sample of blood has to be swabbed, labeled, mapped, and tagged so it can be sent for analysis. Often DNA evidence is found that might pinpoint the killer, but it takes time on both ends. Another reason for my preference—one I couldn’t share with the others—was that I wanted to minimize my exposure to any pathogens that might be present in the blood. But, given my earlier discussion with Izzy, I felt he should be the one to make the call.
I took out my phone, stepped aside, and dialed Izzy’s number.
“Hey, Mattie,” Izzy answered. “What’s up?”
I explained the situation, and Izzy must have been reading my mind because he said, “Why don’t you shoot the scene photos and then go with Bob. I’ll have Arnie come down and help Jonas and the others with the evidence collection. You always do a good job with the photography, and you’re skilled at reading people, so it makes sense to do it that way. Besides, it’s probably safer for you, under the circumstances.”
“What about Ames’s autopsy? Who’s going to help you with that?”
“I can manage on my own.”
“Are you sure? Maybe you should wait and do it in the morning.”
“I’ve done autopsies on my own plenty of times before. It will take me a little longer, but I’ll get it done. If it was a routine death, I’d wait. But since it’s a homicide, I want to get on it right away. If I run into any problems and need help I’ll give you a call.”
“Do you want me to call Arnie, or will you do it?”
“I’ll do it. He’s here in the office already anyway. But you and I still need to sit down and talk later.”
“I know.”
I glanced over at Bob and Junior, afraid they might be able to overhear. To give myself a little more privacy, I meandered my way out of the living room and into the hallway as Izzy said, “Why don’t you come over for dinner tomorrow night? Dom is making pesto fettuccine with Italian sausage.”
I winced, knowing the conversation wasn’t going to be an easy one, but it wasn’t like I had a choice. And my decision was made a little easier knowing what was on the menu and that Dom would be cooking. Not only is Italian my favorite food group, Izzy’s partner is a phenomenal cook, which is probably why Izzy is nearly as wide as he is tall. “Okay. What time?”
“Let’s shoot for six. If you get caught up in something in your investigation that runs longer than that, let me know.”
“I will.”
“Good. See you then.”
“Izzy, wait,” I said, hoping to catch him before he disconnected the call.
“What?”
“Does Dom know?”
He hesitated just long enough that he didn’t have to answer, but he did anyway.
“He does. In fact, he was the one who picked up on it first.”
It figured. If straight men could read women as well as gay men do, the divorce rates in our country would probably plummet.
“He’s very excited about the whole thing,” Izzy went on. “In fact, he’s hoping you’ll let him babysit.”
Babysitters . It was one of the many complications that had been lurking in the back of my mind since I’d decided I was going to have the baby. I hadn’t dwelled on it much yet, figuring I had plenty of time and several options. Dom was definitely on the list, as was my sister. But bringing it up now made me realize just how fast time was slipping by.
“Of course I will,” I said. Then, eager to get off the subject, I said, “We can talk about it more tomorrow at dinner. Right now I’ve got Richmond waiting.”
“Call me if anything significant comes up.”
“I will,” I assured him.
I disconnected the call and headed back into the living room, where I filled Richmond and Junior in on the plans.
“Works for me,” Richmond said. “I’m glad to have you in on the interviews, Mattie. You’re good at reading people. The officers at Wendy Ames’s house know to call me when they’re ready to bring the family in. Let’s go take a look at the kitchen while we’re
I took out my phone, stepped aside, and dialed Izzy’s number.
“Hey, Mattie,” Izzy answered. “What’s up?”
I explained the situation, and Izzy must have been reading my mind because he said, “Why don’t you shoot the scene photos and then go with Bob. I’ll have Arnie come down and help Jonas and the others with the evidence collection. You always do a good job with the photography, and you’re skilled at reading people, so it makes sense to do it that way. Besides, it’s probably safer for you, under the circumstances.”
“What about Ames’s autopsy? Who’s going to help you with that?”
“I can manage on my own.”
“Are you sure? Maybe you should wait and do it in the morning.”
“I’ve done autopsies on my own plenty of times before. It will take me a little longer, but I’ll get it done. If it was a routine death, I’d wait. But since it’s a homicide, I want to get on it right away. If I run into any problems and need help I’ll give you a call.”
“Do you want me to call Arnie, or will you do it?”
“I’ll do it. He’s here in the office already anyway. But you and I still need to sit down and talk later.”
“I know.”
I glanced over at Bob and Junior, afraid they might be able to overhear. To give myself a little more privacy, I meandered my way out of the living room and into the hallway as Izzy said, “Why don’t you come over for dinner tomorrow night? Dom is making pesto fettuccine with Italian sausage.”
I winced, knowing the conversation wasn’t going to be an easy one, but it wasn’t like I had a choice. And my decision was made a little easier knowing what was on the menu and that Dom would be cooking. Not only is Italian my favorite food group, Izzy’s partner is a phenomenal cook, which is probably why Izzy is nearly as wide as he is tall. “Okay. What time?”
“Let’s shoot for six. If you get caught up in something in your investigation that runs longer than that, let me know.”
“I will.”
“Good. See you then.”
“Izzy, wait,” I said, hoping to catch him before he disconnected the call.
“What?”
“Does Dom know?”
He hesitated just long enough that he didn’t have to answer, but he did anyway.
“He does. In fact, he was the one who picked up on it first.”
It figured. If straight men could read women as well as gay men do, the divorce rates in our country would probably plummet.
“He’s very excited about the whole thing,” Izzy went on. “In fact, he’s hoping you’ll let him babysit.”
Babysitters . It was one of the many complications that had been lurking in the back of my mind since I’d decided I was going to have the baby. I hadn’t dwelled on it much yet, figuring I had plenty of time and several options. Dom was definitely on the list, as was my sister. But bringing it up now made me realize just how fast time was slipping by.
“Of course I will,” I said. Then, eager to get off the subject, I said, “We can talk about it more tomorrow at dinner. Right now I’ve got Richmond waiting.”
“Call me if anything significant comes up.”
“I will,” I assured him.
I disconnected the call and headed back into the living room, where I filled Richmond and Junior in on the plans.
“Works for me,” Richmond said. “I’m glad to have you in on the interviews, Mattie. You’re good at reading people. The officers at Wendy Ames’s house know to call me when they’re ready to bring the family in. Let’s go take a look at the kitchen while we’re
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