Chapter 3
Both the boys slept well, as Ducky would have said "change of air and water" but the receptionist on duty beckoned them over and said that Sheriff Longmire requested their presence for breakfast at the Busy Bee Café, which they knew was just along the road on the left. Tim thanked her and the two made their way to the café. Walt was already there eating his "usual" two extra-large buttermilk biscuits smothered in southern country sausage gravy".
"Morning," he said, as the waitress came across and gave them the menu.
"What do you recommend?" Tim asked looking at the meal Walt was tucking into, and becoming squeamish.
"Pancakes are good, as is the French toast, but if you want something a bit more to set you up for the day, I'd go for the 3 egg hearty or the Busy Bee Stinger."
The two thought of last nights' Bison burgers and decided on coffee and French toast.
When they had finished, and the small talk over, as Tim thought, yes must be a Marine thing, even Sheriff Longmire was like Gibbs, a functional mute as Tony would have said.
They walked the short distance back to the Sheriff's Office, where Walt stopped at the front steps, "If you want to wait here Jim, I'll see if Ferg will take you to the hospital so you can start your investigation. Tim I'll show you the photographs we took, but I still think you should go investigate the crime scene, but then again I don't want to tell you your job."
"No, quite Sir, I will look at the photographs and then on your say so, accompany you back to the crime scene."
As Walt looked at Tim he smiled, "Actually was going to give you Vic, I need to speak to Henry and see if Officer Mathias grants you an audience, so to speak, with the grandparents," as he turned and strode up the steps closely followed by Tim. Jimmy he just smiled to himself and took in the bustling atmosphere, so different from the big city.
Tim followed Walt back into the office. "Vic I want those pictures you took, Tim wants to see them."
"Don't know why there was nothing strange, just some tyre tracks…"
"Ma'am…Vic," Tim corrected himself, "Tyre tracks mean something was there. Were they fresh or were they old, did they look recent and maybe some of your tyre prints are there, I would like," as he saw Vic's eyes narrow, "Take your photographs, as well as some of my own and send them to our forensic expert Abby Scuito, I know she has a data base of tyre tracks…that way," Tim continued, " We can eliminate your vehicle and maybe it would be able to give us a starting point if other vehicles are involved."
"I don't see what good that will do but if you must," Vic started to say, before Walt gave her a look.
"Tim, that would be fine. Now if you excuse me, I must see Henry about your visit," as Walt now turned and walked out the door.
"So take your time," as Vic placed the photographs on the table for Tim to look at. Tim took out his phone and began to retake some pictures, before asking if he could nip back to the hotel for his camera. Vic just nodded.
-oOo-
The walk to the hospital didn't take the two Jims long, not that they talked much.
Jim had asked if The Ferg was what he would call a Probie, to which the reply had been probably.
"Walt gave me the job. Always thought it was a favour to my father, but I like it, just wish I was appreciated more." Jimmy nodded, yes sometimes he wished that too, but this was a development opportunity and he wasn't going to mess up as he fingered the dictaphone in his pocket, and thought back to one of his first days with Dr Mallard and how he had repeated and recorded everything the good Doctor had said.
They reached the hospital Jimmy followed Ferg into the reception area, where Ferg asked if he could speak with a Dr Weston whom, Walt had said, would assist if he could. Dr Weston arrived within minutes; he was glad that at last someone was going to help his M.E., who was beginning to think she was going to have to start the autopsy on her own without any Navy assistance. He then thanked The Ferg and almost dragged Jimmy down to the lower regions of the hospital and the mortuary of one "Dr Jessica Swanson."
"Jessica," Dr Weston shouted from the door, "Here's your assistant, Jimmy Palmer from D.C. He's a young chap but I'm led to believe quite capable, seemingly your father knew a Dr Mallard when he was in Bosnia so I presume this lad will be well trained," as he now turned and looked at Jimmy, "Have fun, Jessica will keep you right," as he now disappeared from sight.
"Hello," Jimmy heard a voice call, "Just wheeling one of the geriatrics into a cold box for the family to take later," as a young woman of about thirty five approached and offered him her hand.
Jimmy just stood and stared, he had been expecting someone nearer Ducky's age.
"Don't let age fool you Jim…I have been around bodies since I was knee high to a grasshopper. My mother is a veterinary surgeon, my aunt a biology teacher and my father is also a medical examiner. My husband works in the local funeral parlour, so as you can see I could probably dissect in my sleep, now what about you?" Jessica asked.
"Oh same as you…well my wife's father has a funeral parlour and my wife is a mortician…embalmer, and of course I work closely with Dr Mallard. Now if you could lend me some scrubs let's begin," as he looked about.
"Sure, in the drawer over there behind you, and you can change behind that screen," as she pointed to the far corner.
-oOo-
Tim took photographs of the photographs on his phone and sent through to Abby, before collecting his camera from the hotel room. He found Vic sitting in the Dodge tapping the steering wheel.
"Thought you'd got lost," she said sarcastically, as she started the engine and sped off before Tim got a chance to put his seatbelt on.
"Hey," was all he could say.
They drove in silence to the gorge, where Vic steered the car to almost the cliff edge, not exactly leaving Tim much breathing space, as he got out and stepped back. Vic smiled, "You can see what's left of any tyre tracks over there," as she pointed to her right, "Just don't go too near the edge we don't want you falling over now do we?"
Tim walked gingerly over to the area Vic indicated and looked at the ground, yes there did appear to be different treads so he took proper photographs. "Where did Avon fall from…do you think?" he ventured.
"Just about where you are standing," came the reply, as she watched Tim step back a couple of paces.
Tim made it back to the car and asked if they could go to the gorge, he wanted to walk along and see the drop site.
-oOo-
"You don't mind if I record our findings do you?" as Jessica, "It's just that I promised Dr Mallard that I would share my finding with him and of course I have a thesis to write on this for my exams," as he saw Jessica indicate that that would be fine.
"Note the signs of hematoma on the victim's face and upper torso, so he was beaten before he was murdered, do you think," Jimmy asked Jessica.
"Oh yes, but I would also say blunt force trauma to the head," she added, pointing to the bruise on the side of the head
"So an epidural hematoma," Jimmy said, seeing Jessica nod, "But Doctor, what is that yellow under his fingernails. Paint?" as he watched her take a scrapping and put in a container.
"Upstairs to our forensics I think Jimmy," as she pocketed, "Now if I may leave you to finish off I have a meeting to attend to," as she walked away to change and take the sample to the lab.
-oOo-
Back at the crime scene Tim was walking through the gorge, looking up at the sides of rock, he just hoped he could see something like blood. At last he approached the area where Avon was found. He crouched and looked about, there was too much trampled earth to get anything, but as he looked up the rock, he saw what he thought was something yellow on the walls of the gorge…paint? He needed a sample.
"Vic," he called to the deputy, "I see something up there about 5 feet up, if I give you a hand up can you take a sample?"
"Can do better than that, I have a folding ladder in the trunk I'll get," as she strolled back to the vehicle letting Tim wait.
