Chad paused.His eyes lingered on the drawer with the box of used temazepam.
“Does it say what type?”
“No,” Romeo followed Chad’s gaze.“But I’m unconvinced those capsules are what you think they are.There are no directions for use on the box, and I couldn’t find a prescription receipt in the car.You can’t remember where you got them from or visiting a doctor who prescribed them.”
“We need to find out what medication they’d been taking, whether it’s the same.”
Romeo looked back at the articles.
“It just says medication for depression and sleep disorders.A standard autopsy was performed on Thomas.He had a high level of alcohol in his blood.His death was recorded as suicide.It wasn’t the first time he had attempted to end his life.The previous time, his brother had managed to talk him down from a church rooftop.”
“What about Alexandra?”
“Alexandra’s husband had a second autopsy carried out.Although he fully accepted she suffered from postpartum depression and had been acting erratic around the time of her death, he rejected the straightforward findings of ‘suicide’ from the initial coroner, and privately paid for another to investigate the death of his wife and his son.”
“Does it say the ruling of the second autopsy?”
Romeo shook his head.“What would a second autopsy find that the first couldn’t?”
“It’s more thorough privately done—they do tests the standard autopsy won’t.”
“Like what?”
“Like ...like....”
Chad’s eyes widened.“I need to make a call.”
“What?”
“I ...I need to find out the results of that second autopsy.”
He snatched his phone off the kitchen table, scrolling through until he found the name he’d been looking for.
“Who are you calling?”
Chad held his finger up in a wait gesture, then spoke into the phone.“Hey, Dave, it’s Chad.I need your help with something.”
Romeo heard the murmur of Dave agreeing to assist in any way he could.
“I need you to find me the coroner’s report for Alexandra Taylor.I know, I know,” Chad said, slapping a hand to his face.“You’re not supposed to, I know it’s against protocol and you could lose your job if you’re found out, but please, as one last favor to me.”
Chad slumped when Dave agreed and allowed a small smile for Romeo.
“Specifically, I need you to tell me what was in her hair.”
Romeo stared at Chad, then mouthed to him, ‘her hair’, Chad nodded, undeterred.
He sat down, bouncing his leg on the floor as he waited.Romeo pressed his hand down on his leg to stop the impatient fidget.
“Two unexplained substances,” Romeo heard Dave say.
Chad held his breath, springing to his feet again.He paced the kitchen, one hand clutched the back of his neck.
He stopped.“Thank you, Dave.”
Dave said something back, but Chad cut him off, ending the call.He exhaled a long breath at the ceiling.
Romeo held out his hands.“Well?”
