The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 145

Nathan frowned. “She’s been there ever since she got back?”

“Yep.”

“We sent her messages in the group chat later, but she never replied. She’s probably too focused on the autopsy to check her phone.”

“But I don’t think Dr. Hayes is working this hard just because the case is difficult today.”

The officer’s tone shifted, his face clouding with worry.

Nathan, who had just started to walk away, quietly stopped.

“What happened?”

Seeing Nathan’s interest, the officer continued, “Well, Owen told me. When they were leaving the crime scene, they were stopped by Dr. Hayes’s ex-boyfriend.”

“What bad luck. A decent ex should stay in the past where they belong. After what he did to Dr. Hayes, that guy still has the nerve to demand they ‘talk it out.’”

“Talk about what? What’s there left to talk about?”

The officer truly treated Nora like one of his own, and his protective, family-like annoyance and disgust with Aaron were written all over his face.

“What else did he do?”

Nathan’s tone was unreadable, but the officer keenly sensed a shift in the air.

The temperature seemed to have dropped, and he felt a chill creeping up his neck.

“I don’t think he did anything else? Just kept pestering her, insisting she contact him.”

“That kind of harassment is annoying enough, especially when Dr. Hayes is already so busy she hasn’t even had time to eat. Now she has to deal with this ex bothering her. Anyone would be disgusted. No wonder it's affecting her work.”

Nathan's frown deepened at this.

“I see. You can get back to your work.”

“Right.”

The officer turned and left. Nathan hesitated for a moment before deciding to head downstairs.

***

“Because the victims themselves were the point of origin.”

A man’s and a woman’s voices overlapped almost perfectly. Nora turned, a feeling of recognition dawning on her, and saw Nathan standing in the doorway.

He was holding two take-out containers.

Julia, a beat behind, realized that Nora and Nathan had just spoken in unison.

“Did Nathan just say the victims were the point of origin, too?” she asked, surprised.

Nathan nodded and stepped into the office.

“I heard you two haven't had lunch?”

Julia’s eyes went to the containers on the desk. “Wow,” she said. “Nathan, did you bring us food? That’s so nice of you!”

Nathan handed Julia her container. “Can’t let you two starve.”

Julia’s gaze shifted between Nathan and Nora. Taking the hint, she grabbed her food and retreated to her small cubicle, leaving the spacious office to the two of them.