It took a moment for me to change gears. “I doubt that Jack had any idea about what was going on. As for his committing suicide? That’s the general consensus, and it’s what the M.E. put on his death certificate, but several of the people I’ve spoken to over the past few days think that’s so much bunk, and I tend to agree with them.
“At the time of Jack’s death, he was at home recuperating from having his legs amputated after a plane crash, with Shelley supposedly looking after him, but I’m wondering about that. What if she was looking after him the same way she’s been looking after your father? The M.E.’s conclusion about Jack’s death was that he committed suicide by mixing too much alcohol with his prescribed meds. I’ve been told that his drink of choice was always tequila—as in straight shots of tequila. After tonight it’s not out of the question to think she might have added some of some extra meds to his usual evening nightcap, and he would have gulped them down without even tasting them.”
Nitz fell silent for a moment before concluding, “She really is evil, isn’t she?”
“Most definitely,” I agreed.
“Will she be convicted?”
“In connection with Jack’s death? Probably not, but with Chris’s you’d better believe Lieutenant Marvin Price of the Homer Police Department is doing everything in his power to make that happen. And speaking of Marvin, I should probably call him and see if he’ll give me a lift back to the hotel. It’s a little farther than I care to walk.”
“After all you’ve done for us today, I’ll be glad to take you,” she said.
“What about Jimmy?”
“I’ll have to wake him.”
“Are you planning on spending the night here?”
Nitz nodded. “There’s a foldout visitor’s chair in my dad’s room.”
“Why don’t you leave Jimmy with me, then?” I asked. “I have it on good authority that there’s a pullout sofa in my room at the Driftwood Inn. That’s bound to be more comfortable than sleeping on a love seat in a hospital waiting room. He can stay with me and sleep in a real bed. And I’ll be sure to feed him breakfast before I bring him back to you tomorrow morning.”
“You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all,” I told her. “As far as I’m concerned, nothing’s too good for Sue Danielson’s grandson.”
I don’t think Jimmy was even aware of being walked out of the hospital and loaded into his mother’s SUV. On the way to the hotel, with Jimmy sacked out in the backseat, Nitz asked a difficult question.
“What about a funeral?” she asked.
“It can’t happen until Professor Raines releases the remains,” I answered.
“What should I do about that? I mean, I’m not really his next of kin.”
“I think I should put you and Chris’s brother Jared in touch so you can work it out,” I said. “Why don’t I give him your number so the two of you can discuss it?”
“Okay,” she said. A moment later she added, “Should I see him?”
“See Jared?” I asked.
“No, Chris. Should I ask to see his body?”
When I had told the story, I’d stuck to the words “human remains” for a reason. I imagined that she envisioned a human skeleton neatly laid out in an understandable fashion. I’m sure Nitz had no idea that all that existed of the first love of her life was a glued-together partial skull. I wanted to shout to the heavens, For God’s sake no, don’t do that! In this case I went for understated elegance.
“I would strongly advise against it,” I said. “You’re better off remembering Chris as he was rather than the way he is now.”
“All right,” she said.
I hoped she meant it rather than simply saying the words she knew would shut me up.
“And about that funeral,” I added. “Once you and Jared decide on a mortuary, put me in touch with them. I’ll be happy to handle the funeral expenses.”
Nitz thought about that for a moment. “You really liked his mother, didn’t you?”
“I did more than just like her,” I said. “Sue was my partner. When you’re a cop, that’s a sacred bond. She saved my life more than once, and I’ll always regret not saving hers.”
“I don’t believe that what happened to Chris’s mother was any of your fault.”
That was easy enough for Nitz to say, but it wasn’t something that was easy for me to believe. I had many years’ worth of bad dreams and sleepless nights to prove it wasn’t true.