Rausch & Donlon - Can Be Murder 01 - Headaches Can Be Murder by Marilyn Rausch, Mary Donlon Read Free Book Online Page B

pure white and circled a pale, liver-spotted pate. Behind him trotted a golden retriever, nails clicking on the tiled floor. The ME thrust out his hand. “Sid Jurgenson. Glad to meet you! You must be Dr. Goodman.” He turned to Jo. “Little Josie Schwann. Good to see you again, girl.” He wrapped Jo in a bear hug and looked back at John. “I’ve known Josie here since she was just a little snippet. Her dad and I were in med school together, way back.”
    “Good to see you too, Sid. You haven’t change a bit. Your wife out there gave us a warm welcome, as always. You would think she’d recognize me.”
    John coughed. “Your … your wife? Um, lovely woman …”
    Sid clapped him hard on the back, forcing John to step forward to keep his balance. “Yup. That’s my Martha. Been my bride for going on forty-eight years. Real dragon lady, isn’t she?”
    John’s eyes widened. “Well, that is …”
    Sid let out a big belly laugh. “Don’t worry. You can’t offend me. She’s a handful, but she puts up with me and Josie here will tell you that’s not easy to do. Don’t take offense at her manner. She barely acknowledges knowing me sometimes. But, I couldn’t run this office without her.” He reached down to pat the head of the dog waiting patiently by his side. “And this here’s Caddy.”
    “Caddy, as in golf? Is that your sport?”
    “Nah. Never could stand chasing that little bitty ball around all day, calling it a sport. Her full name is Cadaver. Got her when I responded to a call at a farmhouse. There she was, nothing but a pup, cuddled up to the side of her recently deceased master. Been with me ever since. Had to start calling her Caddy, ’cause her real name kinda creeped out the grandkids.” He looked down at the dog. “Couldn’t run the office without you either, could we, girl?” Caddy barked in response, tail pounding the wall behind her.
    “Now that the introductions are over and done with, let’s head into the lab and I’ll show you what you’ve come for.” He pointed down the hall. “Caddy, office.” The dog trotted down the hallway and entered a doorway, hips swaying and tail wagging.
    “Beautiful dog you’ve got there, Dr. Jurgenson.”
    “Thanks. By the way, name’s Sid. You’ll find we keep things pretty informal. Here we are.” He led them into the autopsy room. Neil Diamond’s “Cracklin’ Rosie” was blasting from the small, white Bose speakers in the corners of the room.
    One of the deputy medical examiners was swaying and singing along as he worked on another autopsy, “ … now my bay-beeeee. ”
    He was mid-swivel when he noticed the newcomers. A rose flush crept up his neck. He muttered, “Sorry” and clicked off the power button on the sound system. Silence filled the room. Jo hid a smile behind her hand.
    Sid spoke, “Always said you had a nice singing voice, Bobby.” The blush depended to burgundy and he went back to his work without comment.
    John heard some voices in the hallway and then the double doors of the lab swung open, admitting a man in a black wool overcoat. He brushed the snow out of longish black hair, smiling broadly.
    “Hey, folks. Sorry I’m late. Just got back from the Cities, visiting the family of the deceased.” He reached out a hand to Jo. “Hello, Agent Schwann, good to see you again. Awfully glad Sid thought to call you.” He turned to John. “And you must be Dr, Goodman. I’m Detective Mike Frisco. Most people just call me Frisco. Been working this case with Sid here.” He rubbed his hands together and blew on them. “Jeez, it’s cold out there. So, what did I miss?”
    “Not much. Sid was just about to fill us in on his findings.”
    Jo said, “What did you find out from Calhoun’s family?”
    “Things just keep getting more and more weird.” He pulled out a small notebook and slipped on a pair of reading glasses. “I spoke to his parents. He’s been living with them off and on since high school. Seems he’s