the very compelling physical evidence found in the car.”
“What you’re saying,” Toni said, “is that if they—or anyone else—were involved, there’s no way to tell based on the evidence.”
“Exactly,” Inez said.
“Or,” Toni continued, “you could also say that if this were a murder, it may well have been a ‘perfect crime’ kind of deal—the only evidence left lying around points solidly in a different direction.”
Inez mulled this over. “I suppose so. If someone told me for certain that this was a murder and not a suicide, I’ve got to say I would be surprised. It just doesn’t appear to be the case here.”
“What else did you find?” I asked.
“I spent a couple of hours on the scene, along with the ME Then, while I waited for the ME’s conclusion and the autopsy report, I interviewed the victim’s spouse and his coworkers. None of them had anything. In fact, no one knew he owned a gun—not even the wife.”
“Is that suspicious?” I asked.
“Well, I can tell you, this isn’t the first time someone bought a gun without telling their spouse. You might not tell your spouse on purpose, especially if you were suicidal. Anyway, we
know
the gun was his. There’s no question about it.”
“How’s that?” I asked.
“On January 28, 2012,” Inez said as she referred to her notes, “he bought it. I have a copy of the paperwork. He bought a Smith &Wesson Model M&P 360 .357 Magnum revolver from Redmond Firearms on that date—same serial number as the one I recovered from the floorboard of his car at the scene of his death.”
“Wow,” I said, shaking my head. Pretty damn conclusive.
I thought for a second and said, “What about the points the wife makes regarding their solid family, their solid financial picture—the no-reason-for-suicide argument?” I asked.
“Unfortunately,” Inez said, “it doesn’t amount to much. I’ve seen it a dozen times. People kill themselves for all kinds of reasons—not just those to do with family and money. Even rich people kill themselves. I’ve seen many times where the reason might not be apparent to a spouse. Maybe there was a lover that the spouse didn’t know about. Most suicides come as a surprise, you know.” I think Inez was only partly right here. In my experience, even if the motives were unclear, there almost always was some kind of sign—a behavioral change, something—to tip off a potential suicide. Granted, some of these signs were pretty subtle. They tended to make a lot of sense
after
the suicide.
“To summarize, I didn’t turn up
anything
in my interview or my other background checks that made me want to question my preliminary call—that is, suicide. Then the ME issued his final report. Normal toxicology, death related to the gunshot-wound trauma. The conclusion—death by self-inflicted gunshot wound, same as his preliminary call. Put it all together, and it’s a pretty open-and-shut case of suicide.”
“You sound convinced,” I said.
“I am,” she said.
I nodded. “You’re probably right, too. But we’ve talked to the family and agreed to have a second look. Would that be a problem?” I asked.
“That’s your job; I have no problem,” Inez said. “If we made a mistake and missed something, I don’t have a problem reopening the case. The last thing I want is for someone to get away with a murder. Mind you, I don’t think that’s what happened here.”
“Understood,” I said.
“Give me your business cards,” she said. “When you get back to your office, you send me a copy of your engagement letter and your licenses. Also, fill out this form and have your client sign it. It gives me authorization from the victim’s relatives to release information to you. Then, I’ll zip you a copy of this file.”
“That would be wonderful, Inez,” I said. “We’ll do it.”
“And if you find anything—anything at all—you let me know.”
“Agreed.”
“And you,” she said, looking at
“What you’re saying,” Toni said, “is that if they—or anyone else—were involved, there’s no way to tell based on the evidence.”
“Exactly,” Inez said.
“Or,” Toni continued, “you could also say that if this were a murder, it may well have been a ‘perfect crime’ kind of deal—the only evidence left lying around points solidly in a different direction.”
Inez mulled this over. “I suppose so. If someone told me for certain that this was a murder and not a suicide, I’ve got to say I would be surprised. It just doesn’t appear to be the case here.”
“What else did you find?” I asked.
“I spent a couple of hours on the scene, along with the ME Then, while I waited for the ME’s conclusion and the autopsy report, I interviewed the victim’s spouse and his coworkers. None of them had anything. In fact, no one knew he owned a gun—not even the wife.”
“Is that suspicious?” I asked.
“Well, I can tell you, this isn’t the first time someone bought a gun without telling their spouse. You might not tell your spouse on purpose, especially if you were suicidal. Anyway, we
know
the gun was his. There’s no question about it.”
“How’s that?” I asked.
“On January 28, 2012,” Inez said as she referred to her notes, “he bought it. I have a copy of the paperwork. He bought a Smith &Wesson Model M&P 360 .357 Magnum revolver from Redmond Firearms on that date—same serial number as the one I recovered from the floorboard of his car at the scene of his death.”
“Wow,” I said, shaking my head. Pretty damn conclusive.
I thought for a second and said, “What about the points the wife makes regarding their solid family, their solid financial picture—the no-reason-for-suicide argument?” I asked.
“Unfortunately,” Inez said, “it doesn’t amount to much. I’ve seen it a dozen times. People kill themselves for all kinds of reasons—not just those to do with family and money. Even rich people kill themselves. I’ve seen many times where the reason might not be apparent to a spouse. Maybe there was a lover that the spouse didn’t know about. Most suicides come as a surprise, you know.” I think Inez was only partly right here. In my experience, even if the motives were unclear, there almost always was some kind of sign—a behavioral change, something—to tip off a potential suicide. Granted, some of these signs were pretty subtle. They tended to make a lot of sense
after
the suicide.
“To summarize, I didn’t turn up
anything
in my interview or my other background checks that made me want to question my preliminary call—that is, suicide. Then the ME issued his final report. Normal toxicology, death related to the gunshot-wound trauma. The conclusion—death by self-inflicted gunshot wound, same as his preliminary call. Put it all together, and it’s a pretty open-and-shut case of suicide.”
“You sound convinced,” I said.
“I am,” she said.
I nodded. “You’re probably right, too. But we’ve talked to the family and agreed to have a second look. Would that be a problem?” I asked.
“That’s your job; I have no problem,” Inez said. “If we made a mistake and missed something, I don’t have a problem reopening the case. The last thing I want is for someone to get away with a murder. Mind you, I don’t think that’s what happened here.”
“Understood,” I said.
“Give me your business cards,” she said. “When you get back to your office, you send me a copy of your engagement letter and your licenses. Also, fill out this form and have your client sign it. It gives me authorization from the victim’s relatives to release information to you. Then, I’ll zip you a copy of this file.”
“That would be wonderful, Inez,” I said. “We’ll do it.”
“And if you find anything—anything at all—you let me know.”
“Agreed.”
“And you,” she said, looking at
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