The Hero Rule: Is It Justice...Or Murder? An Authentic Crime Mystery Legal Thriller. by Brandon Hughes

Author:Brandon Hughes [Hughes, Brandon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Hero Rule
Publisher: Tension Books
Published: 2023-04-07T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

THE C. L. RABREN Laboratory in Montgomery is a single-story eighties-era flat-roofed brick structure that houses one of only two autopsy labs in the state. Though the building’s exterior had not aged gracefully, its interior had recently undergone a comprehensive renovation and rivaled any medical examiner’s office in design and technology.

When Barclay and Clayton arrived at the ME’s office just before 10:00 in the morning, they had their choice of parking places. There were only three other vehicles in the parking lot: two white Chevrolet Malibu sedans and a full-size white Ford van—all with the ADFS logo on the front driver and passenger doors.

Barclay and Clayton shrugged into their suit coats as they approached the lab’s entrance. Despite the early hour, the air was heavy with heat and humidity to the point that they broke a sweat traversing the small parking lot; the blast of cool air when they opened the door was a welcomed respite. Upon entering the lab, a receptionist sat to the left of the entrance behind a glass partition. The public portion of the lobby reminded Barclay of a loft apartment building with a lot of glass, exposed brick, and wood beams. The reception area belied the hospital-like setting just beyond the double doors leading to the office’s inner workings. It smelled like industrial cleaner and faintly of fresh paint.

The receptionist, Carol Bolling, was a humorless woman of indeterminate age. She had served in this role for decades but looked oddly young. She had a short, man’s style haircut that was mostly gray and wore large eyeglasses that she had had so long they were back in style; the kids would call them retro. She wore a chain attached to her glasses, but Barclay could not recall a time he had ever seen her without them on her face, which was set in a perpetual scowl that did not invite casual conversation. He had also never seen her without the white cardigan sweater with the ADFS logo embroidered on the left chest. The cuffs were filthy and were covered in tiny lint balls.

“Hey, Ms. Bolling, how are you today?” said Barclay in his most disarming smile and voice.

“Fine,” was the curt reply that was her nature as she stared back expressionless.

Barclay gave it a few seconds trying to force her to say something more, but she didn’t, and he knew she wouldn’t. He had been here and spoken to her at least two dozen times, yet she always acted as if it were her first time meeting him. He knew from talking to other folks that she was the same with everyone who visited. He cleared his throat as he glanced at Clayton, then to Ms. Bolling, and said, “Yes, well, we are here to see Dr. Bev.” Ms. Bolling’s eyes narrowed, then Barclay said, “I mean Dr. Bevilacqua.”

She looked down and scanned the counter in front of her as if looking for something stating that they were supposed to be there. Without looking up, she said, “Is she expecting you?”

“Yes, she is.

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