Book 2-Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

Alex Bishop in Follow That Mystery

                                                                                       Chapter 14

                                                                              Surprising Evidence

     Detective Burns put his forefinger to his chin and said, "Now let's here from Paul Graves our Coroner.   Paul, you have examined the recently exhumed body of Sandra Roberts?"  Dave immediately began rocking back and forth in his seat again, and whimpering softly, while his father gave him a disgusted look.

     At that point, Alex disliked the father much more than the son.  He thought to himself, that a father was supposed to love his son no matter what, wasn't he?   "What were your findings Paul?"  Detective Burns asked him.  Paul Graves cleared his throat before he answered, "Sandra Roberts died as a result of blunt force trauma to her head.... period."

     "No broken bones, no damage to internal organs?"  the detective asked, glaring at Mr. Clinton Sr., who glared back for a moment and then looked away.  Detective Burns continued, "Were there any drugs in her system at the time of death?"  "Absolutely none," the coroner stated firmly.  "Nor alcohol either?" the detective said, tight lipped.

     "No,"  Paul Graves answered, looking at the report in front of him.  "So we can assume she did not fall nor was she pushed from the balcony."  "That is a correct assumption."  Detective Burns glanced at Dave whose face was white as a ghost, his eyes staring at nothing.  "Before we hear from Dave Clinton, I need to wake Bert."  The detective announced.

     Then suddenly Detective Burns snapped his fingers and said, "I forgot someone.  Actually, a couple of someones.  And I only have a couple of questions for each of them," he said distractedly.  "Mr. Gunn,"  the former Police Chief stiffened in his seat at the sound of his name.  "I presume that you just accepted the former coroner, Mr. Arbergast's assessment that Sandra had committed suicide, so you didn't pursue an investigation, is that correct?"

     The former Police Chief relaxed a little, thinking he was "Off the hook."  "Yes.  Yes it is,"  Mr. Gunn said in an almost gleeful voice.  Then without warning the detective turned to Mr. Clinton and said, "Did you take files from Lester's garage on June 5th, the day that Sandra Roberts died?"  "No I did not!"  Mr. Clinton roared.

     "Thank you gentlemen,"  Detective Burns said, heavy on the sarcasm, "Now we wake Bert."  This was the testimony everyone at the table was eager to hear.  Detective Burns shook Bert's arm and he jolted awake.  "What?..What?"  Did I miss anything?" Bert asked, rubbing his eyes.  Nearly everyone chuckled.  "You missed nearly everything," the detective told him with a short laugh.  "But that's alright Bert.  For now it's your turn to tell us what you know."

     "Yes sir," Bert said, straightening up in the chair.  Detective Burns pulled up another one from the table and set it down on the side and to the front of Bert's chair where they could be eye to eye.  Alex couldn't blame the detective for wanting to sit down.  He had been on his feet since he'd come into the house.

     "Now Bert.  Did the young people at the table and I come to see you a couple of days ago?"  Bert grinned widely.  "Yes sir."  "And what was the purpose of our visit?"  "You and the North Side Detectives wanted help with the Sandra Robert's case."  "And what help did you give us?"  the detective asked with a sly smile.

     "Well, you ask me if I fixed Dave Clinton's car the day after Sandra died."  "And what was your response Bert?"  "I said I did," he said with his wide grin in place again.  "And what kind of condition was his car in before you fixed it?  I assume you fixed it."  "Yes sir.  I did," Bert said with a firm nod.  "And the grill was a mess."