, it was Maddox, the captain of the criminal investigation team, who had kept urging me to take her under my wing. Considering that she was under my care and my only intern, I had relented and agreed to let her join the autopsy.

Watching Jessica, who was now only able to stand at the doorway and observe, I quietly let out a sigh of relief.

I still didn't know why she was always able to say all my deductions and conclusions before me. But I figured that if I kept her away, she wouldn't be able to plagiarize my work. Only then did I feel at ease enough to begin the autopsy.

An hour later, I took the completed autopsy report with me and was about to present it.

But when I projected my report onto the screen, everyone present frowned.

"Why is Dr. Gardner's report exactly the same as what Jessica described verbally five minutes ago?"

"I thought Jessica was just talking nonsense…"

The murmurs of confusion around me made me freeze in apprehension.

I gripped the report tightly in my hands. When I came back to my senses, I noticed Jessica sitting in the corner.

I had already sent her away. How could she still know the results of my autopsy?

Confused, I blurted out instinctively, "Jessica, you didn't participate in the autopsy or see the condition of the body. How did you know the detailed contents of the report in advance?"

Everyone in the conference room turned to look at her.

Jessica stood up and spoke calmly. "The reason I chose to become a forensic pathologist is actually that I have a special ability. I can communicate with the dead and know everything they experienced before death. Dr. Gardner, your report is the best proof of that."

She appeared composed, but her words caused an uproar.

"I thought Jessica was making things up. I didn't expect her words to match Dr. Gardner's exactly!"

"Imogen is the most authoritative forensic expert in the state. Her autopsy can't be wrong. So, that means Jessica's ability must be the real deal!"

"This is unbelievable! If it's true, her ability could render forensic autopsies redundant…"

Bruce looked intently at me for confirmation. Although I didn't respond, my silence said everything. Even my boyfriend, Maddox, looked at Jessica as if he had just discovered a priceless treasure.

I couldn't focus on the rest of the meeting at all. One burning question bothered me to no end—could Jessica really have a supernatural ability?

After the meeting ended, Jessica walked over to me and asked, "Dr. Gardner, you're not going to blame me for taking your credit, are you?"

I looked up and met her innocent, smiling gaze.

I asked again, "Do you truly have the ability to communicate with the dead? Or did you use some kind of trick?"

My sharp question caused an aggrieved look to appear in her eyes. "Of course. Otherwise, how could I know everything so clearly? Dr. Gardner, I understand that you may have difficulty accepting my talent, but you can't just slander me."

Just as I was about to press further, Maddox returned to the conference room.

He scolded me sternly, "Jess is a newcomer. Don't bully her, Imogen. There are many things in this world that are unexplainable. Just because you can't accept it doesn't mean it doesn't exist! Is it really that hard to acknowledge someone else's excellence?"

After saying that, Maddox pulled Jessica along and left with her.

I refused to believe that someone would have such an extraordinary talent that bordered on a miracle. If Jessica were truly that capable, she should have long built up a reputation for herself.

After returning home, I carefully went over everything from my past life and searched online for clues.

Suddenly, my gaze landed on a post. Could this be Jessica's secret?