She shook her head as if she understood and left the two men to attend to their business.
When Jim and Brandon arrived at the coroner’s office, Martinez was waiting for them on a bench just outside an examination room with a large glass window. Standing up to greet them, he said, “Thanks for coming down so quickly. Dr. Wexler is just prepping for the autopsy, so I’m afraid we won’t be able to go in. Take you’re time. Just let me know when you’re ready.”
Brandon stared at the cold steel table horizontally in line with the window, which held a figure covered by a light blue cloth. He watched Dr. Wexler and his assistant prepare their tools that would soon slice into the skin of someone who could be his wife. The thought alone made him turn away from the scene. Jim turned to his side. “I know this has to be excruciating, Brandon, but you have to do this. I’m so sorry.”
Wiping his eyes and taking a deep breath, he turned back around to face the possible agony that awaited him. He nodded his head and took a deep breath again. Turning to Martinez he said, “Can we get this over with, please?”
Martinez tapped on the window and gave Dr. Wexler a head nod signaling they were ready. The doctor moved to the opposite side of the table, grabbed the edge of the cloth, and pulled it down to the waistline of the waterlogged corpse. Letting out a breath of despair, Brandon bit his bottom lip to keep from whimpering. Jim rested his hand on Brandon’s shoulder with no words to follow.
“Is that your wife, Mr. DeFranco?” asked Martinez.
Unable to answer, Brandon fell to the bench and placed his face into shaking hands. “This can’t be happening,” he cried. His breathing became heavy. He stood up, his face soaked with tears, and stormed down the hall forcefully pushing the swinging doors open to find an exit, desperate for fresh air.
Jim stood there with one arm across his chest while covering his mouth with his other hand, his eyes wide in disbelief. After a moment of silence, he spoke. “This is absolutely crazy. What the hell happened?”
Taking Brandon’s actions and Jim’s words as a positive ID, Martinez nodded again to the doctor who then ordered his assistant to pull down the shades. “Well, Mr. West, that’s what I’m hoping to find out. We should have a few more answers after the autopsy is finished. You do know I’m going to need to speak with Mr. DeFranco again very soon. Preferably sometime this afternoon.”
“Come on, Detective, the man just lost his wife. He has arrangements to make, people to notify, time to grieve, maybe? This can’t be new to you.”
“Well, no it’s not but I’m sure you’re aware the first 48 hours of a murder investigation are the most important.”
His eyes lit up. “So, you’re admitting this is a murder investigation?”
“I’m not confirming or denying that until we hear what Dr. Wexler has to say in his report but his wife was just found floating in Lake Erie. It’s not as if she died of natural causes. It’s suspicious and the initial findings currently support foul play. He’s going to have to answer some questions here.”
Jim nervously looked at the fancy watch on his wrist. “Look, it’s almost 10 o’clock. I’m going to take him wherever he wants to go. I have no doubt you will have his full cooperation. Whatever you need, but can we give this until later this afternoon? I’m sure Brandon wants to figure out what happened as much as you do. How about we let this all sink in first and let him take care of a few things?”
Nodding in agreement, Martinez said, “Of course. I have some things to take care of myself.” He handed Jim one of his cards. “Please have him call me this afternoon.”
Flicking the card between his fingers he grinned. “Absolutely, Detective.” He stuffed it in his shirt pocket and headed out the same door Brandon exited.
Reaching his two-door, silver Mercedes, Jim took a seat in the driver’s side. “I’m so sorry, Brandon.”
He shook his head and stared out the windshield. “I have to call her sister. Her parents are going to be devastated.”
Handing Martinez’s card to him, Jim said, “He’s expecting a call this afternoon. I think it’s best if you cooperate and get ahead of this. I had Sam contact the legal department to try and find a good attorney if needed.”
He quickly jolted his face towards him. “I don’t need an attorney, Jim. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“That wasn’t what I was insinuating. But I highly suggest you take an attorney with you before speaking with Detective Martinez. You’d be a fool not to.”
“I beg to differ. If I show up there to answer questions with an attorney, in their eyes, I’m as good as guilty!”
“If you don’t you’re setting yourself up. This is a murder investigation, Brandon.”
“Well no shit. Pam was supposed to be at her sister’s house and she turned up sleeping with the freaking fish.” He rolled his eyes and took a deep breath before grabbing his hair with both hands and screaming out loud.
Jim sat patiently while his friend and colleague broke down. After taking a few deep breaths, Brandon straightened out his hair and attempted to put a game face on. “What do you want to do, Brandon? I’ll take you wherever you wanna go.”
“Go back to the office. I need to talk to Sam.”
Nodding his head, Jim buckled his seat belt and started the engine. They drove several blocks downtown back to the Tribune. Jim barely had the vehicle stopped before Brandon jumped out and sprinted into the building.
He ran up the stairs, down the hall, and into Samantha Brown’s office, slamming the door behind him. The noise of the old wood and glass shook through to downstairs startling everyone in earshot. Sam jumped in
