On Harrow Hill

He started toward the parking area, then stopped. “You said that the phone you found on the porch is being charged. Can you let me know as soon as you can what you find on it?”

17

As he reached the yellow perimeter tape, he was surprised to see the ME’s body-transport van pulling out onto the road, followed by a black Mercedes with an MD plate. It seemed impossible that Morgan could have shared the bombshell news of Tate’s survival without it provoking a longer discussion.

Morgan waved to Gurney from window of his Tahoe, gesturing for him to get in.

“New plan,” he announced as they headed back toward the village. “The situation with Fallow is delicate. The thing is, in addition to being the county ME, he’s a member of the village board—the board I report to. And he’s not likely to be pleased by an accusation that he pronounced a living person dead.”

“Accusations are never pleasing. What’s the problem?”

“He’s a difficult person. Always was, and that doubled after the drunk-driving incident.”

Gurney could see where this was going. “Since the message will be unwelcome, he’ll want to shoot the messenger, and you’d rather it be me than you.”

Morgan looked pained, but kept his eyes on the road ahead. “You’re an outsider with a golden reputation. He can’t do you any harm. Besides, you’re better at these things than I am.”

“Have you told him anything so far?”

“I just told him that because the Russell investigation was so important, I’d brought in one of the country’s top homicide detectives.”

Gurney grimaced at the characterization. “You didn’t mention Tate at all?”

“I told him we’d made a disturbing discovery about the Russell murder, and it would be best to discuss it back at headquarters. He’s meeting us there, while his assistant takes the Kane body in for autopsy.”

Fallow was already in the conference room when they arrived. He was intent on the screen of his phone and didn’t look up, even when they both took seats across from him.

This close, Fallow looked ten years older than he had in the swale. Gurney noted a drinker’s web of capillaries on his pudgy nose. Several more seconds passed before he put aside his phone and acknowledged their presence.

“Before I forget,” he said rather officiously, “the Russell autopsy report is available. The digital version has been entered in your system, hard copy is available on request.” He eyed Gurney. “I assume that you’re the hired gun.”

“Good assumption.”

Morgan broke the ensuing silence. “Any autopsy surprises?”

Fallow smoothed his white mustache before answering. “Two points of interest. The neck wound contained a trace of white paint dust, likely left behind by the incising blade.”

Gurney recalled the segment of the video that showed Tate scraping the figure eight symbol onto the white wall of the embalming room.

“And we located the missing forefinger.” Fallow paused, straightening the cuffs of his blazer. “It was inserted in the victim’s anus.”

Morgan recoiled. “Jesus.”

Fallow checked his watch. “You said there was a development in the Russell case you wanted to discuss?”

Morgan cleared his throat. “Because of Dave’s key involvement in the investigation, I’d like him to explain the situation.”

Gurney hid his annoyance. “You’re a busy man, Doctor, so I’ll get through this as quickly as I can. You were the pronouncer of death at the Tate accident scene, is that right?”

“It’s a matter of record. What’s that got to do with the Russell case?”

“You checked his vitals and overall condition?”

“Of course.”

“What did you discover?”

“What’s the point of this?” Fallow’s voice was rising.

“Please, Doctor, just tell me what you observed.”

“Absence of circulatory and respiratory function. High-voltage electrical burns exposing a narrow vertical area of forehead and cheek bones. The angle of the head and digital manipulation of the neck indicated a cervical break. There was bleeding from the ears. There was evidence for a reasonable inference of spinal injuries, as well as catastrophic neurological damage related to electrocution. Most conclusively, CPR and defibrillation efforts had been initiated without success and discontinued prior to my arrival.”

Gurney nodded slowly. “So, even if the subject were not already dead at the time of your examination, death would have been imminent and inevitable?”

“The subject was dead at the time of my examination. Imminence and inevitability are irrelevant.”

“What if I told you that Billy Tate walked out of Peale’s Funeral Home?”

Fallow erupted in a sharp burst of laughter. “I’d say you were misinformed.”

“What if I told you we have a witness who spoke to Billy Tate nearly twenty-­four hours after you pronounced him dead?”