The Point of Fracture by Frank Turner Hollon

Author:Frank Turner Hollon [Hollon, Frank Turner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-59692-988-3
Publisher: M P Publishing
Published: 2005-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

6

Investigator Tim Tuberville got a Sunday-morning telephone call. He tried not to wake his wife while he fished around the closet for his shoes and shirt. He was fifty-two years old, and even after twenty-five years working in law enforcement he never got comfortable with the early-morning ring of the phone. His friends called him “Tubbie.” Everyone else called him “Chief.”

He knew the way to the house of Michael and Suzanne Brace. Tim Tuberville had known the Brace family all his life. He made up his mind early to play this one by the book. He had a respect for Phillip Brace, and he knew Phillip had an equal respect for him. They were friends. They had battled in courtrooms, but outside of court they had crossed the line into friendship. Phillip had eaten at the Tuberville home. They went to baseball games together at the high school.

When Chief Tuberville pulled up to the house, there were five police cars and one ambulance. Neighbors stood in their yards. Some wore robes and pajamas. Mrs. Forester was already dressed for yard work. She held a brown pair of gloves in her hand. The neighbors would talk about this morning for the rest of their lives.

Tim Tuberville was the chief investigator of the Baldwin County Murder Task Force. When it was formed eleven years earlier, he had been unequivocally the best choice for the job. The task force consisted of Tuberville and three other investigators and was given jurisdiction anywhere in the county over a murder investigation. Only a man like Chief Tuberville could avoid the usual squabble between the city police and other agencies over who would take the lead in an investigation like this one.

“What we got, Ernie?”

“It’s bad, Chief. Suzanne Brace in the bed, a bullet through the face, panties ripped, gun on the floor. Michael was lying in the bed next to her. He hasn’t said a word. He’s in the back of the car over there.”

The chief listened and said, “Don’t take him yet. Walk me through inside. Has anybody called his brother?”

Investigator Ernie Watson responded, “I don’t think so.”

“Have someone call Phillip.”

Tim Tuberville walked through the front door. Several officers strung yellow police tape around the edge of the yard. Suzanne Brace’s body was still in bed. Two paramedics were in the room.

The chief said, “Is the coroner on his way?”

“Yes, sir.”

Investigator Earl Grimes arrived next. He carried rubber gloves and plastic evidence bags. He knew his job and immediately cleared out everyone who didn’t need to be in the house.

“Ernie,” the chief said.

“Yeah, Chief.”

“What caliber gun?”

“Twenty-two. I checked, it’s registered to Michael. He bought it several months back. There are no more bullets in the gun.”

The chief looked puzzled. He said, “How many shots you think?”

“Just one,” Ernie said.

“Who called 911?”

“Neighbor. Paul Cooper. He heard one shot. He says around 5:00 A.M.”

The chief asked, “Who was first on the scene?”

“Draper. Fairhope officer. Says he and his partner knocked on the door, got no response, heard

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