The Captain I Married by Chance novel Chapter 475

Reconstructing a skeleton generally starts with the torso.

The torso consists of the spine and the ribcage.

Once the core is established, the limbs and the skull are attached to ensure structural stability.

But even the torso requires precise categorization.

Nora had Julia assist her, her hands moving with practiced fluidity as she selected the necessary pieces from the sorted piles.

Full skeletal reconstructions weren't an everyday occurrence; severe dismemberment cases were relatively rare.

Julia had never worked one since joining the department.

Watching Nora's lightning-fast movements, Julia couldn't help but ask, "Dr. Hayes, do you mind if I try?"

Nora didn't stop her work. Recognizing a teachable moment, she didn't refuse.

"I'll demonstrate on this one, and you can take the lead on the next."

"Awesome!"

Thrilled by the opportunity, Julia watched intently, soaking in every detail.

Nora explained as she worked. "First, we assemble the spine."

"It consists of seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic, five lumbar, the sacrum, and the coccyx, forming a natural S-curve."

"Once the spine is set, we move to the ribcage."

Nora looked down at the spine taking shape on the white sheet, then reached for a new set of bones.

"The ribcage is made up of twelve pairs of ribs, the sternum, and the thoracic vertebrae. The ribs connect to the vertebrae in the back, and the front attaches to the sternum via cartilage."

Nora skipped the excruciatingly granular details.

Julia had a forensic degree; if she needed a lecture on the subtle differences between individual ribs, she belonged back in grad school.

Julia watched in awe as Nora expertly pieced together the ribcage.

With the core established, Nora moved on to the upper limbs.

But even with her speed, it took a solid three hours to fully articulate a single skeleton.

And that was without the skull.

Julia's legs felt like jelly just from standing and assisting, let alone the physical toll it took on Nora.

But Nora was built for high-stakes endurance. She took a brief breather and immediately started on the second victim.

This time, Julia took the lead while Nora supervised and assisted.

Hours bled into one another. As the other rested examiners filtered back into the lab, they joined the reconstruction assembly line.

Finally, after nearly eight grueling hours, the skeletal remains were fully assembled.

"Minus the skulls, the bone count matches perfectly."

They had successfully recovered the complete remains of the victims, save for their heads.

"So, our next step is—"