Chapter 2; Do I Look Dead Enough?
Abby wandered the halls of the mortuary, quietly opening doors and peeking in each room as she made her way down the long hall. She was supposed to be trying to find the main office, and hack into the computer to see if she could find records that would prove that the mortician was involved in selling human body parts. Carefully opening the door to the next-to-the-last room on the end, Abby gasped, smiling in delight at what she saw.
The room was large and brightly lit by several fluorescent lights over head. Caskets and coffins of every conceivable colour and size were displayed for sale. Abby walked in, the platform heels on her black boots sinking into the new burgundy carpeting. The smell of new carpet was still strong, and she wrinkled her nose, rubbing it absently with the back of her hand. To her left, a gleaming ebony casket with wrought iron fittings beckoned to her, and Abby walked slowly forward. Lovingly, Abby ran her hand over the smooth surface, looking with something akin to awe at the red satin interior.
"Oh, wow!" She breathed, and looked over her shoulder.
She knew she shouldn't be doing this, but she couldn't resist. Quickly, she unlaced her boots and slipped out of them, tossing them behind the black casket. Carefully, so as not to damage anything, Abby placed one sock foot, and then the other, into the casket. Bracing herself with her hands, she lowered her body into the box. Laying her head on the red satin pillow, Abby grinned impishly and crossed her hands over her chest, closing her eyes.
It had been about ten minutes, and Abby decided she should really get up and do what she was supposed to be in the first place. Placing her hand on the edge of the casket, she was about to rise when she heard voices in the hall.
"Which room did he say the body was in?" A man's voice asked.
"The last one on the left," another voice, a woman's this time, hissed.
Abby held her breath and shut her eyes again, cracking one open slightly so she could see who came in.
"This looks like the display room, Sam," the woman said again in exasperation.
"Well, look; there's a body over there."
Abby froze. Do I look dead enough? She thought to herself and fought to keep a straight face. To be mistaken for dead could be interesting.
She could hear the two people coming closer, and she prayed that she could lie still enough to pull the trick off. What if these were the people they were looking for? She wondered if Tony and Ziva had missed her yet.
The woman came closer, and stared down at Abby.
"This isn't the body we're supposed to pick up," she said.
"This looks like just some old prop from 'Night of the Living Dead,'" she added, and turned to walk away.
Abby waited until she was sure they were gone, and sat up, glaring indignantly in the direction of the door.
"Who's she calling old?" she groused, and reached up, shutting the coffin lid.
…to be continued…