The Drowning Child

22

Back at Tate PD, Ren met Wiley on her way to the ladies’ room.

‘Wiley, could I have a word, please?’

Wiley shrugged, stopped.

God, you hate me. ‘I was wondering,’ said Ren, ‘the other day with Clyde Brimmer... someone said that you told him to shut the fuck up about the bruise on Aaron Fuller’s back. He does seem to be a real nuisance, but I was just curious what the bruise was, and why you didn’t give it any consideration.’

‘Oh, I gave it consideration,’ said Wiley. ‘Here’s what I considered: is this man ever sober? And are drunk people reliable witnesses?’

‘He swears blind that he wasn’t drinking while he embalmed the body.’

‘Swears blind drunk.’

‘Come on,’ said Ren, ‘give him a break.’

‘Look, you’re not from around here, you don’t know the shit that goes on. You don’t know Clyde, you don’t know what a pain in the ass he is; “nuisance” – sounds cute – is an understatement, you don’t hear the paranoid, conspiracy-theory shit he comes out with. Oh, the world is going to hell in a hand basket, according to Clyde. Lake Verny is haunted, “the lake has secrets that the rain wants to tell” – I’ve heard that a hundred times. The Pope has never and will never shit in the fucking woods. And on and on and on.’

‘This wasn’t about the lake being haunted,’ said Ren. ‘This was him saying that Aaron was possibly hurt before he went into the water.’

His look was a giant fuck-you. ‘Sure, he might think he was hurt, but he still thinks the lake is haunted,’ said Wiley. ‘He probably figured it would make him sound too nuts to say it to you. It’s pretty simple: Clyde Brimmer embalmed a body while he was drunk. He was already freaked out, because of the haunted lake thing. Now he’s got one of its victims lying right there in front of him. Think about it: does Clyde want his worst fears confirmed? That the lake itself is actually killing people? Or would he like to find some evidence on that body that, in fact, someone – a person – is responsible?’

‘But, wouldn’t a “victim of the lake itself” vindicate him?’ said Ren. ‘Wouldn’t it go a little way to have people believe his claims that the lake is haunted?’

‘Yes,’ said Wiley, ‘absolutely. It’s just that, at that moment, it probably boiled down to what was more important – for him to be terrified for the rest of his life, or for there to be a more rational explanation for Aaron’s death.’

He’s not talking complete horseshit.

‘Look,’ said Wiley, ‘he says he saw a bruise on Aaron’s back. You could look at that two ways: a) sure, there could have been a bruise if Aaron slipped into the water and hit something on the way in and b) there was no bruise, because it would have been picked up at autopsy. And c) does it actually matter at this point? The kid drowned. It’s tragic, sure, but why would anyone intentionally drown Aaron Fuller?’

Wow: where do I start with all that is wrong with that?

Don’t start.

‘OK – thanks,’ said Ren. ‘Just one thing, though – Clyde did admit that he drank only after he finished embalming the body. And I believe him.’

‘Like I said, you’re not from around here.’

Missing out daily on you serving and protecting me, dickwad.

Ren and Paul gathered the CARD team and Ruddock together and filled them in on what Clyde claimed he saw.

Gary looked at Ruddock. ‘You might want to look into getting an exhumation order. I’m not saying this is connected to Caleb Veir, but something’s not right here.’

Go, Gary!

Paul Louderback nodded. ‘Yeah, I agree.’

Ruddock nodded.

Sylvie paused. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t. The guy’s a drunk...’

‘He’s terrified,’ said Ren. ‘He’s been fired. He could lose his license. And still, he came forward. Especially considering he’s already in trouble, he’s already marked out as someone who breached his professional code of conduct.’

Oh. Hold on... ‘Can you give me half an hour?’

Gary looked at her patiently.

‘Well, that’s a resounding no,’ said Ren.

‘What is it?’ said Gary.

‘OK... the guy’s breached his professional code of conduct by drinking. He’s already in trouble... what else might he have done that would get him in trouble if it got out?’

‘Ooh – quiz,’ said Sylvie.

Ooh – miaow. ‘He might have taken a photo on his cell phone after downing his vodka,’ said Ren. ‘I’d take a photo if I thought something looked suspicious. But as soon as I was sober, I’d know that that would be a major breach of the whole respect, care, and dignity part of my code of professional conduct. And if that got out, I’d be in serious shit for doing it. So I’d be disinclined to ’fess up... especially to law enforcement.’

‘Did he respond well to you?’ said Gary. ‘If you asked him, do you think he would show you?’

‘Of course he responded well to Ren,’ said Paul.

Jesus, Paul. ‘I think we got along,’ said Ren. ‘Let me talk to him.’ She turned to Ruddock. ‘With you?’

‘Sure,’ said Ruddock.

‘Is there any update on Franklin J. Merrifield?’ said Gary.

‘There’s been no sign of him,’ said Ruddock. ‘Investigators have gone to all his former addresses, to the homes of his family, known associates, known hangouts. They’re checking out whether there’s anything in his personal life he might have wanted to get out for.’

‘Merrifield has maintained his innocence throughout,’ said Ren. ‘His appeal just got rejected. Say it’s true – he is innocent. That means he got royally screwed over by his accomplice, got a longer sentence than him, and is now branded a rapist – his first time with a sex crime conviction – and he’ll be in prison for the rest of his life. That’s a man with nothing to lose. If something happened between Veir and Merrifield in BRCI...’ said Ren. She paused. ‘Did anyone talk to the prison psychologists about Merrifield’s state of mind? Didn’t one of their names show up on John Veir’s phone dump? Lockwood, was it? Maybe it’s worth making a call to him. And isn’t it worth talking to Seth Fuller about Merrifield, see if they crossed paths? Or if he’s aware whether Merrifield and John Veir did? Veir might be too afraid to talk.’

Ren left the meeting first, and walked toward the kitchen to get coffee. She felt someone coming up beside her and turned to see Wiley.

Now he shows up...

‘When we spoke earlier?’ said Wiley. ‘I think you may have forgotten to tell me about Clyde Brimmer? That you and your buddy, Paul, had already gone to talk to him? Without a word to me or Pete?’

You immediately checked up, you asshole!

‘I’m sorry,’ said Ren. ‘You can understand how I may have had concerns after your interaction with him yesterday.’

Wiley snorted. ‘You’re something else.’

Oh, fuck off, Wiley. ‘I’m just doing my job,’ said Ren. ‘Someone comes forward, I want to hear them out – whoever they are. Why were you so adamant he would have nothing of value to say?’

‘I told you already,’ said Wiley. ‘But going over my head like that—’

What the fuuuck? ‘Over your head?’

Wiley stepped toward her.

This guy is nuts.

Ren leaned into him. ‘Back the fuck up.’

Without saying another word, Wiley turned and walked away.

Ren walked in the opposite direction, and saw Ruddock standing at the end of the hallway.

Shit.

‘Mind if I have a word?’ said Ruddock.

‘No problem,’ said Ren.

‘Firstly, I would like to apologize for whatever happened just there,’ he said.

‘Please,’ said Ren, ‘there’s no need.’

Ruddock gave her a kind look. ‘There are no excuses for Gil’s behavior, but... he’s going through a rough time at home. I’m not betraying any confidences here, it’s common knowledge – his wife’s got an alcohol problem, and it’s been getting a lot worse lately. Now, I know Gil came in this morning smelling of alcohol himself, but that is one of only a handful of times that has happened in all the years I’ve known him. Usually, he doesn’t drink. He can’t stand it. Apparently, his wife had some kind of meltdown yesterday. It probably tipped him over the edge, with the stress of the investigation, the fact that she clearly didn’t care about that. I just want you to know – he’s never late and never that unprofessional.’ He paused. ‘I know Gil doesn’t have the best manner in the world, but this is just who he’s been since all this with his wife.’

‘Well, thanks for letting me know,’ said Ren. ‘That’s very sad.’

‘Back there – he was probably more angry with himself than he was with you,’ said Ruddock.

I don’t give a fuuuck who he’s angry with as long as he keeps it out of my face. But, Jesus Christ, how hard can it be, guys? Feel Angry at X = Get Angry at X. Leave Y the fuck out of it.

‘Wiley completely disregarded what Clyde Brimmer had to say,’ said Ren. ‘Do you think there could be anything else going on there?’

‘You mean – could Gil be involved in something?’ said Ruddock. ‘Absolutely not.’

Ren nodded. ‘OK – I had to ask. You can vouch for him.’

‘Of course I can,’ said Ruddock.

First flash of anger... or as close to anger as a man like Ruddock might get.

‘Are you ready to go?’ said Ruddock.

‘Sure,’ said Ren. ‘Let’s do it.’

Two hours later, following a consultation with the Medical Examiner, with Shannon Fuller, and on studying a cell phone photo provided by Clyde Brimmer, a Marion County judge issued an exhumation order for the body of Aaron Fuller.