” Psst. What day is it, Bailey?”
“Wednesday.”
“Hit snooze until Friday.”
Wednesday Story Day again and last week we saw Andrew let Paul take the tape to have it read at a supplier facility. Most of us wondered if that was such a good idea. Also, the cast seemed hell bent on getting something at the deli so none of us stepped up to question Andrew’s judgment. I’m pleased to say lunch hour is over and Paul is just getting to Larry’s office. Larry and Andrew had a nice Deli lunch and are just chatting when Paul comes through the door.
“Hey, guys.”
“Paul. Good to see you. Do you have any good news for us?”
“I do Andrew. Can I take a seat?”
“Of course, Paul. Excuse us. We seem to have lost our manners.”
“Since this is my office I will also ask if you would like some coffee.”
“Oh, No thanks, Larry. I just had an egg cream and am about to burst. Let me get the file out of my case.”
“Take your time Paul.”
“Yeah, Paul. We are actually on your time frame since you are the man of the hour.”
“Okay, you two. Let me cut to the chase. The tape I ran actually had a different file than the one currently in your records at the M.E.’s office.”
“Different how?”
“Here take a look. I brought two copies.”
“I have the one currently in the M.E.’s file.”
“Good, Larry. You guys can skip the first two pages because the two are identical. Turn to page three.”
“Oh my gosh. Here are all the notes that I made on the heart residue.”
“That’s right, Andrew. You said you had made additional comments and here they are.”
“You have two full pages of comments. I see you were of the belief that some kind of shock wave was used.”
“Notice I was careful not to say that was the definitive way the heart was destroyed.”
“I see that. You still believe that was the way, don’t you?”
“Off the record?”
“For heaven’s sake. Yes, off the record.”
“I do.”
“So why was it such a big deal to get our hands on this version of the autopsy?”
“So that we can establish a theoretical cause of death that was recorded at the time. This theoretical cause of death had a method that you have to admit was unusual.”
“To say the least.”
“So now all we have to do is figure out who might have the capability to explode a heart.”
“Don’t forget we need motive as well.”
“I think if we find out who can do the deed, then why will fall in pretty quickly.”
“Okay, now we have the file. Now what?
“We need to make sure it stays safe.”
“Hey, Paul.”
“Yes, Paula. I’ve been waiting to do that for years. Excuse me, Larry. What?”
“Did you make any copies of the backup while you were on the reader?”
“I sure did. I have a CD and thumb drive.”
“May I have them?”
“Uh. Sure. You don’t trust me?”
“I just would feel more comfortable if the chain of evidence is unbroken.”
“Yeah, okay. Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
“So Paul. I think we are done here.”
“Sure. If you need anything else let me know.”
“Will do, Paul.”
“Thanks, again, Paul.”
“You’re welcome, Andrew. Bye.”
*
“You were pretty rude to Paul.”
“Get over it, Andrew. We need to keep this pretty close to the vest. I don’t need an IT guy tweaking the file and losing the whole thing.”
You think he would do that?”
“Tweaking is in his DNA.”
“You’re the boss.”
Cover: Circumstances of Childhood
