Page 46 of Mann Hunt
“Mrs Mann, may we come in?” Luke asked.
The police entered the hallway.
Declan heard Luke say, “I’m Constable Fraser. We have some bad news. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but we think we have found your husband’s body.”
Katherine sank onto a small padded bench beside the door.
“Do you have someone you would like us to call? A friend or relative?” Luke asked. Declan noticed that Luke was doing all of the talking. McKeckran had remained silent until Declan entered the hall from the living room.
“Hunt? What the fuck are you doing here?” McKeckran said.
“Mr Hunt is a friend of mine!” Katherine snapped back.
Declan knelt by Katherine and took her shoulders in his hands. “Katherine. The officers are going to ask you to go with them. They’re going to need you to formally identify Ian’s body. Isn’t that right, officer?” he said, directing the question to Luke.
“He’s right, Mrs Mann. Would you like Mr Hunt to come with you?”
“No. I think I’d like to call my friend, Deirdre,” she said.
Declan said, “I’m very sorry, Katherine. We’ll leave you with the police, but call me if you need anything.”
Declan walked back to the living room to retrieve Charlie. Katherine followed him and grabbed his arm. “I need you to find out what happened. I don’t trust them,” she whispered, looking back at the police. Declan nodded to her and indicated to Charlie that they should leave.
Charlie gave Katherine a brief hug and said, “We’ll figure out what happened to your husband. I promise you.”
Chapter Fifteen
The room was comfortable, not cold and sterile as she’d expected. Katherine took in little of it. She was too numb.
She didn’t remember the ride in. The two police officers who had come to the door drove her to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Deirdre and Simon were there waiting for her.
“Oh…my dear,” Deirdre said, putting her arms around Katherine.
Simon put his hand on her shoulder. “We’re here for you, Kat.”
“If you will all follow me,” Luke said. They entered the one-storey brown brick building, walked past the reception desk, down a few nondescript corridors and through a door marked ‘Viewing’.
“Can I get anyone anything?” Luke asked. “Water, tea or coffee?”
“Water would be nice,” Simon said.
Katherine just sat there and said nothing.
An older man entered the room. He whispered to the two officers, then turned to the visitors.
“Mrs Mann,” Luke gestured, “this is Dr Willart, the coroner.”
The coroner began, “Mrs Mann, I know that this is a very difficult time, but if I could ask you a few questions to start with.”
Katherine nodded. Deirdre took Katherine’s hand in hers.
“Did your husband have any identifying marks? Scars, tattoos, birthmarks?”
“No,” she started, then paused. “His eyes. They were different colours.”
“What colours would they be?”
Katherine didn’t respond for a moment. “Uh…one’s blue. The other…greeny-grey.”
