Chapter 26
She stayed outside, shivering in the heat, as people arrived and the silence gave way to the hum of activity.
Sheriff Adams came first with an older deputy, Pete Franks, both men pulling on plastic gloves and masks before going inside.
Then came the ambulance and Dr. Burdett, all grave faces and quiet voices as they studied the scene, cameras clicking.
None of it seemed to take very long, but by the time Todd Greenbough turned up, they were picking Jamie up from the carpet and the sun had dropped in the sky, so maybe she’d just been in shock.
“Hey, Anna, you okay?” Todd’s eyes crinkled with concern as he took the seat beside her.
“He was getting clean.”
“Trying to get clean and succeeding at it are two different things. Would explain his OD, though. If he was out of practice.”
“Or maybe his story about the man in the clown mask was true. Maybe they came back and finished the job.”
“You think someone murdered Jamie?” The voice, gravelly and warm, came from behind her. She turned to see Dr. Burdett in the doorway, pulling off his gloves. He tugged down his mask. “Oh, Anna, what makes you think it’s that?”
“It’s a possibility, right?”
Leaving her question hanging, the old man stepped out of the way so the paramedics could wheel the gurney out, Jamie’s naked body hidden in the black bag strapped to it.
Sheriff Adams, his face dark and thoughtful, followed behind and nodded to the other deputy, Pete, to go with the ambulance.
None of them spoke until the body was loaded and the doors closed, the weight of the moment making Anna’s breath catch in her chest all over again.
She let it out slowly before speaking. “Maybe someone shot him up and left, then he crawled out of the bath and tried to send a message. Did you see his phone? What he’d typed? ”
“A few half words.”
“Or a message. I was right, Anna.” She was calm. Steady. “He was clean. He’s been clean for nearly two weeks. And he told me that if anything happened to him, it would be murder. And now he’s dead.”
Dr. Burdett was gentle, looking at her sympathetically.
“He’s OD’d before. A couple of years back.
He was found by someone who claimed to be a friend, but I think was his dealer.
He only just survived. When he was recovering, he told me he’d wanted to end it all.
” He paused to let that sink in. “How long have you known him? A few days? The truth is, Jamie struggled, Anna. That’s the long and short of it.
He suffered from delusions and depression and addiction. Life wasn’t easy for him.”
Sheriff Adams put his hat on, protecting himself from the heat of the sinking sun. “Doc, you’re the coroner. I want you to recommend an autopsy.”
Dr. Burdett frowned. “You really think you need one?”
“I want to be sure what happened.” The doctor dismissed, Sheriff Adams turned to Anna. “I’ll drive you home, Anna, then go and break the news to the Carlsons.” He trudged to the car, the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“Can I have Jamie’s scooter?” Anna asked suddenly. “Tell his parents I’ll pay for it. I can’t afford a new one.”
He paused and shrugged. “They’ve probably forgotten they bought it. Doubt they’ll want it. Put it in the trunk for her, Todd.” He looked back at Anna. “Make a fifty-dollar donation to a charity of your choice. We’ll call it quits.”
Todd fetched the scooter from inside for her, and, realizing she had no choice but to sit up front, Anna quickly set her cell phone to video.
The back seat of the cruiser would lock her in, so she didn’t want to go there, but neither was she happy being alone with Sheriff Adams in the car.
He might be the law, but he was still a man.
At least if she was recording, if he tried anything, there’d be evidence.
A video that would work in her favor this time.