AFTERMATH

Chapter 6

In the private bathroom attached to his office, Horatio swallowed enough medication to soothe his stomach and take the general ache out of his body. He made himself a weak milky coffee - he still couldn't cope with the strong black stuff that he favored - sat at his desk, and rested his head on his folded arms. It had happened a few times since he'd been back at work - a sudden complete loss of strength. He found it couldn't be ignored. If he rested for ten minutes, he'd recover. Meanwhile, he thought about the last couple of hours…

He would have preferred to be left alone, but since he had always operated an open-door policy, he made no objection, and sat up quickly, when Calleigh knocked and came in.

"Cal… sit down… Forgiven me yet?"

She frowned, then smiled. "The court case? Of course I have. I understand completely."

"So what can I do for you?"

"I wanted to talk about Ryan… I gather you had a go at him about the Beth Abbott drowning…"

"I didn't 'have a go', as you put it. I pointed out that he'd jumped to conclusions and ignored anomalies."

"But it was my case, Horatio. You weren't here. If he didn't perform well, it's down to me."

He sighed. "Okay, that's fair. But did you think it was thoroughly investigated?"

"I actually thought it had some question marks… But, frankly, we were pretty overloaded last week… I didn't get back to it. And I had to assign Ryan to something else. But I did hang on to the body."

He smiled briefly. "I stand corrected. And chastised. Can I have Ryan tomorrow to help with some re-interviewing?"

"Of course." She gave him a searching look. "You seem… a bit down… Are you not feeling well?"

"You know I'm not feeling well!" He ran a hand over his face. "Sorry, Cal - don't mean to take it out on you… I'm just tired and fed up."

She nodded, still watching him. "What can I do?"

"God knows…"

"What on earth's the matter? Has something happened?"

"Between these four walls? I seem to have just had a falling-out with Frank Tripp…"

"I thought you two were tight…"

"We were. Are. Well, I hope we still are…"

"Serious falling-out? Do you want to tell me?"

"Not really." He hesitated. "A few things got said…"

Calleigh shrugged. "It happens. Perhaps especially between friends. Surely you two have known each other long enough…"

"You'd think so."

"What was it about? The Beth Abbott case?"

"No, more the Michelle Freeman case."

Calleigh raised her eyebrows. "Did he disagree with your decision? About the court case?"

"Not at all. But… It got a bit personal…"

"As I said, it happens. So who upset who?"

He gave a mirthless chuckle. "Calleigh, I got told a few home truths… I'm now sulking like a five-year old."

She laughed. "Horatio… I'm sure you're not. Seriously though… The Freeman woman's hurt you a lot already. For goodness' sake, don't let her damage your friendship with Frank too."

He seemed about to say something else, but then stood up. "I need to talk to Tom." He picked up the nearly-cold coffee and took a sip, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "I'll sort things with Ryan tomorrow…"

Calleigh accepted the dismissal. She touched his arm as they left the office together. "You take care now."

With an effort, he put his personal troubles aside, and took the elevator down to the morgue.

"Tom, I need to talk about Beth Abbott."

"Schoolgirl. Drowned." The doctor barely looked up from what he was doing, until the silence and almost tangible annoyance from Horatio made him stop. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes, there's a problem." Horatio fought to put his bad temper on hold. Loman could be infuriating, but he was undoubtedly a good ME. "There were only a few inches of water…"

"You can drown in a cupful."

"I know that, doctor. But within sight - or at least earshot - of thirteen other people? Is there any chance she hit her head?"

"Enough to incapacitate her? I would have noticed, Horatio."

"Will you take another look at her?"

"If you think it's necessary."

"I do."

"Now?"

"I think that'd be good." It was a tone that really didn't leave room for argument.

She had been a plump girl, rather plain, although, Horatio admitted, no one looked good a week dead. Tom pulled the sheet back, revealing the autopsy scars, but no other marks on the once-youthful skin.

"Not even a bruise…"

"What about the back?"

Together, they rolled the body. There was some lividity, but nothing obviously suspicious. "Nothing, H."

"What about under her hair?"

"Nope." Like a magician, the doctor reached under the girl's head and peeled the scalp and hair back. "Brain's been out, weighed, put back in. No injury to it."

Horatio put his hands on his hips, watching as Tom tidied up the head again.

"There has to be something… Suppose someone held her down…"

"One thing we could try…"

And it was there - under UV light, a clear handprint, a bruise between the girl's shoulder-blades. Despite the fact that he was now looking at a murder, Horatio felt his mood lighten.

"Thanks, Tom."

"Sorry I missed it… It just seemed a straightforward drowning, and we were very -"

"You were very busy. Yes, I've heard. Just photograph it for me - usual stuff."

Horatio went back to the elevator and headed for the police department. He noted that Frank's chair was empty, and stopped a young uniformed officer. "Frank Tripp?"

"Sorry, Sir, he's just left - gone home. Can I help?"

Horatio shook his head. "It'll keep."

He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, called up Frank's number, then hesitated and canceled it. He dropped the phone back into his pocket and returned to his office. Tomorrow, he'd start re-interviewing… Tonight? He was, he accepted, still depressingly unfit. The long trip out, and the subsequent conversation with Frank, had left him feeling battered and exhausted. He cleared up his desk and headed home.