Brady Laurie showed no postmortem lividity in his lower extremities, which led her to believe that hed floated, probably upright, after death.
But the bruising on his face still bothered her. So did the bruises on his arms. Those were smallerthe size of fingertips.
What do you make of these? she asked McFarland.
Bruises. As I mentioned, theyre noted in the report, McFarland said curtly.
Chan cleared his throat as he eased around the gurney. What wouldve caused bruises on both arms? he murmured. Kat had the same question. They werent as conspicuous, perhaps, as the contusions around his mouth, but unmistakable nonetheless.
The man was a diver. He was dealing with a lot of equipment. He knocked around in one of the ships holds until he was found by other divers from the Preservation Center, McFarland said. He could have gotten them from an air tank or from some of the equipment he had piled on him. He was carrying a camera, and he was wearing one of those headlights divers use during night dives or cave dives. There was a dive knife strapped to his ankle. He had a huge light on the camera, as welland, like I said, he bounced around the hold.
StillI dont think we should discount these bruises, Kat said.
Chan seemed to agree. He moved around the corpse again, studying the bruises on Brady Lauries arms. Then he angled forward. They look like fingerprints, Chan said. See? If I were to reach out and grab him
He demonstrated, putting his fingers just above where the bruises showed on the flesh.
You think he was held down? McFarland sounded skeptical.
I think its possible, Chan said, and he turned to Kat.
More than possible. She stepped forward, gently touching Bradys lips with her gloved fingers. And theres some injury around the mouth.
McFarland seemed troubled now, staring at the corpse and then referring to his notes. Finally, he shook his head. Mr. Laurie was down in that hold alone. All alone. I dont know anything about him as a man. Perhaps he had a temper. Maybe he got into an argument with someone before he went down. Maybe someone grabbed him roughly. I imagine he had a few bouts with his fellows at the Preservation Center. He could have gotten these bruises in a scuffle with a friendeven roughhousing for fun.
Kat looked at him incredulously.
This isnt the body of a man who engaged in any kind of serious fight! McFarland said firmly. The bruises are small. Theres no injury to any of his bones. There are no real cuts, just some chafing around the mouth. He came in here having drowned. He definitely did drown.
But you assumed he might have been in a scuffle? Will asked. Do you often hear of fistfights among historians who dont agree with each other?
Theres no real violence to the body. And historians are human like everyone else, McFarland said.
Thats true, but I spent the morning with this mans coworkersand there was no difference of opinion. They all wanted the same thing, Will told McFarland. He sighed. Doctor, please look at these bruises. Look at the way they match my hands. Think about a regulator. If it was ripped out of a mans mouth
You would have exactly that kind of trauma, Kat finished.
And exactly that kind of bruising, Will said impatiently.
His tone made McFarland bristle, and Kat frowned at Will.
He ignored her.
Despite the tension in the room, Kat kept her hand lightly on the icy-cold arm of the corpse. She knew that Will was right; she had noted the particular patterns of the bruises on Bradys arms almost immediately. And combined with the marks around his mouth, they suggested certain conclusions. But then, she was a diver. McFarland was not. And the man whod been brought to him had been floating alone in the hold of a sunken ship.
At this rate, however, they werent going to be welcome back at the morgue.
She wished she could get some feel for the man whod been Brady Laurie.
Nothing. She was getting nothing from the body. If only Brady Laurie was still somehow herebut his body was cold. Empty.
This is ridiculous. Itsits not like he has massive bruising anywhere, McFarland sputtered.
The bruises may darken, giving us a better idea, Kat said. He hasnt been dead that long, she reminded him.
He might not have gone ten rounds at the WWE SmackDown, Will put in, but it looks to me as if he was held in a firm grip shortly before his death.
It doesnt make sense that one of his coworkers could have gotten angry enough to have killed him. Its not like theyre out to claim the treasures for themselves, Kat said.
So? McFarlands voice was strained. What? A mummy crawled out of an inner sarcophagus and an outer sarcophagusnot to mention careful waterproofingto rip his regulator out of his mouth?
Of course not, Kat said.
This man was the one who discovered the ship! He was alone down there, McFarland emphasized.
Maybeand maybe not, Will said. Others had to have known. Brady Laurie had done careful charting before the preservation group sent out requests for financial help, trying to sell their research as a documentary. This is the age of computer hackers, so plenty of people couldve found out. And Lake Michigan hasnt been closed, has it?
Kat wanted to kick him for his sarcasm.
Agent Chan, I have been at this job for over twenty years, McFarland began.
Kat stepped in quickly. Of course, Doctor, and your autopsy and notations are commendable. But there are factors involved that werent included in the information you were given. You had no reason to suspect foul play. But with the possibilities out there
What possibilities? A curse! A swimming mummy?
Will shrugged and replied casually, No, Im sure the mummy would have deteriorated if it had somehow come to life, he said. Money, Doctor. A treasure of inestimable worth. We dont know if any other party discovered the wreck due to Bradys research. It might have been a simple drowning. And then again, maybe not. At this point in the investigation, we have no idea who else might have been out on the lake.
He died by drowning, McFarland insisted.
Will raised his eyebrows. Yes, he died by drowning. But whether it was accidental or notthats a completely different question, isnt it?
Youre really suggesting he was murdered?
Im more than suggesting, Im saying its quite likely, Will said. Your findings were absolutely correct, Dr. McFarland, except thatthey werent. Brady Laurie was grabbed and he was held in the water. He drowned not because he ran out of time, but because his regulator was ripped from him. Thats why he has injuries on his lips.
Young man, what youre suggesting is a remote possibility! McFarland said.
Remote? I dont think so.
Dr. McFarland, the point isthere is a possibility, Kat said.
And not so remote, Will added.
He looked over at Kat. He was challenging her to step up to the plate. She wasnt in the least worried about doing that; she just wished she didnt have to.
She looked back at Will, who watched her steadily. And then, her heart sinking because shed so badly wanted this to be nothing, she turned to McFarland. Doctor, this is your morgue and your call. Butunder the circumstances, Id change that report if I were you. At the very least, hold on to it for a couple of days and let us do some more investigating. Theres a good possibility that this was willful death caused by person or persons unknown.
He looked over at Kat. He was challenging her to step up to the plate. She wasnt in the least worried about doing that; she just wished she didnt have to.
She looked back at Will, who watched her steadily. And then, her heart sinking because shed so badly wanted this to be nothing, she turned to McFarland. Doctor, this is your morgue and your call. Butunder the circumstances, Id change that report if I were you. At the very least, hold on to it for a couple of days and let us do some more investigating. Theres a good possibility that this was willful death caused by person or persons unknown.
3
Could you have been any ruder? Kat demanded of Chan.
Could he have been any more incompetent? he fired back.
They were out on the street. Car horns blared now and then, and the whir of fast-moving traffic seemed to be all around them.
Kat shook her head. Theres still nothing to actually prove him wrong, Agent Chan. The bruise could conceivably have been caused by jostling around.
I never went to medical school, Agent Sokolov, but I dont think you need a degree to recognize bruises on postmortem flesh. My fingers fit perfectly into those bruises, so Id say whoever killed him had nice large hands. Brady Laurie wasnt any kind of a hulk, although he was certainly strong enough to defend himself to some degree. But you dive, so surely youre aware that a lack of oxygen can quickly deprive you of energy and skill, leaving only the instinct to surviveand fight against whatever is keeping you from breathing. An actor in a James Bond movie may be able to hold his breath forever while waging a heroic battle, but in most instances, you expend what air you have in trying to fight, and then He broke off, his implication grim. And you agreed with my findings. Otherwise, you wouldnt have said what you did.
I believe your findings suggest further investigation.
Beyond a doubt.
But that would usually suggest not insulting the medical examiner to the point that he doesnt want you back in the morgue! In any city, we need to be on the best terms with local authorities, Kat told him.
Will Chan stared back at her for a moment, then shrugged. All right, fine. I should have tiptoed around his feelings. We should have pleasantly gone along with himand then he wouldve released the body and wed be left with nothing. Well, excuse me. You can go back in and ask the good doctor out for coffee or drinks, but Im headed to the police station.
He turned and started walking. Kat glared at him, her temper soaring. She decided to go after him and practically had to run to keep up with his long strides. She caught him by the arm and was surprised by her own strength when she spun him around to face her.
Look, my team was the one called in. You just happened to be here. This is my investigation, and I need you to stop your high-handed behavior before you offend every cop in the city of Chicago, as well.
Why would I offend a cop whos dealt with a situation competently? he asked. And Im sure youve been informed that Ive already begun the investigation. I did so right after Logan Raintree got the request and called Jackson Crow and Adam Harrison with the information.
Great. Except that you offended the medical examiner. Did you offend the film people, too? Or any of the others well have to depend on for access and information?
I havent offended anyone, Agent Sokolov. What I did was conduct a very professional meeting with the film crew and then speak to the two researchers who worked with and found Mr. Laurie. Ive politely informed them that well be diving with them tomorrow. Unless, of course, you prefer to maintain your investigation here on the surface. I will certainly understand.
She wondered what would happen if she simply combusted with anger on the street.
Agent Chan, it was my understanding that I was to examine the corpse at the request of the producer, Alan King, and that if I found anything I didnt believe to be completely straightforward, then an investigation would begin.
Well, Agent Sokolov, I was told last night to step right up and get things going since I was in the city. Thats what I did. When a body pops up, the first hours can be the most importantas you knowso time was of the essence. Would you like me to share what Ive learned? Or would you rather let someone else die while you start your own investigation? he asked.
Im a professional, but I cannot work with this man!
She took a deep breath. You do realize, Agent Chan, that we didnt just go in and prove that Brady Laurie was murdered. Yes, its possible that he was held in some way while his regulator was ripped from him, but its not a foregone conclusion. There are other reasons such bruising might have occurred.
Evidence locker, he said.
Pardon?
Lauries dive gear is in an evidence locker down at the police station, since the police were with the rescue units when he was brought in. Im going down there to meet up with the local investigator and see exactly how much air was left in Lauries tank. He paused. I was a day ahead of youalthough, yes, its your case. Ive seen the footage that was taken when the body was discovered. Laurie was dead when they found him, which wasnt long after hed gone down himself. I still cant accept that it was a simple drowning.
Waitwhoa! I didnt know there was footage!
Yes, theres footage. And you can call Bernie right now, or you can take my word for it. I havent been to look at the evidence yet, but I intend to. You can get together with King Productions now or come with me and see the footage later. Your call.
She really wished it would be professional just to slap his determined and impatient face.
Another deep breath. Its my call, yes, she said. But I will come with you. As you pointed out, I can see the footage later.
He stood his ground but seemed slightly taken aback, something of a smile almost curving his lips.
Were not on opposing sides, she said. It doesnt matter who makes what call. Were here to find out if a murder has occurred, and if an investigation is necessary. Im here for Brady Laurie, Agent Chan, not for a pissing contest with you.
Now his lips did curve into a full smile. Sorry. But the M.E.s findings were just too easy.
Look, if there was no reason to suspect foul play, his findings really werent negligent.
Youre defending him because hes an M.E.
Im only saying whats true, especially in a big city where you can have days when the bodies just pile up, Kat said.
All right. Ill apologize when I see him againif I see him againand lets pray I dont. As to the rest, time can mean everything in this kind of investigation.
I know. But Im not sure whether we can answer all the questions we need answered or if those answers will lead to more questions. If we find air in the tank
Then theres a good chance he was murdered.
Hed turned already. She suddenly hated the fact that he was as tall as he was. Keeping up with him was an effort.
Even if the air is gone, we cant be certain of what happened. The air might have bled out after he died, she said, catching up with Will. And if there is air in the tank, it still doesnt prove that the regulator was ripped from his mouth.