Steve walked into Arnie's room at the hospital; he took in the swollen eye, cut on the left cheek, the broken left arm and although he couldn't see he knew under the hospital gown were broken ribs.
"Arnie, I'm Steve Sloan, I'm investigating Cole's death and your beating; I have a few questions for you."
"Alright, but I don't know much," he croaked.
Steve helped him with a sip of water. "Anything may help, Steve replied. "How well did you know Cole?"
" Kind of so-so, I saw him at work, I knew he liked to bike trails," he paused to take a drink, "we chatted that was about it, he like to bike trails and I'm more of a gamer."
"Did Cole say or do anything that was out of the ordinary lately?"
"He seemed preoccupied, for about a week, I think it was right after one of his trail rides. He wasn't as talkative about this last one, like he usually is. I asked him and he said he had a decision to make. He knew something and didn't know what to do. I didn't press it."
Steve then went over the details Arnie had already given the police. Since he was already at the hospital he decided to stop by the morgue to see Amanda. This could be official business anyway since Amanda as supposed to perform the autopsy on Cole.
When he arrived Amanda wasn't there, so he waited. About ten minutes later she came in, smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"What brings you down here?"
"Two things – one to see you and take you to lunch and to ask about Cole's autopsy."
"Mixing business with pleasure," she teased. "I can live with that."
"Also, trying to make up for yesterday."
She smiled, "I may need more then one lunch."
Getting down to business, "Cole died from blunt force trauma to the back of his head, but not before receiving a beating. I sent trace to the lab, maybe whoever killed him left something behind. What's your next step?"
"Take you to lunch, then interview the owner of the bike shop."
After lunch in the hospital cafeteria, Steve loved hospital food, Amanda walked him to his truck.
"Thank you for taking me to lunch, your trying and I appreciate it. She then leaned in for a long passionate kiss before her pager went off Steve headed to interview the shop owner.