The Coroner, page 13
“You are right, sir—that’s a very troubling video. And we are currently investigating its source.”
A mother stood up and pointed at Nick. “I wanna know if my kids are safe. Do we have a serial killer on the loose here?”
“Oh no, no ma’am. I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion. This seems to be an isolated incident. However, I would always advise that you keep tabs on your kids and know where they are and who they are with. Let’s continue to act with common sense and safety in our community. Let’s watch out for one another like we always do. And if you hear of anything or see anything, please contact the sheriff’s office.”
The questions of unease and paranoia went on for another twenty minutes. Nick did his best to quell any rumors and conjectures before the principal dismissed the students and teachers back to class. As parents trickled out of the auditorium, Nick overheard the doubts of many of them. How could this have happened to one of their own? Was no place safe anymore? Maybe they needed a more competent police force? Was Larsen really equipped for this kind of terror in the community? What if another dead body cropped up? What if the killer was another student? Was the video really real? Or just a publicity stunt the senator had arranged? Little arguments sprung up between exiting parents. Tensions were mounting before his eyes and would soon spread out into the community.
The only thing left for Nick to try was damage control via media. He led the journalists outside the school property to willingly answer a few more questions for them. He kept the sound bites neutral and diplomatic.
Yes, the Freeport Police were doing everything in their power to find Julie’s killer.
Yes, he had employed the help of the state police who were sifting through the dozens of tips coming in each day.
Yes, each tip was being carefully recorded and explored.
No, he could not comment on whether or not the tips had revealed anything significant to find the suspect or suspects.
No, he could not say with certainty whether there was just one suspect or multiple suspects.
No, he was not aware that Julie was not cheating in the ring.
No, he was not aware that the senator was not buying off her competition wins.
No, he did not feel responsible for Gibbons moving the body from the scene.
No, he did not believe the scene had been compromised by Gibbons removing the body.
Yes, he had been properly trained in crime scene investigation.
Nick kept a straight face and even tone as he told them he was through taking questions. He politely excused himself and drew back into the school to find Emily. She was waiting on a threadbare tweed couch in the teacher’s lounge with a strained look on her face. Sarah was gone.
“Her parents came to sneak her out of the building while you and the entire population of Freeport were in the auditorium.”
“Did she tell you anything?” asked Nick, collapsing onto the couch next to her.
“Only that she was sorry,” said Emily.
“What about her parents?”
“They were pretty hot about it when they came storming in here. Sarah told them she didn’t want to go home with them. And then she bolted.”
“Where?”
“She took off toward the parking lot. I don’t think she got very far before the media surrounded her. I saw the security guard run over to help her into her parent’s truck,” said Emily. “Then they drove away. I swear, Freeport’s gone crazy with this.”
Nick shook his head, worried that if he didn’t solve this thing soon, it would not only tear apart the Dobson family but the whole town.
21
After the anxious afternoon, Emily returned to the hospital to visit her dad. Before stepping into his room, she found the cardiologist doing rounds and asked for a moment of his time to get her dad’s medical diagnosis first hand.
“Three of the four vessels are completely clogged. And as you can see, the fourth is about half open,” said the cardiologist. “He needs a quadruple bypass or he’s not going to last more than a year.”
“Can you do that here?” she asked.
“I prefer to do the procedure at the hospital in Rock River. They have better equipment and more experienced staff. I’ve worked with them before and never had a problem.”
“When can you get him scheduled?”
“Immediately,” he said. “But your father has refused the surgery.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. He knows what he’s up against if he doesn’t have the procedure, right?”
“He’s quite aware. Which is exactly why he’s concerned. It’s a big surgery. Long recovery,” the cardiologist said.
“How long for someone in his shape?” Emily asked.
“Three or four months until he can resume a semi-active lifestyle,” said the doctor. “I’d say a good six months before he gets the all clear to return to work.”
“And he knows that without it he’s advised to be pretty much sedentary?”
“He knows. I’m just hoping you can convince him to pursue a better option for his life.”
“I’m not sure I have much sway,” said Emily. “Did you talk to Cathy?”
“Yes. And she feels like she’s in the same boat as you are.”
“Please try your best,” said the cardiologist. “We’d hate to lose him so soon.”
“I’ll try. Thank you,” she said, but she felt scant faith in her ability to do so.
Riding up the elevator to her father’s room, Emily gazed at the images of her father’s heart, wondering how on earth she was going to handle this. As she drew closer to her father’s room, she could hear familiar laughter. Jo and Cathy were with him. That was a good sign. At least he’d be in a good mood. Emily entered to find Jo standing at the foot of his bed and Cathy sitting in a chair by his side. Jo was telling him some story about her children that he was thoroughly eating up. Emily paused for a minute as Jo finished her story. She started wondering what it might be like to be in Jo’s place. Would it ever be like that between her father and her? Would she ever be joking with her dad about his grandchildren? Children. She and Brandon hadn’t had a serious talk about children. She assumed he wanted them. She knew his mother sure did. Did she? Did she want to bring children into a city riddled with gang warfare, drugs, and murder? But then, here she was. Investigating a murder case in Freeport. No place was safe. How on earth would she ever feel she could be responsible for the life of a child? And what if that life were taken away unexpectedly? It was painful enough when her mother died. How could she ever bear the death of a child? What torment the Dobsons must be going through right now.
Then, Emily heard Nick’s words in her head: “Yeah, but it’s the exception, not the rule.” She quickly shut down her negative train of thought. She was getting ahead of her skis, as Brandon liked to tell her. The truth of the matter was that murders were rare in Freeport County. It was a great place to raise a family and grow old. And she could not deny that she had loved the first fifteen years of her life here. The perfect memories of the people and places of Freeport were more than she could count. Being back here now felt like a parallax was at work, showing her the old, familiar things from a new perspective. She noticed this effect was triggered by little things, like the smell of the hospital hallway, a bite of Brown’s bear claw, and Jo’s laughter, which drew her back to reality. She slipped into her father’s room.
“How’s the patient today?” Emily said, trying to put on a cheery face.
“Emily. Hey. You look more rested. It’s been so nice chatting with your dad,” said Jo.
Cathy smiled from her chair, where she looked radiant and well put together as always.
“Jo, thanks so much for alerting us to that video,” said Emily.
“It’s strange knowing that guy is out there. Just walking around among us. Gives me the chills. You do think that guy in the video is the one who killed Julie, right?”
“Oh, well, we’re not sure. It’s a pretty big conclusion to draw at this time. But it gives Nick and his team a good place to start.”
“Speaking of Julie Dobson, I have to meet with the Dobsons in half an hour to make funeral arrangements, and in light of this news of her murder, it’s going to be even harder than I originally thought,” said Cathy, rising. “So, your arrival is perfect timing. You can keep your dad company while I’m gone.”
“And I need to get back to work,” Jo said.
Cathy bent over Robert’s bed and kissed him on the lips. “I’ll see you later.” She turned and paused quickly at Emily’s side. “See what you can do,” she said under her breath.
Emily knew exactly what she meant. Cathy was beseeching her for collusion, and Emily would try. But it seemed an impossible task.
Jo also took her cue. “Dr. Hartford, I’ll stop by again in a couple hours. If you need anything, just buzz.”
She paused by Emily on her way out. “Hey, my kids are dying to meet Mommy’s high school friend. The oldest two are showing their horses at Premiere on Saturday before the state competitions. Why don’t you join us?”
“That’s sweet. I’d like to meet them too,” Emily said.
“Starts at nine.”
“I’ll do my best,” said Emily, nodding as Jo bobbed out. She closed the door, anticipating an argument. She told herself to stay firm. No mincing words. She placed the images of his heart on his lap.
“You’ve seen these, I’m told,” she started.
“I have,” said Robert.
“If you don’t have this surgery, you’re going to die. Soon.”
“We’re all going to die,” Robert said.
“So you always say. But a bypass will get you a couple more decades,” Emily said.
“The answer is no.”
“Why are you being so ignorant? You know better.” Emily stared him down from the end of his bed.
Robert regarded his daughter with a slight grin. “Your bedside manner could use a little finesse.”
But Emily wouldn’t have it. Despite their shaky relationship, she couldn’t let her father throw his life away like this.
“You realize what this means? You’ll have to quit practicing medicine. You’ll have to give up the ME office. And there’s no way you can continue to live at home. What if you pass out or have another heart attack while you’re doing something dangerous, like running your electric saw, and Cathy’s not there?”
“Okay, let’s not get all dramatic.”
“I’m not. I’m being a realist,” she said. “If you won’t do this, then you need to think about a transitional care facility.”
“I won’t be cast off to some godforsaken nursing home,” he protested.
“Then have the surgery,” Emily insisted.
“Absolutely not.”
“What does Cathy say?” asked Emily.
“She said she’d help me pick out a real nice casket. She’ll even give me a family and friends discount,” her father said, turning to her with a grin.
“Dad, not funny. Why aren’t you thinking of her?” Emily said.
“She respects the fact that I want to treat this in my own way,” he said.
“I don’t believe that,” said Emily. “You just got married. She wants you around for a while.”
“I think the real question here is why do you care so much if I live or die?” he said, putting it back on her.
“Why can’t I care?” she said. “You’re my father.”
“Why now? Why after all these years do you come running home when I’m at death’s door? If you really cared, you’d pick up the phone now and then. What does it matter to you if I’m gone? One less phone call to ignore.”
The response laid her bare. She knew she hadn’t always been fair to him. “You didn’t seem to care about me when you denied me what mattered most. Why was it so bad to care about wanting some closure to Mom’s death?”
“What is it you want, Emily? After all these years, why didn’t you just come to me?”
“I told you a million times. I want to see her autopsy report.”
“You saw the police report. There’s nothing else to know.”
“Then why can I not see it?”
“Because I don’t want you remembering your mother like that … a list of cold, medical facts. Photographs of her dissected body.” Robert shook his head. “No. She would never want that for you.”
“Maybe not then. But it’s different now. I can handle it, Dad.”
He shook his head and Emily noticed his color turning gray. He was not getting enough oxygen through his body.
“You know you’re breaking the law by not allowing me a copy of my own mother’s public death record. And I never pressed it before … but I’m asking you now.”
He didn’t respond right away. Emily watched as he sat there, his breathing become slightly more labored and shallow. She feared she was driving him right into another heart attack. She took a step closer to his heart monitor. It was low, but not dangerous.
“Should I call Jo? You don’t look well.”
He shook his head.
“Maybe I’m tired of living. Have you thought of that, Emily? Maybe I don’t deserve a long life. Your mother sure didn’t get one … and she, of all people, deserved …”
Her father looked worn beyond his years.
“Deserved what?” said Emily.
“The truth.” Tears rimmed his eyes, and he tried to dab them away before Emily would notice.
The truth about what?”
“Can you please tell Jo I need my heart meds?”
He had all but admitted it. There was more to her mother’s accident. Emily padded out to the nurse’s station. Whatever Dad had been keeping from her and from Mom, it was literally killing him. She had to keep her father alive.
22
After viewing the YouTube video, Nick immediately contacted the website provider and ordered them to take it down. He was praying to God that the original footage still existed, and he hoped it was in Sarah Dobson’s possession.
He then proceeded to arrange yet a second visit of the day with the Dobson family, who were just returning from the funeral home. Sarah’s parents had driven her straight home and demanded Sarah surrender the GoPro camera and memory card. Sarah admitted that she had found it in Julie’s closet in a shoebox. Being a typical social-media-driven fifteen-year-old, Sarah’s only thought had been to post the video in an effort to root out Julie’s killer. Turning it over to the police had never occurred to her. Nick sent it down to the state crime lab digital forensics division to see of they could pull any more identifying information from it.
Then, Nick paid Gary Bodum a surprise visit. Due diligence required Nick to check on Gary’s alibi during the events of Julie’s death. When he couldn’t find Gary in his office, Nick wandered through the stables until he saw him in a stall, hunched over a horse’s leg as he trimmed the hoof with a nippers. He didn’t look up as Nick approached.
“Gary, good afternoon. I’m surprised to see you here working after such a traumatic event just occurred.”
“Horses still need to be fed and tended,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean my mind is elsewhere. What can I do for you?” Gary looked up.
“Just have a couple questions for you,” he started. “Where you were at the time of Julie Dobson’s death,” Nick stated.
“You mean murder? I’ve heard. Am I a suspect?” Gary said calmly.
“That depends. Can you prove your alibi?” said Nick.
“I can. I was home that morning.”
“But who can verify that? You live alone,” Nick said.
“So do you,” said Gary. “Does someone know exactly where you are every single moment of the day?”
Nick understood his frustration. “Gary, if you can clear your whereabouts, that would help you tremendously,” Nick said.
“I was home.”
“But how can you confirm that? Did you use your cell phone? Computer? Did a neighbor see you walking your dog? Did the paper deliverer see you picking up the paper? Think. I’m struggling to give you the benefit of the doubt.”
“I don’t know. I …” Gary paused. “Yes. Someone saw me that morning. I was with a friend.”
“At the time of Julie’s death?” Nick asked.
“Yes. All morning until I left for the stables,” Gary said.
“I’d like to confirm that with your friend,” Nick replied. “What’s your friend’s name?”
“I don’t want to get this person involved,” Gary answered.
“I need a confirmation to clear you.”
“I was with Mindy Wilkins,” replied Gary.
“The cheerleading coach?”
“Yes. We’ve been dating for a couple of months.”
“She spent the night?” Nick said.
“No. I was at her house. I meant to go home, but I fell asleep on her couch. Happy now?” Gary said.
“Folks in Freeport are gonna be tickled to hear you’ve still got a chance at a proper wedding,” Nick said with a sly grin. “Come on, man, I’m just kidding. I’m happy for you.”
“Discretion, please. For Mindy’s sake. We haven’t even told her parents yet,” Gary said.
“I’m going to corroborate this with her, you know,” Nick told him. Gary nodded.
“Is that all? I have a lot of work to do,” he said.
“It’s not all. Something more serious came to my attention.” Nick showed him the GoPro video. “Have you seen this?”
“I’ve seen it. It’s horrible.”
“Are you the man in that video?” asked Nick.
“No. What? Are you kidding? I would never harm my horses.”
“But you knew someone was harming Mercedes? Didn’t you?” Nick said. “The proof is here. In your stable. You didn’t notice anything wrong with Mercedes?”
“No. No. Look, I didn’t know that was going on. See the way it works is that a horse is sored, and then overnight the wounds start to heal. The next morning the horse is acting fine. But then right before the competition, the groom or the trainer inflicts an irritant that burns and stings on the open wounds, causing the horse to raise his legs higher, jump higher, perform better.”
