Clayton looked at Gene for a moment, then walked in a semicircle around him. “So, his last name isn’t Dinkley, and even if it was, could he sign out a body to himself?”
“Well, it’s rare, and we’re not supposed to, but it isn’t technically out of the realm of possibility.”
“But would Mr. Richmond do it?”
Gene looked down. “No, there’s no way. He would have called me in or had someone else at least authorize it. He’s in charge down here.”
“Maybe not anymore.” Clayton reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded note. “Before I came down I went to talk to the administrator of your hospital. He was gone, but I found this half shoved under his door.” Clayton handed it to Gene, who unfolded it.
“Hey, can you do that?” Darlene piped in, somewhat angered by the notion Clayton was snooping around.
“Sorry if I’m trying to solve a case that might involve a police officer on his way down here shortly. One of your town’s police died at this Gerrard person’s apartment, and we haven’ t ruled Mr. Dinkley out.”
Gene lowered the piece of paper, then sat on the edge of the desk. “It’s all right Darlene. It’s Frank’s resignation.”
Clayton walked over to Gene and stood slightly behind him and over his shoulder. “Now, why would he suddenly resign? Does he have a lot of money saved up for retirement?”
“Not at all. He lost his life savings in a bad stock trade a month or so ago. We had to cancel his sixtieth birthday party, because he wouldn’t show up.” Darlene chirped, as she leaned on the other desk.
“Frank just told me Monday that he’d be working here until I processed him.” Gene said, as he removed his glasses and started rubbing his eyes.
“Gene, I need to know where that body was sent. We’ll worry about Frank in a bit.”
“Sure sure. Uh…well, the documentation here shows that it was sent to Chapel Hill.”
“Do you think you could call and confirm for me?”
***
“Over here Mike.”
Officer Mike Hanson walked from the bedroom into the living room of Bob and Phil’s apartment. Mabel Gravley waited in the doorway, visibly shaking and frequently looking over her shoulder. Mike looked down as Officer Justin Nelson flashed his light at the floor.
“What is it?”
“It looks like they made off with all the Xbox games.”
Mabel’s voice fought her throat to escape. She hadn’t told the officers about Jeremiah and Jebediah. She wanted to more than anything, but she could still feel where her keys had impacted her chest, and the thought of it being a bullet the next time kept her voice restrained.
“They must have known something was up. The place is a mess.”
“Heh, it’s a bachelor pad. It might just always be that way.”
Mike walked over to the doorway. “It’s a good thing you called ma’am. A lot of apartment managers would have just let it go, especially lately.” Mabel looked at the young officer, her brain swept up in guilt and fear. She feel forward, just in reach of the young officer. Mike held Mabel as she began crying uncontrollably.
“Hey Mike!”
“Not now Justin!”
“Well, when you get a second.” Justin was shining his light at a nearby tree, where what looked like a large chunk of a leather jacket was blowing in the breeze.
