Major Crimes Mysteries
The Family McCoy
Chapter 6
As Sharon walked out of the house for the final time, she looked at Provenza and told him that they would be doing the notification to the family members. Provenza looked down at the ground. I hate this part of the job the most." He told Sharon. Sharon sighed, looked down at the ground and said, "it doesn't get any easier, does it." "No." he continued "You are going to be the last thing the family members remember about their loved ones. At least for the near future. You are their grim reaper." Sharon nodded her head in response, but they had no further discussions for the car ride to Patrick McCoy's parents' home in Pacific Palisades. While the trip took more almost an hour from where they were, it felt like they blinked and were at the house, Sharon reflected without saying it out loud to Provenza.
As they pulled up to the house, it was dark. What else would Sharon think? It was still the middle of the night. Why would she expect them to be up? Certainly not waiting for them. Certainly not waiting to get the worst news of their life.
Dr. Robert McCoy was a well-known cardiologist in the LA area. He was with one of the top major academic centers. Sharon knew his name from Andy's health issues. When Andy had his heart attack, she deeply researched cardiologists to transfer him to. She reflected that she didn't do near the work she did with him when having her cardiac issues and it gave her pause. She shook it off and opened her car door. Provenza was waiting at the back of the car for her. "You didn't expect me to do this myself?" Provenza quietly asked her. "Lieutenant!" Sharon whispered.
Sharon looked at the house and gave a little gasp. It was a large Mediterranean mansion with meticulous landscaping and perfect illumination to highlight its features. As soon as they got to the front door, Sharon rang the doorbell and Provenza stepped back to watch the bedroom light go on in one of the upstairs rooms. Suddenly, they both heard a big dog barking and barreling towards the door at full speed. There was a loud thud when it hit the door. "Who is it?" a terse male voice asked through the heavy wooden door. It was followed by "Do you know what time it is? This better be damn good. Somebody better be dying because otherwise, they can see me in my office during office hours." Sharon and Provenza looked at each other and Provenza shrugged his shoulders. "LAPD, Doctor. Can you open the door, please?" Provenza asked him. "No damn way until you show me badges." The doctor opened the latch of the peephole. Both Sharon and Provenza opened the wallets to show Dr. McCoy their badges. With that, he opened the door to see what they wanted.
After the doctor opened the door, both Sharon and Provenza introduced themselves to him making it a point to not tell him they were with the Major Crimes division of the LAPD.
"What possibly could the LAPD need with me at three am?" He asked. "Do you mind if we come in, Sir" Provenza asked him. "It is very important, Doctor." Sharon told him. "And something we need to discuss in private." She continued. He motioned for both of them to come into the house, but not past the front entrance way. Sharon turned her head and noticed an older woman walking down the staircase. "Bob, what is wrong? Who is it?" the elderly woman asked. "It is nothing, Martha. Just the LAPD. Maybe something happened to one of my patients or at the office." He said while looking at them. Both Sharon and Provenza made facial gestures to let him know that he was incorrect in his assumptions. He looked at them with a perplexed look and Sharon motioned for them both to head into the living room.
"It might be better for you to sit down." Sharon said to both of them when they got into the living room. "Commander, I expect you to tell me what is going on immediately." Dr. McCoy told her. Sharon again motioned for them both to sit down and this time they complied with her request.
"Doctor, Mrs. McCoy" Sharon started. She felt herself swallow hard before continuing. "I am afraid we have some bad news." Sharon said. Ms. McCoy's made eye contact with Sharon and she could see the woman starting to break down. Sharon pushed through.
"At 11 pm, the fire department was called to your son's home." Sharon began. "When the fire was put out, the fire department checked the house for anyone hurt in the fire. I am sorry to inform you that your son and his family were found deceased inside their home."
"All of them?" Martha said at a near yell. Sharon moved to the edge of the chair and took Martha's hand in hers. "Yes, Mrs. McCoy. I am so sorry." Sharon said trying to comfort the woman. "Even the babies?" Martha asked through her tears. "Yes, ma'am." Sharon confirmed. Provenza looked over at the doctor who looked like he was about ready to pass out. Sharon felt herself let a breath out and looked at the couple, who were not much older than her. "Furthermore, I need to let you know that they were murdered. They did not die in the fire. I don't want you to hear this in the news." Sharon said softly. Dr. McCoy fell back into the sofa and started crying hard.
The McCoys gave them Rebecca's parents phone number. They let her know that her parents lived in the central valley area and flew down to see Rebecca several times a year.
Sharon arranged to have the McCoys come to Major Crimes in the afternoon and let them know that her team would be in contact with them later in the day to set up a time. Both shook their head to express understanding. She gestured to Provenza to leave. As they were walking out the door, Ms. McCoy looked at Sharon and asked her who could kill children. "We plan on finding that out, Mrs. McCoy." Sharon told her and closed the door behind her.
Sharon called the Modesto police to arrange for them to do the formal death notification. She would call Rebecca's parents later in the day to arrange to do a video interview as soon as possible. With that, Provenza and Sharon headed back to Major Crimes to start what both knew would be an exhausting on both a physical and emotional level, investigation.
When Sharon got back to her office, she had received a voice mail from Rebecca's mother, Eleanora Parkey. Ms. Parkey, through her tears, asked Sharon to call her as soon as she received the message, which Sharon did. Sharon didn't even hear the phone ring before Eleanora Parkey picked up the line with a simple hello.
"Ms. Parkey, I am very sorry for your loss." Sharon started. "We would like to set up a video interview with both you and your husband for later today. Is that something you can do? Sharon asked. Mrs. Parkey explained that she and her husband would be leaving to drive down to Pacific Palisades to stay with the McCoys. Sharon was happy at hearing that but made a conscious effort to control her voice to not show her pleasure.
Sharon set up a time convenient for both the Parkeys and McCoys that would give the Parkeys time to settle in and make the drive to PAB. She looked up to see the entire team walking back in. Andy had let her know they were leaving the crime scene about two hours earlier but planned on stopping and getting some breakfast since they knew it was going to be a long day.
Amy immediately stepped over to the murder board and started writing out details of the crime. They had pulled pictures of the children from the crime scene to put on the board since none would have a driver's license picture in the system. Amy made sure to get school pictures or pictures of the children in happy times. Wes printed off photos of Rebecca and Patrick and handed them off to Amy being sure to feed Provenza's coin jar which he was shaking vigorously as Wes walked back by.
Sharon walked out of her office and announced to the group that the parents of the victims would be in around four that day. "Myra, can you do me a huge favor please?" Sharon asked Myra who was sitting at what the team still called the cursed desk, Gabriel's, and Stephanie Dunn's old desk that no detective ever wanted to be assigned to. Even Cami figured out a way to fit in a new desk that wouldn't have her assigned to it. No one questioned it and even Tao applauded her creativity in how she fit in her new desk. "Sure boss. Anything. Whatchya need?" Myra asked Sharon. "Can you please ensure we have all our meals delivered here?" Sharon asked. "I am predicting a very long night tonight and we all need to settle in.
With that, Sharon signaled that the discussion of the case was set to begin.
End of Chapter