"Welcome bac, Dr. M!" Nigel exclaimed as he slapped Garret on the back rather enthusiastically.
"Thanks. Now what is this case about that Kate handed off to me as soon as I walked in the door today?"
"Oh, I'm no biggy. I'm ruling it a suicide."
"What?" a surprised Garret asked. "Kate said you thought it was a murder. Something about a butler?"
"Nope. Suicide. The decedent's fingerprints were the only ones on the knife and the angle of the stab wound appears to be self inflicted."
"Then why did you tell Kate that you thought it was murder?" an exasperated Garret asked.
"Oh, I was just messing with her head just for fun, you know." Nigel said with a mischievous smiles. Garret did not even crack a smile. He just gave Nigel that look of an being annoyed.
"You missed being around me, didn't you?"
"Sure, Nigel," Garret said inconvincibly as he turned and left the room.
xxx
Jordan and Woody found the apartment building of Mira Gonzales. The manager had said that she lived as a single parent to the two young children. They could be found in the room directly across the hall of Gonzales'. Jordan got to the door first and knocked on it. A short, plump, gray haired woman answered the door.
"Hello ma'am, I'm detective Woody Hoyt and this is Jordan Cavanaugh. Are you the neighbor who cares for the children of Mira Gonzales?"
"Yes I am. I'm Tessa Donahue. Is something wrong? Where's Mira?" the woman asked with a look or worry on her face.
"I'm from the medical examiner's office," Jordan began, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Mira Gonzales was murdered earlier today."
"What? No! That can't be true. Who did it?"
"That's what we are trying to find out. Do you know of anyone who may have wanted to harm her?" Woody asked the distressed woman.
"No, not at all. She was so sweet. A wonderful mother….oh my goodness, what is going to happen to these children?"
"Is their father in the picture?" Jordan asked Ms. Donahue.
"No, Mira told me that he died right after Isabel was born. They don't have anyone else. Their mother is it. I'm an old lady. I can't take them in!"
"We can have social services come and pick them up," Woody said.
"I hate to do that to them, but I just cannot take care of them." Just as Ms. Donahue finished speaking, a small boy came up to her.
"Miss Tessa? Isa is awake. She's calling for mommy." The boy said. Woody looked sadly from the young child to Jordan who fought back tears.
"Why don't you two come in. I need to go get the baby." Ms. Donahue opened the door wider then retreated to the back of the apartment and emerged moments later holding a small girl with dark hair that was curling at the ends.
"What is your name?" Jordan asked as she kneeled down next to the young boy.
"I'm Mateo. Who are you?" the child asked.
"My name is Jordan and this is Woody." Jordan said with a soft smile. "Mateo, have you ever heard anyone be mean to mommy? Has mommy ever gotten angry at someone?"
"No one is mean to mommy. Mommy doesn't get mad very much. Just when I am too loud. She doesn't want me to bother our neighbors." Mateo said.
"What about you, has anyone ever been mean to you or Isabel?" Woody asked gently.
"No way. Mommy won't let anyone be mean to me and I won't let anyone be mean to my sister. Where is my mommy? She usually comes home before Isabel wakes up from her nap." Woody and Jordan again looked at each other then nodded at Tessa Donahue.
"Ms. Donahue, we'll have someone come for the children tomorrow if that's okay with you. Do you feel able to tell them what happened?" Woody asked in a whisper as Jordan occupied Mateo.
"I will tell him. Please find someone who will take them both and take care of them." The woman said as she walked Woody and Jordan to the door.
"We will," Jordan said. "I promise."