The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 473

Like boss, like subordinates.

She could only hope they were just messing around.

"It's Dr. Hayes, you idiot."

"..."

A muffled thud echoed through the door.

The smartass had clearly just been smacked.

The corners of Nora's lips twitched upward. She checked the time, set an alarm on her phone, and closed her eyes, instantly letting the exhaustion pull her under.

Years on the job had given her the ability to fall asleep anywhere, at any time.

The faint, lingering scent of Nathan's cedarwood cologne clung to the cot, and that familiar, comforting aroma helped her relax completely, sinking into a deep slumber.

Outside, the low hum of conversation continued.

But they were clearly mindful of her presence, keeping their voices at a whisper.

Nora felt her body go entirely limp, her consciousness floating in a hazy void.

A memory from years ago bubbled to the surface.

She was walking home late one night after a grueling shift at a local coffee shop.

The cafe had run a massive promotion, leaving her working hours past her usual clock-out time, and the streets were deserted.

She had recently dealt with a creepy manager who kept making inappropriate advances, leaving her constantly on edge during these late-night walks.

Even though she had stuck to the main roads, the cold night air and the absolute emptiness of the streets offered zero comfort.

Every hair on her arms stood up in high alert.

A faint cry echoed through the night.

When she heard the first cat cry, Nora thought her mind was playing tricks on her.

She instinctively quickened her pace, desperate to get home.

But less than twenty feet later, the sound echoed again.

It sounded like a female cat in heat.

For a split second, the room was entirely unfamiliar. As her vision focused, she saw Senior M.E. Cross peering through the glass door, looking at her with deep concern.

"Dr. Cross?"

Nora sat up abruptly.

Feeling a sudden weight slide off her chest, she looked down and realized she was draped in a thick, fluffy blanket.

She touched the soft fabric, then looked back at her mentor. "Where did this come from?"

Cross smiled and waved a hand. "I just got here. One of your colleagues from the Special Task Force must have brought it for you."

"Did you sleep okay? The bone fragments are all prepped and ready."

"Oh, right. I'm on my way."

Nora rubbed the back of her neck, feeling like her sleep had been restless.

But her instincts were usually razor-sharp; if she hadn't been completely dead to the world, she would have noticed someone coming in and covering her.

With time ticking, she pushed the lingering unease aside. She neatly folded the blanket and left it on the cot, so whoever it belonged to would spot it immediately upon returning.