Swings 1st Chapter Scene #2

Ed and Charlie are in a morgue, examining the body of Megan, who appears to have been killed in a gruesome manner. Ed wants Charlie to declare it a homicide, but Charlie refuses and insists that Ed speak to someone named Waddell for answers. Charlie gives Ed a preliminary report stating that Megan was killed by an object of immense weight moving at a high speed. Ed is frustrated and confused by Charlie's behavior and insistence on involving Waddell. The powerful surgical light reflected a glint of the titanium tray of bloody scalpels, scissors, and retractors. The coroner had already closed and begun to sew the Y-incision shut. Neither man seemed bothered by the smell, a combination of burned tires, methane, and rotted fruit. Despite the cliché, Ed had become accustomed to the stench long ago. Charlie Cook's hands shook as he worked. He could never have been a surgeon. The examination table had been lowered to accommodate Cook's diminutive frame. Leaning over the remains, his garish green and red Mickey Mouse tie hung dangerously near the gore. Holding a curved needle in one hand, Charlie looked over his shoulder. Well? Ed frowned. Well, what? I know what you're going to ask me. Charlie shakily pulled a suture through Megan's skin. It snapped back unnaturally, as if made of some polymer instead of the delicate flesh of a young woman. Ed scratched his scalp. I was going to ask you what killed her. You talk to Waddell? Charlie looked up from the body and back at Ed. About what? Your transition meeting. You ever make it happen? Ed wondered why Charlie was acting so strange. They had hit it off during Ed's first law enforcement meeting. He had been impressed with Charlie's credentials. Most coroners were mere administrators, but Charlie was a bona fide forensic pathologist. He and Ed had talked about cases in the news. It was unlike him to be so reticent. No, it blew me off, Ed said. Wouldn't take my calls when I tried to follow up. You know this. We talked about it. Yeah, well, you're going to need to talk to him about this. Naked on the table, Megan looked more like a pile of scraps at a butcher shop than a human being. Lacerations on her torso meant that she had been dragged across the gravel, maybe rolled over a few times. Ed wondered why Charlie even bothered to close the incision. It wasn't like they were going to have an open casket. You're going to have to give me a cause of death, or do I need to talk to White Ed about that, too? Charlie looked up from the body and quickly turned back. I can't give you what you want, I'm sorry. What do I want? You're not thick, Ed, so stop pretending. You want me to say she was killed by a train. I can't do that. Wasn't she? Charlie finished the stitches and pulled a paper blanket over Megan's remains. He rolled the table over to a row of mortuary cabinets and pulled one open. There were only eight, a fraction of the cabinets Ed had seen in Summit County. It was well known that drawer number seven contained a bottle of whiskey. You're not listening. You need to talk to Waddell. Ed came over to the other side of the body and prepared to lift it. I got it, Charlie said. She's not very heavy. I'll help. The two men slid the corpse over. Charlie was right. In her current condition, Megan weighed next to nothing. Ed looked at his friend. You have to rule it a homicide, Charlie. Charlie peeled off his surgical gloves and tossed him into the red bio-waste container. Don't try to bluff me. It's bullshit TV logic. You know as well as I do that the county coroner has a final say on the matter of death. I can rule any damn way I please. I can call an inquest or not call one. I can say the cause is unknown. I can rule it death by misadventure. Hell, I can even say she committed suicide. I don't know what's going on with you, but you need to tell me something. Charlie waved his arms. In his oversized lab coat, he looked like a child who had appropriated his parents' clothing. He had only seen him disanimated after a few too many drinks. That would serve you right. I should call an inquest, Charlie said. It'd make you testify in front of the whole county that Megan Haynes was killed by a ghost train. I didn't say anything about a ghost. Why are we talking about ghosts? I just... I need something I can work with. Are you listening to yourself? Charlie put his hands on his hips, smudging gore into his lab coat. You have any idea what we're dealing with? No. That's why I'm asking my friend, the coroner, for help. I'm sorry, Ed. Charlie took off his glasses. But you're going to have to talk to Waddell. Ed looked at the ceiling. Why can't I just talk to you? There are things about this you don't understand, okay? And Waddell has the answers. Charlie went to a drawer, pulled out a report, and handed it to Ed. Ed took the report and perused it. Object of immense weight, moving at considerable speed. What's this crap? Preliminary report. And the only reason you got that is because I am your friend. Charlie, talk to me. Ed held the report out. Waddell was Charlie's only reply.