The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 236

A sharp intake of breath hissed through Nathan's teeth.

He looked down, his gaze capturing Nora's deadly serious expression. "What are you doing?"

Despite the question, he didn't pull away. He simply stood there, letting her pinch his cheek.

He didn't have an ounce of extra fat on his face, but the texture of his skin beneath her fingers was surprisingly smooth. Her mind immediately derailed. Did this rugged detective actually have a secret skincare routine?

"Nora."

When she didn't answer, he shifted slightly to break her trance.

Nora snapped back to reality. Realizing how wildly she had just crossed professional boundaries, she jerked her hand back.

"Sorry," she stammered, deeply embarrassed. "Just making sure you weren't an imposter wearing a mask."

Despite his usually stoic nature, Nathan couldn't help but chuckle at the utterly absurd excuse.

"And? Was my identity confirmed?"

His teasing cooperation only made her want the ground to swallow her whole. She ducked her head, practically burying her face in the steering wheel.

"Yeah."

Taking pity on her, Nathan patted the roof of her car. "Alright, head back. I've got things covered here."

"Got it."

Not wanting to linger for another torturous second, Nora slammed her foot on the gas. The car shot out of the driveway like an arrow.

Watching the taillights speed away in an absolute panic, Nathan smiled, shaking his head. He had never seen that flustered side of her before. His expression softened with genuine affection.

"Captain."

The voice of a detective broke the moment.

Nathan turned around, all traces of warmth vanishing from his face. "Speak."

Julia Ryland saw the mark and opened her mouth to ask about it, but seeing Nora already zeroed in on the autopsy, she swallowed her concern. She geared up and stepped to the table to assist.

"Victim: Rosalind Lowe. Female. Age: 25..."

As Julia read out the basic intake information, Nora leaned over the stainless-steel table, beginning her examination at the head.

"I'm seeing a five-inch by two-inch laceration on the left parietotemporal region. Irregular edges, deep enough to expose the skull. Internal examination reveals a subdural hematoma of approximately three ounces, extensive contusions to the brain tissue, multiple bilateral rib fractures, and a laceration on the lower lobe of the right lung. There are varying degrees of contusions, fractures, and abrasions across her limbs and back..."

"Injuries are entirely consistent with a high-altitude fall. The cause of death—"

Nora's eyes dragged downward to the victim's abdomen. She froze.

Catching the sudden shift in her demeanor, Julia asked quietly, "What is it?"

Nora straightened up, a suffocating weight dragging down her voice.

"The victim was pregnant."