My panties were soaked by the time I pulled out of the parking lot of LS Investigations. I would’ve said that wasn’t expected, but I’d be a lying sack of shit if I did. I knew from the moment I got up that morning that I anticipated seeing Micah as much as I desired to know more about what was going on with my grandfather.
The farther from the office I drove, the clearer my mind became. An idea formulated in my mind.
I was curious to find out more information on the details of my grandfather’s death. My mother told me that his body was found in the woods, near a swimming hole. Two fishermen, out early one morning, made the discovery. It was the same location where he and my grandmother used to visit, and where he wanted to have his ashes spread. An empty bottle of medication he used for his back pain laid near his body.
My mother told me the sheriff’s office had informed her that the pills were the means he used to kill himself.
I didn’t believe it then, and I still didn’t think it almost two months later. What better place to go to get some answers than the medical examiner’s office? I looked the information up to the ME’s office before leaving the house that morning. I meant to ask Micah about it, but I lost track of so much whenever I was around him. The same thing happened at dinner the night before.
Don’t visit anyone else involved in this case without telling me first.
Micah’s words clouded my memory, but I pushed them to the background of my mind. It wasn’t like I was going out and speaking to anyone directly about this case. I would only go into the part of the sheriff’s office where the ME was and fill out a request for the autopsy report. That was all.
In reality, it should’ve been one of the first things I did, but I’d been too caught off guard by my grandfather’s sudden death and the suspected suicide to think clearly.
I pulled into the section of the sheriff’s parking lot that led to the medical examiner’s office and got out of the truck. Looking around, I observed a few deputies walking to their cars and some other people entering the station. I went inside and spotted a woman who looked as if she were the receptionist.
“Hi, can I help you?”
“Yes, I want to apply to get a copy of an autopsy report.”
She nodded. “You’re going to take this hallway down, and the third door on your left is where you can fill out that paperwork and pay for it.”
“Thank you.”
I followed her directions and found myself passed by a couple of deputies.
“Ms. Taylor.”
I stopped, familiar with Deputy McDowell’s voice at that point. “Deputy. How are you?”
“I’m doing well.” He turned and looked over his shoulder, waving to another deputy who’d exited the door I was heading toward. “What brings you down here?”
“Making a stop at the ME’s office.” I looked over his shoulder, anxious to be on my way.
“The medical examiner. Is this about your grandfather’s untimely death?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I hated the way he seemed to always bring up my grandfather’s death with what felt like accusation in his voice.
I nodded.
“Is there something I could help you with?”
I shook my head. “Not that I’m aware of. Excuse me,” I stated and stepped around him, heading for the office that I intended.
It was a simple task to fill out the form and pay the few dollars it cost to get the report that should contain a lot of information and a definite cause of my grandfather’s death.
“Unfortunately, our ME is a little backed up. The autopsy report hasn’t been completed yet.”
I frowned. “My grandfather has been dead for well over a month,” I retorted. “How long do these things take?” As far as I knew, autopsies were done right after death. Hell, I already had my grandfather’s ashes, so the autopsy had to have been performed, lest they wouldn’t have released his body for cremation. I knew enough to know that the ME performed an autopsy anytime an apparent suicide took place.
The Asian woman behind the desk frowned, obviously not liking my tone too much.
Oh well.
“Usually, our time frame is between thirty to forty-five days. According to the date on the form you filled out, your grandfather died forty-three days ago.”
Seriously? Is this bitch really being this technical?
