AFTERMATH

Chapter 4

As they drove out in one of the department Hummers the next day, Frank at the wheel, Horatio said quietly, "Well, I've disappointed Gerald Duffy and upset Calleigh, and it's only half-past ten…"

Frank chuckled. "Their problem. Not yours. So you're taking the deal…"

"Yep. Can't face court. Not at the moment."

"Not surprised. For what it's worth, I think you've done the right thing." Frank was silent for a while, then said, "What raised your suspicions on this case?"

"Not sure. Why was the girl in the water at all? If she slipped, where was everyone else? There were four adults to ten pupils… plenty of supervision… no unruly behaviour... Well, none mentioned… Oh, and all four adults gave precisely the same account. And I do mean precisely."

"Who processed it?"

"Ryan Wolfe. I was a bit hard on him yesterday. He said there was simply nothing there. They'd taken the girl to hospital, even though she was almost certainly already dead. So no body. Three of the supervisors were taking the other kids home, and they'd packed up all the gear, clothes and so on. Basically cleared the place. One stayed to tell him what happened. Then the heavens opened and there was a giant thunderstorm… He really didn't have much to process."

"What about the autopsy?"

"Drowning, no question…"

"Have we still got the body?"

"Fortunately, yes. And I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's just been too busy to do the release. Or perhaps more people than me have got suspicions… I haven't had a chance to talk to Tom yet. But I'm going to have to do something quickly. The parents, understandably, want their daughter back. Their attorney gave me a very hard time about the delay."

"You? Not Calleigh?"

He smiled. "I took the lab back this morning. She's been doing a great job, but it's impossible for her with me there too."

They drove on in silence for a while, then Horatio mused. "I could get used to this… Having a chauffeur…"

"You're senior enough. You could probably get one."

"God, Frank, it would drive me mad! I like my independence too much. I mean, this is fine - I can talk to you… But normally, no thanks. Rather be alone, to think."

"Oh well, make the most of it. Relax. It's a long run."

Horatio pushed the seat back, and put his feet up on the dash. "You don't mind?"

"I don't have to clean the thing. Though you do realise if the airbag goes off now, it'll probably castrate you."

Horatio closed his eyes. "So don't hit anything."

It took over an hour to reach the remote site. Horatio, who had been dozing, eased himself out of the Hummer, stretching and yawning. Frank joined him, and they walked slowly round the area, referring to the sketch that Ryan had made.

"I can see why they'd stop here," Frank murmured. "Perfect picnic spot."

"Not perfect for one girl…"

"So what was the story?"

"That they'd eaten, or were eating. The girl - Beth - went off over there…" He pointed. "Call of nature. After a while, they got worried… Not clear how long 'a while' was… One thing I need to find out…"

They walked over to the edge of the water, water only a foot or so deep. "They found her face down here…"

Frank frowned. "She could have slipped. Footprints?"

"If there were, the thunderstorm washed them out. It's hardly deep water. She'd have shouted? Climbed out?"

"Hit her head?"

"Not according to the autopsy."

"Well, Horatio, I agree. Odd… Very odd…"

The two men examined the area, carefully, taking the occasional photograph, for the next hour. They found… nothing.

At last, Horatio straightened up. "Sorry, Frank, I've wasted your time."

"Not really. We always need to put things in context… I'm like you - I always like to see the site… And there might have been something. What now?"

"Back, I suppose. I'll drive, if you want."

"You feel okay?"

"I feel good. Surprisingly." He smiled.

"Want some lunch?"

Horatio raised his eyebrows. "You brought lunch?"

"You know me. Can't do without food for more than a couple of hours…" He went back to the vehicle and fetched a bag. "Seems a bit… disrespectful, somehow… Sitting in a crime scene…"

Horatio shrugged. "It's just a place… Nice place, as it happens."

They found a comfortable place to sit, and Frank unwrapped his sandwiches. "Want one?"

Horatio considered. "I'll give it a try."

They sat in silence for a while, both eating, until Horatio laughed.

"What?"

"You're watching me like a hawk, Frank. What do you think's going to happen? I'm fine. Truly." But he put the sandwich aside after eating only half.

"Well, I'd argue that you're fine. But good to see you eating, even that poor amount. I suppose I should phone in…"

"Check with Calleigh too, will you?"

Frank made the call, then put his cell phone away. "Nothing happening…"

"I ought to get back. Talk to Tom. Re-interview the teacher in charge of this wretched trip, I suppose…" He sighed.

"Your enthusiasm does you credit," Frank murmured sarcastically.

"It comes and goes… No energy, that's the trouble."

"It'll come back."

"You know… I've been thinking…"

Frank chuckled. "When do you do anything else? What about? What happened to you?" From his friend's tone, he already knew the answer.

"Can't stop thinking about it. It's not that I mean to dwell on it…"

"So talk. You know you want to…"