The Silence of the Rats

Part 2

	Putting her trey down, Elizabeth took a booth at the far corner of the canteen.  She had awakened at the crack of dawn to join Justin at the shooting range for much-needed firearm training.  If she was serious about catching Buffalo Rat, like what he had told her, she would definitely needed to know how to fire a gun.  In spite of her usual protests, being a timid widow mother and homemaker, she agreed with him.  The thought why she accepted such a case often entered her mind; was it the honor of being trusted or importance for the female population?  For the answer to the question, Elizabeth long searched for it but for the time being, she had none.  She only hoped she had made a good decision and hoped she knew what she was doing.  She continued to wonder this while she spent hours on the phone calling government agency after government agency trying to get a handle on that car Dr. Rater proposed but only to be left empty handed.  The only vehicle registered under Buffalo Rat’s name only knowaged to her was sent to the crasher and now was only a cube laying in a junkyard somewhere.  
Between her fingers, a chicken sandwich lay in her hand.  She gnawed on it not thinking much of anything accept the chain of events that taken place during her visit to Thorn Valley.  She was so much in thought she hardly noticed the other rats that accompanied her at the canteen.  Sitting at a booth near the window, Justin along with an unfamiliar rat Elizabeth didn’t recognized ate while chatting among themselves.  Although they seemed well groomed, it was clear they have been out in the war zone.  Justin, with his guard uniform had dry mud drooping under the seat which he sat.  His hair lay on his head as though a mop was sitting on it.  The one who sat across from him also dressed in a uniform was covered head to toe in mud.  Elizabeth paid no attention to this of course; someone covered in mud isn’t uncommon around these parts I assure you. Even though she wasn’t very hungry Elizabeth nibbled on her lunch.  As she ate she opened the Thorn Valley Gazette and browsed thought it.  She never cared for the news.  She had a simple life of living in a cinderblock with her four children, she saw there wasn’t a need for it. It’s funny how things change with the situation.  First minute you’re trying to keep your family from starving and on the next, you’re talking to a cannibal trying to catch a ruthless killer.  Go figure!  But since she was on the case, Elizabeth knew reading up on the news was required, checking if any more abductions had accrued.  Perhaps having to read the news is a given when accepting a case.  She was sure of that, but if only she know what lay ahead in those pages, she wouldn’t be so eager to keep her nose in them.  By the window, the two rats-still caught up in their conversation continued to eat.  They were too busy in their blabbing to even say hello to her when she had walked in.  This didn’t bothered her, and she had planned meeting Justin over tea to discuss the next course of action.  She did tell him the car she was after was a dead end and to go any further was pointless.  Turning the page in the paper, Elizabeth’s stomach lurched and the nauseous feeling returned.

	There, on the first page of the international session of the paper, the most dreadful sight filled Elizabeth’s blue eyes.  ANOTHER FOUND DEAD IN MISSISSIPPI RIVER screamed in  the headline, below that, a photo of the victim was shown being pulled out of the river.  Police cruisers with their owners surrounded the body.  She read the article ferociously!  This was one of Buffalo Rat’s killings and Elizabeth knew it!  Even if it wasn’t proven, she just knew it!  In spite of herself, she read it even if it was difficult for her to do so.  Reading about rotting corpses isn’t exactly what she had in mind when she got interested in literature.  Her eyes almost bled from reading it and why she was reading it.  The answer to that also escaped her.  With a jolt, Elizabeth went to her feet causing her chair to crash onto the floor.  Reading any further was just too disturbing for her; seeing it mangled with arms and legs twisted in all directions was bad enough.  It made Elizabeth’s stomach turn going over the criminal’s glory.  
Putting her paper under her arm, she headed toward Justin’s direction.  Startled from the noise behind them, Justin among the other rat glanced over.  Wide eyed and mouth dropping, Justin asked Elizabeth what had her in such an uproar.  The rat across from him just turned away crossing her arms in disinterest.  Elizabeth saw this but in the moderated state she was in, she didn’t seem to noticed-or cared.  Ever since she walked in the canteen, Elizabeth did sense an uncertainty about her.  Why?  She didn’t know that ether.  Her only guess she could think of was the case troubled her.  When she reached their table, Elizabeth openly told Justin what had aroused her. 
“Going to the field for additional training Mrs. Brisby?” Justin asked dropping the rather huge burger he was eating.
“No, actually I was going to see Nicodemus if I can.  It definitely looks like one of Buffalo Rat’s killings.”
Justin nodded going over the article again.  The gore didn’t make his stomach turn as much it did to hers.  This didn’t surprise Elizabeth; being a guard you probably see the dead on a daily bases and reading among them also would be a routine.  He then passed the clipping across the table toward his partner.
“Take a look at this Carlise.”
Reluctantly, Carlise turned the paper to her and scanned though the article.  

Carlise Staring, a guard trainee from out west had came to Thorn Valley in search of a better life.  Much like the rats, she was raised in the streets of the city in a local restaurant just out of town.  During the few years of her childhood, she lived off man-her parents took whatever scraps they could find laying under tables and chairs along surveying the kitchen.  Being the only child, she was often lonely and longing for companionship playing and socializing with the other rats and mice on the street.  Her parents often encouraged her this; “Being with others is the best way to go through life” was one of her mother’s favorite expressions.  Being out on the streets didn’t concern Carlise, she visited them like Queen Elizabeth goes on fox hunts.  Her friends usually met her at a dinner where they played and on occasions ate the left over scraps.  Carlise didn’t like eating unknown food or being in uncharted territory fear of traps and poison but since her friends unwarily stayed and ate there she eventually relaxed and joined them.  Those were the good years Carlise recalled, now living here in Thorn Valley made her wearily wanting-wishing for them to return.  Unfortunately, her entire childhood wasn’t all fun and games as they say, while she was at her grandmother’s for the weekend, her parents suffered and died in traps searching for food.  Since then, she was passed from orphanage to orphanage.  She never understood why they kept transferring her, she went though four or five orphanages before settling in.   Being no different from other children having to live in foster homes, she refused to except her new world.  She abandoned whatever friends she had and ran off.  She was going into maturity then, fourteen or fifteen.  She questioned herself now why she had left-mainly missing her friends and often thought of them wondering where they are and if she’ll ever see them again.  Not sure where to go or how to get there, she pack her things in a canvas bag and headed east.   For the months that followed, Carlise traveled over the cover of darkness of night and rested by day.  She survived by eating berries she found and drinking water from various rivers and streams.  She have heard about Thorn Valley when she had stumbled across the Fitzgibbons’ farm and the Brisby home.  When Mrs. Brisby asked rather if she had a place to go and when Carlise said she didn’t, Mrs. Brisby invited her for the night.  Seeing Timothy had moved to Thorn Valley, having her there wasn’t a problem.  The other children, however, seeing a rat in the house did cause quite a scene when they ran and hid behind their mother.  Carlise could understand this; she too hid whenever a visitor came into the restaurant.  It did take a few hours but the Brisbys did return to normal; the children relaxed and having her there did proved useful.  She helped Elizabeth with the housework along giving her a hand taking care of the children.  I do amit it was awkward, since the Brisby home was build for the mouse family, Carlise had to crouch or even craw to get around.  This was odd but she seemed to full in for Jonathan, She noticed this whenever she saw Carlise doing chores or when she was with the kids. Elizabeth found it hard to believe how well Carlise handed the children considering how young she was.  Oh sure, she left Elizabeth with feeding and changing Cynthia but Elizabeth couldn’t but notice how good she was-playing and later, tucking them in that night.  At nine o’clock when everything was still, Elizabeth retreated for the night.  But like a teenager she was, Carlise stayed half of the night watching movies on cable stuffing herself with chips covered in dip.  She awakened late that morning startled to find she had fallen asleep in front of the television, she went to join the Brisbys at the table.  She cursed herself for dozing off on the couch especially after Elizabeth went thought the trouble of setting Timothy’s room for her.  Oh well, it didn’t matter now.  She sat at the head of the table where no doubt where Jonathan sat and proceeded to eat.  White fluffy scramble eggs, crispy fattening bacon, and good ol fashion grits filled their plates; Martin and Teresa ate with their enthusiasm as children do throwing it at themselves while Elizabeth gave Cynthia a hand feeding herself.  Like children, as they were barked questions over Carlise’s direction, asking where she was from, where her journeys had taken her, and where she was headed.  Carlice answered them the best she could-not going into much detail fear to disturb them or worse, give them nightmares seeing how young they were.  Elizabeth joined the questioning wondering where her parents were, rather if she had family near by, or if she had family where she was going.  She answered these in the same fashion as she did with the children’s so not to arouse anyone.  Elizabeth nodded at this dumping hot sauce over her grits and bacon.  The last hours of her visit was uneventful, after breakfast Teresa and Martin said their “Good-byes” and went out to the garden to enjoy the day.  After putting Cynthia to bed, Carlise join Mrs. Brisby at the stoop where she kept watch-patrolling for Dragon.  Martin and Teresa darted, running between the vegetables tripping over their own tails falling over themselves.  Elizabeth did have a few questions-questions regarding Carlice’s past-where her parents were, rather if she had family near by, or did she have relatives where she was headed but didn’t dare to ask in front of her knowing it’ll cause a major scene.  She knew there was more to her story, being as young as she was.  Travelling alone does make one wonder.  She paced not taking her eyes off the garden; Carlise sat there, head buried into her arms.  After a couple of minutes, Elizabeth turned her attention over to Carlice.
“You know Carlice, someone at your age shouldn’t be alone, at any reason…”
Carlise uncrossed her arms and looked over Elizabeth’s direction, “I don’t mean to be a bother Mrs. Brisby, I did run away but not for the reason I said at the table..”
Elizabeth’s ear picks hearing this; she went over her guest with confusion, “What do you mean?”
“I didn’t ran away because I was abandoned by my parents nor I was forced to live on the streets. We lived in a hole in the wall of a restaurant at the edge of town of the city.  I, being the only child, I often wander the streets hanging out, in alleys, other restaurants, and other places.  Anyway, one weekend while I was at my grandmother’s, both of my parents died in rat traps when they were looking for food.  I’ve been to four orphanages before settling in.  I don’t know, I guess I couldn’t take it..”
“You poor dear!” Elizabeth came running to Carlise’s side hugging her.    Carlise was lost in her thoughts, to be joyful or to bury her head in her arms again and cry, she didn’t know.  From the first sight of her she knew Elizabeth was a loving and caring person but she wasn’t expecting for her to act like a mother just finding out her baby was ill.  Surely she had gotten over that when her youngest son went away to school Carlise thought but I guess you don’t get over that sort of thing.  Elizabeth went back to her post not paying much attention deep in thought.  Carlise was in a predicament and the answer did linger in Elizabeth’s head, it was finding it concerned her.  She knew the answer was of course, but will it work she wasn’t sure.  She thought hard, pondering over the situation.  She knew what Carlise must do-where she must go but will they except her in, that’s she feared the most.  The concept of Carlice going to Thorn Valley was the only thing to do but would it work?  After a long pause, Elizabeth finally turned to Carlise.
“I’m not sure if this will work but I know of a place.  In the North woods there’s a colony of rats that lived in the rosebush.” Elizabeth motioned toward the farmhouse, “The thing is, they have a thing about keeping the colony unknown to everyone.  I know about them because I seeked their help when Timothy caught pneumonia..” 
Looking at her hostess Carlise asked, “Do you think they’ll let me in?”
“That’s what I’m wondering, I’m not sure but if I tell them I sent you, they probably let you in.  The leader-Nicodemus, is a good friend of mine, just explain your situation, he’ll understand.”
Carlice now paced herself; she could see the tension-she knew Elizabeth was right she needed to stop wandering around and settle somewhere maybe even raise a family but like Elizabeth said, it is questionable.  She joined Carlise with the pacing.  The screams of laughter faded as the children went deeper into the garden.  Realizing they were going too far in Dragon’s territory, Elizabeth hurried to the foot of her steps.
“Children!  You better come in, you’re too far out!”
In the distance the sound of the usual ‘aw mom’ protests could be heard, Mrs. Brisby waited arms cross, in seconds, Teresa and Martin came inside with their tails between their legs.  Although they’re not exactly in trouble, their tails naturally went down whenever that tone of voice was used.  Force of habit.  Their mother followed them into the house then returned to the stoop.
“Mrs. Brisby, may I ask, where’s Thorn Valley?” asked Carlise who sat back down on the step reburying her head in her arms.  Obviously, this was deeply troubling her and wished it would end.  Mrs. Brisby hesitated then said, “As I said, it’s in the North woods.  If you’re willing to ride on a crow, you’ll be there in just over fifteen minutes.  The crow’s name is Jeremy, he’s a good friend of mine.  He’ll take you.”
Carlise wasn’t sure to take such a risk but the thought of being with other rats convinced her.  She accepted the offer and within twenty minutes, she was at the valley gates.  She told Nicodemus her story and the fact she was sent by Elizabeth and with that she was excepted with no further questions asked.  And now here she is a guard in training.
When she was finished reading, Carlise slid the paper back across the table.  Elizabeth leaned putting her paws on the table looking at Justin not knowing what to say next.
“Mrs. Brisby, are you sure you want to go through it?  You did, well, burffed in Nicodemus’ office.” Justin said frowning.  With another hard glance Carlise went back to her sub.  She seemed to get worse sitting there moping to herself, she only now played with her food picking at it eating the departments. 
“Yes Justin, I excepted this case and everything in it.  I couldn’t live with myself if I quit now.’
Justin nodded, “Do you need any help?”
“No, I think I can handle it,” she said, “I think it gets easier.  You get use to it after a few times I guess.”
He bust out laughing, Elizabeth sure can lighten any situation which is surprising being so timid and quiet she was.  But again, she did took on this case so there must be a dark side to everyone.  Elizabeth relaxed standing again, she went to her table then returned with her tray and sat beside Justin.  They all ate together, Elizabeth, being in a hurry she was, ate quickly.  She really needed to get out there to look at the body; Buffalo Rat’s name came to her again as she ate.  What is he doing to these women?  Is he going to strike again, and if so who and when?  These questions went though her head.  Has he done enough damage for one lifetime?  She continue to eat even though her hunger was gone she knew she had to get going, and that body held the key to whatever this is.  Carlise avoided all eye contact ether to Justin or Elizabeth she buried her feelings along with her face in her food.  Now having a closer look at the rat across the table Elizabeth thought she recognized her.  It has been several years had passed but where had she seen that rat?  She ate, keeping an eye on her trying to unlock the doors of her memory to place her. Has she been on the farm Elizabeth thought, did she stay at the house?  Elizabeth put down her sandwich once more and looked almost stared at Carlise more then just over a minute.  She stared blankly at her for another minute then it hit her like Dragon pouncing on unexpecting prey.
“Carlise?  Carlise Staring is that you?”
Carlise looked up from her sub startled to hear her name called.
“Excuse me?”
“Carlise it is you!  You probably don’t remember me, I’m Elizabeth, you stayed at my house a few years ago..”
Carlise strained to recall where she knew Elizabeth but her memory failed her. She thought she recognized her, the cape was a big give away. 
“Mrs. Brisby?”
“Yes, it’s nice to see you again..”
 “Mrs. Brisby, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was you.  How’s the children?” Carlise said with a regretfully tone for not addressing her sooner.
“Oh they’re doing fine, Teresa’s excited to be coming here in a few months.  Martin is bad as usual, complaining how he should go, he had a fit when Timothy went first.”
Carlise along with Justin laughed nodding.  The rats all knew how a brat Martin was always arguing with his ant, the Shrew, acting how fearless he was to everyone.  It was Teresa’s job to keep him inline giving him the eye glaring at him and give him the usual “Martin!!”  Carlise took another bite of her sub, “So you’re the one Nicodemus chose for this, uh, mission..”
“I wouldn’t call it that but yes I am.  I was the only one outside the valley he can trust.  This is indeed a dangerous assignment, I do question myself to why I had accepted it.”
“Why did you accept it?” asked a concerned Carlise.
“I-I don’t know, it just seemed the right thing to do.  I knew about the case and when Nicodemus sent for me, I had a hunch what he wanted but I had to see for myself..”
Taking another bite of her sandwich, Carlise’s mind wandered, wondering if Elizabeth had gone over the deep end-gone bonkers and should be committed.  Deep in her mind she knew she should be on the case and not her. She also knew how soft spoken Elizabeth is, going after such a killer didn’t seem to be her taste.  Who does she think she is Carlise thought bitterly.
“Justin, this isn’t a job for her..  She might get herself killed.”
Justin turned up from his juicy burger, he hadn’t paid much attention to their conversation thinking it was private and didn’t want to interfere.
 “What?”
“Justin, I said this isn’t job for her, she’ll get killed..”
“It is Nicodemus’ decision, not mine.” he said passing Elizabeth a look of approval.  Clarlise exclaimed a “HMF” crossing her arms throwing her head back.  It was obvious to Elizabeth now Carlice was jealous for being on the case, she was no Ethan Crane when it came to the matter.  She knew Carlise wanted to be on the case and she was angry at her for taking it from her.  It was the matter of being takful, to not to say anything.  Elizabeth finished her meal before Justin or Carlise as planned and left the lounge in haste.  Justin and Carlise watched as she walked though the doors and disappeared into the hallway.  Now alone in the canteen they reentered their world of burgers, fries, and candy gumdrops.  Justin ate his burger while Carlice griped to herself staring at her tray.
“Is something bothering you?” Justin asked looking over his giant burger.
“Oh nothing, I think Mrs. Brisby shouldn’t be on such a mission.  Justin, it’s just too dangerous for her, she’ll get herself killed!”
“Carlice, I already told you, since everyone in the valley, well, freaked at the mentioning of NIMH Mrs. Brisby was the only one outside the valley Nicodemus could trust..”
“But Justin,” she said finally picking up her sub again, “I could have went, if he had given me a chance, I could handle it…”
“As I said, it wasn’t my decision, I’m sure Nicodemus knows what he’s doing.”
But Justin..”
“I’m sorry Carlise..”
“But I could..”
Justin angrily slammed his hamburger down causing ketchup and mustard to sling onto the table, “Look, Carlise, you had a chance, but Nicodemus thought best if an outsider took the case and since all the rats broke down in front of him when he mentioned NIMH, Mrs. Brisby was the only one open minded to take the case..”
“But Justin..”
“What?!”
Justin was becoming irritated, Carlise saw and needed to back off a bit.  “I’m sorry to test your and Nicodemus’ authority and judgment, I just feel that she’s just not suitable for the assignment, that’s all.”
Justin calmed and settled into the booth and nodded, “She did throw up in his trash can,” he said laughing.  Carlise noted her agreement relaxing getting headroom in the discussion.  Justin cleaned the ketchup that was on the table then continued to eat.
“I do admit it was an embarrassing scene, you should of seen Nicodemus’ face when he told me.  It reminded me of a schoolgirl getting suckered into a kiss I tell ya.”
Carlise laughed heavily at him picturing the scene and joined Justin in the chat they engaged in before.

	The smell of the mortuary lingered filling Elizabeth’s nostrils.  Sweat began to run down her snout and onto the hard concrete floor as she went across it.  “Why am I in here?” she asked herself thinking of places she rather be, indeed, a morgue isn’t what Elizabeth intended to visit.  As you can imagine, going into a morgue isn’t the idea she had in mind but as you probably guess, her presence was required.  The overhead lights blindsided her as soon as she had entered and that odor, well let’s say she could live without it.  Bodies lay every which direction, laying on slabs, in body bags, mangled on observing tables, and locked away in freezers.  She had to bury her nose in her shawl due to the fumes being as bad as they were, although it did little.  She wished she had worn perfume or have brought some along.  Her nostrils burned, the heat from the fluorescent lights had gotten to her, making her perspire even harder. This made her uncomfortable, as a woman as she was, she always wanted to present herself as feminine as she could be.  This had proven to be difficult and noticing how wet she already was, there’s really no point in worrying about it now.  She went on, through the house of death turning a corner that lead into a small corridor lined with offices on each side.  Putting perfume or what scientists use in the labs, Vapor Rub under your nose will block the unwanted smells of the lab or the mortuary as the case may be.  Elizabeth knew of this though Jonathan, being in a laboratory for a few years and as intelligent he was had picked it up.  He told her this during their many nights in bed or at the table when the children were at play.  Unfortunately like I said, she forgotten to wear some or at least bring her perfume knowing what she’ll face.  Needless to say, she was regretting it now.  The hallway seemed to be endless going at a tilt leading to a sub floor or a basement.  The smell of the rotting corpses faded as she went which she welcomed.  A hand holding a blue jar slid in front of her as someone exited an office behind her. 
“Here, you may what this, it’ll block the smell.  Are you Mrs. Brisby?”
“Yes,” she said, “Nicodemus sent me, I’m here to look at the body they found in Mississippi.”
He nodded at this, “I’m Christopher Foster,” he went on extending a hand, “I’m the mortuarer.”
Elizabeth spread the vapor rub under her nose as Christopher had instructed going deeper down the corridor.  Opening a door, they entered a similar room loaded with holding chambers and instrument tables.  The dead always haunted Elizabeth especially since the death of her husband but never realized it until now.  Jonathan could be among the laying bodies she thought, they do keep people here for observation, but that is unlikely.  That is of course, Dragon had spared him of being eaten but this is also unlikely, no cat she or anyone knew who wouldn’t eat its prey.  It was a fact of life; cats will eat their catch no matter what or who it was.  Elizabeth calmed herself walking to the far wall where Christopher had pulled a slab out revealing a young female rat.  It was a good-sized rat, patches of fur missing, her clothes had been stripped, and it appears as though the abductor tried means of decapitation leaving an indentation just under the ruff of the neck.  Elizabeth pulled out a mini tape recorder from her back pocket that Nicodemus had given her then joined her friend by the mangled rat’s side.  He started to exam the body, picking and running his fingers over it while Mrs. Brisby spook into her recorder.
“Subject is female, large amounts of fur missing,” she joined Chris with the examining.  “Tail has been sliced, feet carhopped, her chest has been cut open as though the adductor to get at the inner organs, and it appears he tried decapitation.”
Looking up from his task, Chris noted, “wrongful death.”
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow in agreement repeating “Wrongful death” into the machine.  She put it away to have a closer inspection of the presented on the cold slab, putting her own paws in the mess.  She also poked though the rat with great amazement, she never been this close to a corpse and it thrilled her in spite of her fears.  The rat laid on her back, tail stretched between her legs, her left arm twisted out of joint over her head, the right arm bent behind her in the small of her back, and both legs out straight where the most the damage was done.   Chris pulled out the small intestine and put it into a hanging sale then he worked on the other organs putting them aside.  The large intestine went in the sale.  Elizabeth watched as the rat was taken apart before her eyes.  The heart and liver were missing, the lungs badly scarred so deeply I don’t think no one would notice them as lungs but rather strands of guts.  Elizabeth had to back away from the image, it was too much-too hard to withstand.  Turning her head, Elizabeth glazed downward to the bare floor.  Chris noticed Elizabeth was looking doubtfully and came to her side.
“I’m sorry, is this bothering you?  Would you like to step out for a moment?  I can finish here myself.”
“Oh, no thanks, I just had to take a breather.”
“Alright.” Chris said going back to his post.  This was the farthest from the truth, Elizabeth was most troubled by the whole thing and needed a moment to regroup her emotions so to speak.  She eventually regained her bearings and went to her post as well.  With both intestines out of the way there were only the stomach and a few minor organs to worry about.  The stomach was added to the collection from there they thoroughly went over the mangled rat in question.  Elizabeth reentered her paws into the opened rat reexamine body parts along Chris’ side.  The appendix went next, the colon, the spleen, and a few more was added.  Curious, the body was mostly intact in exception of the three major organs, but something wasn’t quite right.  It wasn’t the way she lay or how awkward the limbs were.  Or how beat up she was, the mouth as ajar, cheeks budging it appeared something was larged down her throat.  Elizabeth looked down her throat as though it give away some top-secret government cover-up.  Perhaps it did, maybe it’ll tell whether if Rosewell really did had an alien in that hanger of theirs.  Chris paid no attention to this he focused on the doomed rat and continued retrieving body parts.  It seemed to Elizabeth that a bloated mouth was1n’t appealing to Chris, maybe you see this on bodies often when you pulled it out of the water.  
“Hey Chris, there’s seem to be something her throat..” Elizabeth turned to Chris causing him to loose concentration.  Putting his attention to her, “Oh when we find a bodies lakes or rivers, it’s common to find things like leaves and dried mud in their mouths and down the esophagus.  It’s nothing to be concerned about.”
Elizabeth looked down, deeper in the rat’s mouth; she poked though it opening it father.
“No, it’s in too deep, I think it was deliberately push down in there.”
“What?”
“Here, look,” she pointed into the darken hole before her.  The worried look on her face somewhat gave Chris his own butterflies in his stomach.  He came to her and peered into the abyss.
“You’re right Mrs. Brisby, here, let me get some tweezers.” 
Leaving Elizabeth alone with the corpse Chris went to the nearest instrument table then returned to the mouse’s location.  There he inserted the tweezers, poked a bit, and extracted what looked like a crumbled leaf.
“What is that?” Elizabeth asked, “Dried mud?”
Chris turned the cocoon in his fingers, “No, a bug cocoon.”
He then placed it into a jar then handed over to Elizabeth who pocketed it.
“What?  How did that get in there?”
“That’s a good question.”
“Thank you sir.” Elizabeth said turning and heading out of the door.  Chris went back to his work, her job was done, and her presence weren’t needed.  She longed home, her comfortable bed, and above all, her children.  Since she was done, she left for home.