Cause of Death

Gibbs stepped into Autopsy and breathed a sigh of relief. Over the past few weeks, they'd had a series of difficult cases with complicated causes of death. This one, however, appeared to be simple. A middle-aged man of average build lay on the table with a gunshot wound in his chest. He had some scrapes and bruises, probably indicating a struggle before the shot was fired. Finding the killer would be their job; at least Ducky's had been easy.

"Appearances can be deceiving," Ducky began, which was never what Gibbs liked to hear. "It may seem, at first glance, that this man has died of a simple gunshot wound to the chest. Alas, my investigations say otherwise."

Gibbs held back a sigh. "Something to do with the bruising?"

"Indeed. In fact, what you see is fairly superficial. The internal injuries, on the other hand, indicate a fall from an almost certainly fatal height."

"I see."

"What's more, these internal injuries pre-date the gunshot wound. I'm afraid, by the time this man was shot, he had already suffered his great fall."

This would be an interesting case. Why shoot a man who was already dead? Unless someone had wanted to make absolutely sure. Gibbs was already putting together the killer's profile in his mind. "So the fall killed him."

"Ah. No."

"No?"

"I'm afraid there's more to this poor man's story."

"Talk to me, Duck."

"As I was examining the internal injuries, I found severe burns along the surfaces of his organs and veins, consistent with electrocution. This damage took place, if you can believe it, even before the bruises and internal injuries from the fall."

"He was electrocuted?"

"More than that. You see, the extent of the damage indicates a higher amperage than most people would have occasion to encounter on a day-to-day basis."

"Well, how do you explain that?"

"There's only one possibility. Before his fall, this man was struck by lightning."

Struck by lightning. That was a new one. Strictly speaking, though, it was a natural cause of death—if the man wasn't murdered, their work was done. "I guess that means we're off the case?"

"I wouldn't be so sure. I also found clear signs of asphyxiation."

"Guy was having a rough day."

"Day? Oh, no. I estimate the asphyxiation took place at least twenty-four hours before the lightning struck."

"Wow." This had to be some kind of a record. "You think the strangling was intentional?"

"If the pattern of bruising on his neck is any indication, yes. But that's far from the entire story."

Gibbs blinked. "There's more?"

"I'm afraid our poor victim suffered a heart attack before he was asphyxiated. Based on his blood work, I have reason to believe a rare form of poison caused this."

"Before he was asphyxiated?" Gibbs was having a hard time keeping the details straight. "Was he dead or alive during the strangulation?"

"Well, that's an interesting question."

Gibbs realized this story might not be anywhere near its end. He had work to get back to. "Cut to the chase, Duck. How was he killed?"

"Killed?" Ducky turned to Gibbs with a solemn look in his eyes. "Jethro, this man is still alive!"