12. Working Overtime

“Bobby? Hey what’s going on? I didn’t think you were working tonight.”

“I had some unfinished business to take care of; just pretend as if I’m not here.” Bobby smiled lightly and nodded at the body bag. “Is this the body from the highway accident?” he asked as the gurney was wheeled into the morgue. He was just labeling the toe tag of another of his ‘patients’ and pushing her into the freezer. It was a cold night so all of the windows were locked which Mike found unusual for the place. Bobby loved the ‘natural air’ and kept the windows opened no matter the season. Plus it helped air out the room when the embalming fluid was being used; something Mike never liked the smell of very much.

The halls were ominously quiet and empty. Very few people ever came down the stairs to the body room. Mike attributed it to the creepy way the lights flickered on and off at just the right times or the way the wind knocked the shutters against the wall when it blew. The few dozen corpses locked behind metal doors didn’t help much either and the stench of death was enough to keep even the rats away. “Yeah. Jerry wants us to prepare him for the funeral on Friday. The wife is hoping to get it all taken care of as soon as possible.”

“Ah, rush job. I wonder why that is.”

“Insurance; what else? She’s also declined an autopsy.”

“Damn shame. Wanna look? This one was a real looker if I say so myself.” Bobby asked lifting the sheet to take a peek at the newest resident of his morgue.

“Absolutely not. I’m still not comfortable with their eyes looking up at me while we…you know.”

“You’ll get used to it and pretty soon you’ll come to love it. Was he an organ donor?”

“Nope! Wife insisted he remain whole for the burial.” He walked the narrow, cold passages towards the freezer and checked for an empty container. Poking his head through the tiny window in the swinging metal door he could see the hollow empty cell and sighed. “Door 7’s free.”

“Too bad luck wasn’t on his side earlier,” Bobby joked and slid his tools closer. “It’s ten. You do the honors Mikey boy my shift just ended. Be sure and follow the guidelines; this guy deserves to look good on his last day on earth.”

“I’m not very good with the makeup part.”

“Then just do what you can. I know you’ll do him justice, Mike. You’ve always been a good person; don’t ever change.” Bobby threw his apron onto the sink near the door and grabbed a metal box from out of his locker before exiting the room, leaving Mike alone.

The body hadn’t been washed just yet and the poor guy was covered in cuts and bruises from taking a header through his windshield. Bits of glass and tree bark stuck from beneath his skin and he was coated in blood. Mike took a breath before silently picking up the scalpel to make the Y incision. And as the blade touched his skin the phone rang. Mike jumped as the loud noise echoed in the emptied room and had to laugh at himself. Deciding to ignore the call, he waited to hear it beep over to the machine before turning his attention back towards the corpse.

It had been three months since starting his apprenticeship with Mercy General hospital but he had yet to become accustomed to being alone in the prep room. The idea of numerous dead bodies lying in black body bags or beneath blue sheets just twenty feet away from where he was working creeped him out. The first day he set foot inside the drafty basement he swore he could hear a few of them breathing. It did little to ease his concerns when a few of the doors popped open by themselves. Bobby had assured him it was just the wind whispering through the back shutters and the doors were old; some of the locks just didn’t hold as securely as they should anymore.

Mike finished the incision, cleaned the body up and was now ready to do the face and prep the man for his open casket funeral. He held his breath as he gripped the sheet to peel back and shook his head with frustration at the thought of seeing his cold, dead eyes staring up at him. “Come on Mike, it’s your job; you can do this.”

He hesitated again and kicked himself before moving towards his desk. Maybe after a little break he could get the last details completed. Mike hit the button for the machine to listen to the message from earlier as he put the finishing touches on some of his administrative duties. The makeup would be the last thing he did before the end of his shift. Mike? It’s Dave. Jerry asked that I call and give you a heads up about the body coming in tonight. He said if you’re too concerned about operating on it to leave it for him in the morning. I could understand the pressure too. It’s not easy seeing someone you know on that table.

The message ended and the last words resounded in Mike’s head as the machine beeped and turned off. Feeling a little braver, Mike hurried over to the table again and looked down at the white sheet covering the body he’d been working on most of the night. Someone you know? He pulled the sheet back this time without delay. The moment the cover moved away from the face, Mike jumped back in shock as he stared at the man.

Lying on his table was the body of his best friend and co-worker Bobby Douglas.

Continue---->