drove onto the base, parking in the lot in front of the Army Community Hospital complex where the ME’s office was located.
Nerves had her stomach jumping as she and Bran climbed out of the vehicle.
“I’ll wait for you here,” Maddox said. “Keep an eye on the car.” He and Bran were both edgy. They were closing in on the bad guys, always a dangerous time.
Or at least they hoped they were getting close.
“Let’s go,” Bran said, setting a hand at her waist, urging her toward the glass front door.
According to the phone call, a different ME had performed the second autopsy, a double check that would leave no possibility unexplored. The man who greeted them introduced himself as Dr. Terence Chang, a small man with military-short black hair and wire-rimmed glasses.
Off to one side, a man Jessie hadn’t noticed rose from his chair. Silver hair gleamed as Colonel William Larkin approached her.
“I wanted to be here when Dr. Chang presented his findings.”
Jessie felt a fresh shot of nerves. Larkin’s pale eyes were impossible to read, yet it was clear he knew the results. Her mouth went dry. She caught a look from Brandon. This was it. Everything they had worked for hinged on the next few minutes.
“Please have a seat,” the doctor said.
She and Bran sat down in front of the desk, but Larkin remained standing.
Chang adjusted his glasses and opened the folder in front of him. “I’ll try to put everything in layman’s terms.” He looked down at the top sheet of paper. “To begin with, an examination of the contents of your father’s stomach showed he had ingested listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria that causes food poisoning. It was a particular variety that reacts within very few minutes and results in severe nausea.”
“The reason he was transported to the infirmary,” Larkin put in.
Jessie said nothing, but her stomach was churning. What if they were wrong?
“As you may know, we were given broader parameters this time, a wider range of testing. The tox screen administered showed something different. Traces of calcium gluconate. An equal amount of potassium phosphate also appeared in the colonel’s blood.”
Chang looked directly at her. “The combination of those two drugs, when administered together, causes a myocardial infarction. A heart attack.”
Jessie swayed in her seat. She felt Brandon’s hand wrap around hers and hold on tight.
“Pinpoint needle marks were found in the back of the colonel’s neck, the injection site of the drugs.” The doctor closed the file and his gaze returned to hers. “The official cause of death has been modified. James Kegan’s death has now been ruled a homicide.”
A sob escaped. Jessie clamped down hard to stay in control.
Larkin took both her hands and drew her to her feet. “I’m sorry for your loss, Jessie. It may help to know that as a result of what happened to Brandon last night and the autopsy results, the CID is bringing General Holloway in for questioning.”
She opened her purse and removed the envelope that held the summary of information Bran had printed in the hotel business office. Her hand shook as she passed it to Larkin.
“This is the way we believe it happened,” she said. “But we’re still investigating, collecting information.”
“That’s no longer your concern,” Larkin said. “It never should have been.”
Jessie didn’t say that if she hadn’t started digging, none of this would have been discovered. Or that she wasn’t stopping until her father’s name was completely cleared.
“Thank you, Colonel Larkin,” she said. “I hope you’ll keep me informed as your investigation progresses.”
“I’ll do what I can. If we have any questions, we’ll certainly be in touch.”
Meaning the investigation was army business and she wouldn’t be part of it.
“After the autopsy was completed, your father’s body was returned to its final resting place,” Larkin said. “It was my decision to go ahead with that. I felt you had already been through enough.”
She nodded, locked down her emotions. Her father’s part in this was over and he was back at rest. They had the proof they needed. She was grateful to Larkin once more. They made their farewells and left the office.
Maddox was waiting beside the Jeep, his face filled with concern. “How did it go?”
Since Jessie’s throat suddenly tightened, Bran answered for her. “Colonel Kegan’s death was ruled a homicide. Now they have to investigate, and Samuel Holloway is at the top of their list.”
Maddox nodded. “I’m sorry, Jess.”
“Thank you.”
Maddox glanced over at Bran. “I don’t suppose you two are out of it now.”