The Whale's Footprints - Rick Boyer Read Online Free Page A

All the sea birds were gone, hiding somewhere out
of the wind. We got back to the cottage soaked, and I went into the
living room to build a fire. I saw Jack coming down the stairs as if
sleepwalking.
    "Dad?"
    "What's up? Get Andy down here; Mom's going to
cook pancakes."
    "Dad?"
    "Hmn?"
    "Dad, Andy won't wake up."
    "What? What do you mean, he won't wake up?"
    "I can't rouse him; I think maybe he's in a
coma."
    The three of us hurried up the stairs. I opened the
door to the bedroom and went over to Andy's bed. He was lying there
on his side, his head on the pillow, as if asleep. But as soon as I
touched his head, a chill went up my spine. I probed for a pulse. I
retrieved Mary's hand mirror and held it up to his mouth. Nothing.
    " He's not in a coma, Jack," I whispered.
"I'm afraid your friend Andy is dead."
    The bedroom fell silent. Outside the wind howled, and
the ocean crashed onto the beach.
 
    THREE
    l LOOKED OUT the Breakers's front window and saw Joe
getting out of his cruiser in the rain. It had started up again at
lunch time, stronger than ever. Now, at four o'clock, it was still
coming down. How much rain had we had in the last twenty-four hours?
Six inches? Eight? I had never seen it rain so heavily. As he leaned
over getting out, the wind caught the back edge of his trench coat
and blew it up over his head. I saw his mouth working through the
driving rain; he was cussing as he threw off the coat and dumped it
in the back seat. Then he slammed the door and made a beeline down
our little flagstone walkway toward the front door. I let him in.
    "Son of a bitch!" he said, shaking the
water from his big, tan face. Its lower half was purplish-black with
beard stubble. I gathered Joe hadn't had a chance to shave in maybe
three hours. "Son of a bitch! "
    "Here. Stand in front of the fire. Want a
drink?"
    "Do I want a drink he says. Jesus Christ. Do I
want a drink. Double Scotch up, splash—now where's Sis?"
    "She's over in Eastham Center with Jack. They're
talking with the police up there. You believe this?"
    "Yeah. Yeah, I believe it. Anything shitty like
this happens, I believe it right away. Part of my job. So, I take it
the boy's parents have been notified?"
    "No. We've tried getting in touch with them all
morning; no answer. We're assuming they're away for the weekend. God,
are they going to have some news waiting for them when they get
back."
    "And I guess they're taking the body back to the
state lab?"
    "Have to; you know that, Joe. It's an
unexplained death; there has to be an autopsy. They were going to
take the body back up to the morgue at Boston City Hospital—"
    "Boston City? Not Boston City! Good God, I hate
that place. I ever take you there?"
    "Once. It was enough."
    "The elevators don't even work anymore. You
gotta tote the stiffs up and down the friggin' stairs, for
Chrissakes. I hope they tear that—"
    "Yeah, well they decided to take the body up to
the forensic lab and morgue at Ten Ten. Right to your own building,
Joe."
    "I just left there. Left Kevin holding the bag.
And know what I heard? The resident M.E. of Barnstable County just
retired. They don't have an M.E. down here on the Cape. So guess
what? I recommended you."
    "You what?"
    "I gave 'em your name. It's just temporary, of
course. I mean, it's an appointment that's got to be confirmed and
everything and I know you wouldn't want to do it full time. But you
are a doctor, a full-fledged physician, right? Even though you just
work on mouths and jaws now? Anyway, as soon as I mention your name,
Doc, everybody starts noddin'."
    I sat down on the sofa to collect myself. Joe
reminded me about the drink, so I went to the kitchen and made a
couple. We sat in front of the fire and sipped.
    "Joe . . . listen," I sighed, "I am
not a good candidate for medical examiner. One: I don't want any part
of it. Two: I'm not qualified. Thr—"
    " Hell you're not. All I hadda do is mention a
few incidents of the past couple a years. The guys are all