“Which was never performed,” Garland added, as if that was Natalie’s fault.
“You don’t need to go that far. The ME in Connecticut who signed the death certificate will have to reopen the case officially but the autopsy can be performed by the county coroners here in New York,” Liam suggested.
He knew a lot about this coroner stuff. And she knew that just from dating her he was familiar with the ghost stuff and their theory that spirits usually followed the body. No doubt he understood her concern and the ramifications of Lionel’s spirit getting yanked away from her.
“Is that acceptable?” Carson asked the two officers. “You good with our county coroner conducting the autopsy?”
Pataki scowled but nodded. “Yeah. I guess so. As long as our ME is.”
“I’m not sure what the coroner is going to say when he hears we want an autopsy performed on a body that’s already been embalmed but I’ll give him a call.” Carson cringed, then glanced at Liam. “It is embalmed, right?”
“Yes. And as far as the autopsy, the blood, and all fluids, would have been removed during the embalming process, but the coroner can still perform tests. On tissue. Hair. Fingernails. Organs.”
Garland made a strangling sound as she started to look green behind the hand pressed to her lips. Lionel didn’t look so great himself.
Meanwhile, Natalie had logistics to deal with. A deadline for a book whose author was about to be yanked away from her.
She raised one hand, like she was back in grade school.
Carson lifted one sandy brow. “Yes, Natalie.”
“Two questions. First, where is this county coroner’s office?”
“Morris.”
She resisted the urge to cringe. Where the hell was Morris? She’d lived in Mudville for years now and had never heard the town mentioned. Though, to be fair, she didn’t get out much.
“And how far away is Morris from here?”
“About twenty miles or so.”
Darn. Too far. Lionel’s spirit wouldn’t stay in Mudville if his body was twenty miles away in Morris.
“Okay, next question. How long does an autopsy take?” She pivoted to glance from Carson to Liam.
“The procedure itself? Only a few hours,” Liam answered.
“But the test results can take weeks. Months even to get the reports back from the lab,” Carson added.
“They won’t keep him there while they wait for results, though. Will they? Can’t they return him after the… procedure?” she asked.
She didn’t love any of this discussion, but it was necessary. For Lionel’s information as he looked on with an expression of concern. For her own as she calculated how to finish the book without him.
“I don’t know, Natalie,” Liam answered. “Carson, will the coroner keep the body?”
“I’ll ask when I speak with them to arrange the pick up.”
“After Albany is consulted,” Liam reminded.
“You seem very interested in this autopsy, Miss Chase.” Garland had recovered from her queasiness and was back to treating Natalie like a suspect.
Screw that.
“I am. Very interested. Liam’s research is important. I don’t want it stopped in its tracks over this ridiculous investigation into the death of a very old man with a history of hypertension who, most likely, hit his head when he had a massive coronary, hit the floor and died. But, you know, you do you. If you want to stand in the way of preventing veteran suicides, that’s your choice.” She lifted one shoulder cockily.
She could afford to be cocky. The more they laid out the case, the more it became apparent there was no case.
Pataki drew in a breath that expanded his chest even broader and strained the fabric of his uniform. “This is not over. You two.” He pointed a sausage-like finger in Natalie and Liam’s direction. “Consider yourselves both persons of interest. Don’t leave town.”
