She always had been. Before she decided on a career as a forensic pathologist she had dabbled in the art world. She loved painting. Watercolors mostly. One year she and her sister, Summer, painted Salish-inspired designs on scraps of driftwood to sell to the tourists who came to Neah Bay for fishing or whale watching. They sold quite a few pieces, but it felt compromising and dishonest. The hottest sellers had nothing to do with their own culture, but owed more to what was expected by those who wanted something to match a sofa or comforter cover. When she started painting with authenticity that fit how she felt, Birdy found she really didn’t like the subjective nature of the art world. Everyone had an opinion. Nothing, quite ironically, was black and white. Science was. Science was conclusive and incontrovertible. The office was quiet. Her assistant had gone for the day and the coroner was away at a conference in Maui. Who knew there were so many trade shows and conferences for those who deal with the dead?
