“Lucy, Lucy get up it’s Friday.”

“Twiggy, Twiggy. Hit snooze it’s only Wednesday.”

It is Wednesday Story Day and last week the IT guy, Paul delivered the file. Larry and Andrew are wholly convinced that the data is legitimate. Larry pretty much gave Paul the “bums rush,” and took charge of the files and copies of records. Andrew asked why so rude, and Larry explained he wanted to make sure Paul didn’t decide to do anything with the data that may corrupt them. So let’s head back to Larry’s office and pick up on what he and Andrew are thinking as a next step.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m reading my notes again.”

“What are they telling you.”

“Look here. See where I indicated that the heart tissue was reduced to almost a liquid?”

“Okay? Is that supposed to mean something to me?”

“No not to you. It does tell me that the strength of the force field was such that an ordinary medical device would not be powerful enough to cause that much pulverization to the heart.”

“Yeah so?”

“I think we are looking at a device that is more in the commercial world rather than the medical world.”

“I see what you are saying. This would mean that such a device might be a rare occurrence.”

“Exactly. As such we might be able to find it.”

“And find out who owns it.”

“Now my dear Dunfee you are exactly right.”

“Hey, Andrew?”

“Yes?”

“We are not a Watson-Homes partnership.”

“I know that. I was just trying to have a little fun.”

“So, do you know where to begin looking for this kind of machine?”

“I would say we need to find an industrial application that uses strong force fields.”

“Any idea?”

“I was thinking of the way they used to put chrome on bumpers of cars. They would have a liquid medium and use electrolysis to get the chrome to adhere to the steel bumper.”

“Bumpers? Is there still such a thing?”

“No, but there are some after marketplaces where you can have parts fabricated. There are also places that make wheels and other accessories.”

“That doesn’t sound like a force field to me.”

“It’s not, but I’m saying that the industrial process of chrome plating and building a lethal force field will not be too far apart.”

“So we have to hunt down every electroplating operation and then go see if a force field adaption is in place.”

“Well, I would say that’s the hard way.”

“What is easier?”

“You and I put out heads together and figure out something for which we would need a force field application and then run an ad asking for the service.”

“You think the guy that has such a field is going to respond?”

“Why not. It has been ten years. Besides whoever owns this thing probably didn’t kill Sandusky.”

“What makes you so sure.”

“Just a hunch. I’m not really sure. So I think we could use such a force field to clean up objects from a shipwreck.”

“We don’t have a shipwreck.”

“Gad, Larry. You need to use some imagination. We are going to advertise that we need a force field to clean up, let’s say an anchor. We don’t need to have an anchor to run the ad.”

“I think it is not a matter of imagination but common sense. Where do we run this ad?”

“I’m betting Sandusky was killed right here, so we stay local.”

“I still think we should go to the Yellow Pages and look them up.”

“Trust me. This will be easier. We can always do your method if this doesn’t work.”

“Okay, Andrew. We’ll try your way.”

“Great boss. I’ll get to work on the ad.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again and last week Andrew (retired M.E.) and Larry agreed to give Perry (current M.E.) some direction on evidence preservation as well as contact the IT department and the forensic team. The idea is to see if there is the possibility of the existence of a backup file of the Sandusky autopsy report. This is the only way Andrew can substantiate his claim that he made an entry in the record that is no longer there on the hard copy. I see Andrew has headed off to talk with the IT department. Let’s stick with Larry as he has a discussion with Perry.

“Excuse me Perry, but do you have a minute?”

“Of course, detective. What can I do for you?”

“As you know, there seems to be a missing soft copy of the Sandusky autopsy report, and I want to make sure nothing else goes missing from this department.”

“Speak plainly detective. Do you think I had something to do with the missing file?”

“Oh, no of course not. You weren’t even here when the file disappeared. I’m curious as to why you would say such a thing?”

“Well, I get the feeling that you suspect something is all.”

“Yeah, well I think most people get that feeling around me. I am suspicious by vocation remember?”

“Understood, but I think there is a little avocation in there as well.”

“Okay, you got me. I’m totally suspicious of everyone.”

“So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“We need to set up some safeguards to make sure no other files go missing. We also need to preserve all the information currently on hand in the Sandusky file.”

“Okay, that makes sense. How do we accomplish this goal?”

“We start by putting all your files in a protected space on the mainframe. We need to make sure you are the only one who can access that space.”

“I think our IT department can handle that.”

“Yes I hope so. Andrew is talking to them now.”

“What else?”

“I think you should get files that lock and not allow access unless people sign the material in and out.”

“Our file room has a lock on the door. Will that suffice?”

“it will if you have control over who has a key.”

“Yeah, that’s a problem. That door has been there a while and no telling who has a key.”

“Call maintenance and get the lock changed. Get as few keys as necessary to run your department.”

“Okay will do. I don’t think too many people need access to the files anyway.”

“Okay good. Also, my CSI team will be arriving shortly.”

“CSI? What are they going to do?”

“I want to dust the files and the servers. Just a sweep to see if there are any strange fingerprints or stray evidence lying around. I will need a list of anyone who has gone into the files recently.

“I thought the file was compromised then years ago.”

“Very true but I still want to see if there are any interlopers putting their hands where they don’t belong.”

“Ah very good. I like your precautions.”

“Thank you, Perry. Suspicious remember.

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we became aware that the computer files on the Sandusky case at the medical examiner’s office had been deleted. Andrew, the former M. E., suggested that a forensic team try to recover the file. Larry, the detective, thought that was a great idea and realized he could use Andrew’s help. He asked Andrew to join his team and Andrew agreed. Let’s get back to the M.E.’s office since I think Larry is going to issue some instructions to the current M.E. (Perry)

“So, Perry. I think we need to treat the deleted file as evidence and make sure nothing happens to it. Is it on a hard drive?”

“Actually, it was stored in the cloud.”

“The cloud? Oh man, that sounds like it might be a complication.”

“Excuse me, Larry.”

“Yes, Andrew. Go ahead.”

“Is it possible that there is some kind of backup file. Maybe on a storage device?”

“It may be possible. I don’t have a lot of hope since the case is ten years old.”

“That is my point. Ten years ago it was standard procedure to back up M. E. files every night.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“No reason you should, Perry. It’s like ancient history these days. Anyway, let me check with the IT guys and see if there is some kind of redundancy that might work to our advantage.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Hey, Andrew let’s take a walk.”

“Sure, Larry. Lead the way.”

“Let me close this door and you and I need to go down the hall a bit.”

“What’s up, Larry. You look worried.’

“Okay, this is far enough. Yeah, I’m worried.”

“What about other than the missing file.”

“I have to wonder who had access to the file?”

“I would say anyone with clearance to log on to the system. The files were not in a password protected separation or anything.’

“Don’t you find it odd that the file was deleted after I asked for a copy?”

“No that would be logical. Whoever has an interest, in this case, wanted to make sure the hard copy read like a paranormal piece of fiction. I guess that file was eliminated long before you asked for it. I’ll even bet it was shortly after the autopsy.”

“By the way, I don’t trust old Perry in there.”

“Why’s that?”

“I don’t know. I would think he would come up with the forensic investigation on the deleted file. He just stood there. It was like he didn’t want to help.”

“I can see your point, but I’ve known Perry a long time and would bank on his integrity.”

“just the same I think we need to lay out some preservation of evidence rules. Also, I think we should dust the hard file to see if any strange fingerprints show up.”

“Yeah, a good idea.”

“Okay, we can go back and tell Perry the rules. I’ll also call in a forensic team and would you be so kind as to contact the IT department to see if there is any hard drive storage going back ten years.”

“Yes, sir. Man. it feels good taking orders.”

“Think I could order a coffee.”

“The machine is around that corner. While you’re there, I’ll have a cup of Columbian. Half and half and Splenda.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again and last time (we skipped the last week for the Fourth of July) Andrew the M.E. and Larry the detective decided to head over to the M.E.’s office to check on the report Andrew says he wrote up on Sandusky’s death. Apparently, when Larry looked at the report there was no mention of the fact that Andrew noted heart residue in the body indicating that the heart had been pulverized. (Whew. Are we all caught up now?) I see Andrew and Larry have arrived at the M.E.’s office. Let’s go over there and see what is up.

“Hey, Larry and my goodness look who the cat dragged in.”

“Good morning Perry. I wonder if Andrew and I can get a moment?”

“For you anything, Larry. Andrew, how is retirement treating you?”

“Pretty good Perry. However, as you can see sometimes the past drags you kicking and screaming out of bed.”

“Yeah, it’s quite a surprise seeing you here. What gives?”

“Larry here is working on the Sandusky case and he was telling me about the report. It seems like there are some pieces missing.”

“Missing? How can that be?”

“That’s what I said. I remember making some notations on the cause of death that Larry says are not in the report he read.”

“What? Maybe a page was missing or something?”

“That’s why we’re here. I thought we could look at the original file and check for ourselves. Larry is working the Sandusky cold case and it is pretty important.”

“By all means. I think we have all the information backed up. Let’s start with the hard copy and then go to the soft.”

“Perfect.”

“Good thing I keep duplicate files. That is one thing you taught me that stuck.”

“Come on, Perry. You are one of the best M.E’s in the country. My best student.”

“Nice of you to say, Andrew. Yes, here is the file.”

“Let me look. I can turn to the exact place where I made the notation.”

“What notation was that, Andrew?”

“I believe Sandusky’s heart was pulverized by a current. That is what I noted.”

“Pulverized? You mean infarcted where the supply of blood is cut off?”

“No that would still leave the heart tissue intact. I’m talking about extracorporeal shock waves that actually break up the tissue into millions of tiny pieces.”

“Wow. I’ve only heard of that being done on gallstones.”

“Well up to this case I was in the same boat. There can be no other explanation. Here is the place where the notation should be. And it is missing.”

“Let me see that.”

“Sure, Larry. Take a look.”

“Holding this page up to the light, I don’t see where it has been altered.”

“I have to agree. This doesn’t sound like good news on the soft copy since this is a print out from that file.”

“I agree, Perry. Let’s have a look anyway.”

“Hold on, Andrew. I’ll have it up in a second. That’s odd.”

“It’s missing right?”

“How’d you know Larry.”

“How’d I know? Just my detective intuition at work. The hard copy has some missing information. It makes sense then that the soft copy is gone. How else to make the case tougher to solve than to eliminate the damn file from the computer?”

“Perry.”

“Yes, Andrew.”

“Can you get a forensic team to recover the file if it has been deleted.”

“I believe it is worth a try.”

“Good thinking, Andrew. Maybe we are not out of luck after all.”

“It’s a long shot, Larry but one worth taking.”

“Andrew?”

“Yes, Larry.”

“You want to come work for me on the Sandusky case?”

“You payin’?”

“You bet.”

“I’m in.”