Page 70 of Unnatural Death

“I asked Wally about it,” Fabian replies. “He said he has no idea and was personally unfamiliar with the Mansons.”

“What do we know about Ledger?” Marino asks.

“Nineteen years old and dropped out of college.”

“In college where? Did he drop out before or after the tractor incident?”

“It was after that. He was home this past summer and never went back to UVA. This would have been the fall semester of his junior year.”

“Studying what?” Marino asks.

“I don’t know what he was majoring in. He may have mental health issues. At least some of his reported behavior might cause you to wonder that.”

“Such as?”

“Extreme introversion. Signs of depression. Bouts of what the mother callshis loony talk,” Fabian explains.

Refusing to return to UVA, Ledger started spending most of his time at the local animal rescue instead of with people.

“Again, this is what Wally told me,” Fabian says. “He’s talked to the mother, and I haven’t. He’s not talked to Ledger, and somebody should. I wish I could. I feel bad for him, and he might open up to me. A lot of people do.”

“Don’t get any bright ideas about calling him,” Marino says rudely. “Or showing up on his damn doorstep.”

“I don’t see the harm in asking a few questions. Unlike some people? I don’t judge, and I’m betting he’d level with me,” Fabian says. “Ledger saw something. I want to know what it was. His stepfather suddenly started driving his tractor like he was tripping on hallucinogens, and there’s a reason for it.”

“I agree that there’s a reason. We need to figure it out. I’d like to finalize his case at the very least so people can go on with their lives,” I reply.

“What the crap is wrong with this thing?” Marino presses the button repeatedly, the elevator stopped on the fourth floor and not moving for some reason.

“That’s weird,” Fabian says. “There shouldn’t be anybody up there. Maggie and all her flying monkeys left a while ago.”

As he’s saying this, the elevator suddenly begins to descend. Then it stops on the third floor. Next it stops on the second floor as if people are getting on and off.

“My notes and everything you need are on your desk,” Fabian tells me. “I’ll grab my coat from the locker room and head out to the trailer now to collect the evidence you’ve left.”

The elevator finally arrives, and Marino and I step inside. I press the button for the third floor.

“Why all of a sudden do you give a shit what he thinks?” he says to me as the doors shut, and his jealousy is palpable. “Why are you discussing a case with Fabian as if he’s a real investigator?”

“I care what everybody thinks. As should you. And he is a real investigator.”

“Why would you involve him to begin with, Doc? The last thing we need is him poking his nose into everything like he’s Sherlock. He’s not much for asking permission.”

“Maybe he learned that from you,” I reply as the elevator slowly creeps up in fits and starts, stuttering a little. I hope it doesn’t get stuck again, and I don’t dare say it or Marino will freak out.

“Dammit!” He jackhammers the illuminated button. “Does anything in this joint work worth a damn?”

We’ve had trouble lately, the elevator being original to the building and more than forty years old. The other day it stopped mid-floor without warning while Marino and I were inside. Just as suddenly it started moving again, and as claustrophobic as he is, it was a bad several minutes.

“Fabian feels you’re unnecessarily tough on him,” I’m saying as the elevator shudders.

“The hell I am,” Marino retorts. “He doesn’t begin to understand the meaning oftough, and believe me, I know what hefeels. He makes sure all of us know about his every damn feeling.” The elevator lurches to a stop with an off-key ding, the doors stammering open. “Speaking of people who get on my last nerve? I’ll go check on Norm.”

Walking off in a huff, Marino ducks inside the breakroom, the TV news loud enough for me to hear it in the hallway. Norm is watching Dana Diletti, and I pause to catch the upshot.

“… Just unbelievably scary. Twice while I was being flown to Buckingham Run, this military-looking helicopter accosted us with extreme aggression. You can see it in the video as we’re getting closer …”

“Norm, how’s it going?” Marino’s voice booms inside the breakroom. “It’s not helpful if you’re sitting in here watching TV all the time …”

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