Reaching Indian Basin, both detectives made their way to the shoreline and then to very narrow landfill protruding into the Bay, part of an earlier reclamation project the City attempted that went nowhere. Seeing Bernie and a couple of his assistants partway up the landfill, Mike called out to get his attention.

"Careful, Mike," Steve cautioned as both men walked on the uneven terrain to meet the coroner.

"Glad you could make it," Bernie greeted. "Lee told us we were getting the "A" team on this one. After you take a look at the scene, we'll get the deceased into the wagon." He pointed to the body which had washed against the landfill line.

Looking down at the body, they quickly noticed normal bloating typical of a prolonged time in the water.

"Who found him, Bernie?" Mike asked.

"It was a walker. He said he noticed something odd sized bobbing against the landfill line and made his way up. When he realized what it was, he called on the payphone over there. You know Murphey, right? He's the black and white who responded to the call." Bernie nodded back on the bank.

"Jim Murphey – sure, I've met him before. We don't often have homicides down this way, but I think he's been on the beat here a few years. Steve, why don't you go over there and get caught up with our walker and Murphey," Mike asked and then turned his attention back to the body. "Was the body in this position when you got here?"

"Pretty much, but I understand from our walker that he initially rolled him over because he was face down. We secured the scene when we got here."

Mike stooped down and studied the face framed with wet short dark hair. He couldn't determine an age, but he figured with the receding hairline, chances were that the man was in his 40's at least.

Standing up, he asked, "Do you think this is an accidental drowning or a jumper that floated this way?"

Bernie waved to his assistants. "Let's get the body out of the water and see what we can tell out here. I may not be able to tell much until we get him processed back at the office."

Mike watched carefully as the coroner assistants pulled the body and lay it on the ground. He could see that the man was dressed in a sport coat and tie. One dress shoe was found on the body; the other, likely at the bottom of the Bay. The attire indicated that this was not some accidental drowning.

Bernie quickly examined the body, feeling for holes, broken bones or anything that seemed amiss.

"How about an ID, Bernie?" Mike asked.

"Murphey tried to search the sport coat and shirt pocket but didn't find anything. Since we have him pulled out, perhaps he has a wallet in his pants."

Noticing a tear in the shirt, Bernie flipped the victim's tie and widened the tear further to reveal a quarter sized hole in the chest. "Michael, I believe this is our first clue."