CHAPTER SIXTEEN – DAN
“Please come in gentlemen” said the County Coroner, directing the two men into his office, “and take a seat.”
“Yes, thanks doctor, I am Darren Redcliffe of Redcliffe, Redcliffe and Associates, and this is Dan Kellor, brother of the late Robert Kellor. He is also Robert’s executor. The Coroner shook hands with both men; he knew this meeting was going to be awkward. “Short and simple Doctor Jenna, we want Robert’s body and his Death Certificate. I’m sure your people have had adequate time to do what you have needed to do and my client has shown a fair degree of patience with your office – we would like a definitive answer.”
“That’s understandable and I do thank you Dan for that patience,” he said as he opened the manila folder in front of him. “OK, let’s get to the quick – as you know, deaths like that of your brother must be referred to the coroner for investigation.” Both men nodded. “At the autopsy, the medical examiner found something unusual and that was the condition of Robert’s heart – it was in such a state that even our coronary expert could not explain how he had lived at all – he estimated that the heart had been badly degenerated at least ten years ago – that’s when he should have died. Needless to say, we have had a bank of professionals, consultants and technicians – even NASA pathologists, try to figure it all out – and we haven’t. The truth is that we have come up against a brick wall - we’re completely stumped and confounded. We know the cause of death, but that’s only half the answer. So you see why the delay.”
“Are you saying you don’t know what else to do, so won’t release the body?”
“Well we want to keep it for further, and I must admit, undetermined examinations - things like this just don’t happen every day.”
“Doctor, this has been going on far too long now. Don’t forget that Robert Kellor was a well known and respected national figure – he was an astronaut, a hero and he deserves better than lying on a slab in some morgue, surrounded by head-scratching incompetents. I can’t believe that the press haven’t beaten a path to your door yet and I can imagine the public outcry at the lack of consideration your department has for his family, especially his now orphaned, ten year old daughter who is dying of leukaemia.”
Mike Jenna flicked through more papers, the veiled threat of the press was not lost to him – further, as soon as he heard the word astronaut he recognized the name Redcliffe – too young to be the widower – must be the son. “I see here that the young lady has made a remarkable recovery – has even been discharged from the hospital; something, at the very least, to be positive about. Mister Kellor, are you aware if your brother had made any provision for the donation of his organs for research?”
Dan opened a folded wad of papers and said, “let me read you a bit of Robert’s Will...I would ask my executor to respect my wish as to the disposition on my mortal remains...that my body, in its entirety, be cremated at a place near the family home in Putney, Vermont and my ashes therefrom, be sprinkled along the Turner Trail, following, as to the best of his ability, the rites and traditions of my forebears of the Abenaki Nation. – does that answer your question doctor?”
Mike Jenner pursed his lips in thought.
Darren said, “Puts a new twist on a Writ of Habeas Corpus – we want the body Doctor. We would like to avoid the publicity and hysteria when or if, this bungling becomes public and I’m sure you don’t want to become the object of countless subpoenas, warrants, inquiries and investigations.” Darren stood up and said, “So what time tomorrow would be convenient to have the morticians collect Robert Kellor?”
Mike Jenna had already made up his mind. “All right, after five, we’ll have the body ready – and the Certificate – Mister Kellor I am truly sorry for your loss and all the trouble. We are doing the best we can and mean no distress to you or your family. I will make the call now.”
“That’s all we wanted doctor, nothing more, nothing less,” said Darren. Dan nodded in agreement, stood up and shook hands with the Dade County Coroner. All three men were glad that the meeting did not end in hostilities. Doctor Jenna was well aware of the legion of activists, minorities and special interest groups that the press would undoubtedly whip up. They would descend upon the capital, looking to spill his blood and his job. Facing Doctor Mic Noble would be easier, but no less harrowing.
“Oh, by the way doctor” said Darren, I would like to have a copy of the autopsy report – no big deal is it? I may just need it as a support for any unforeseen developments.”
“Sure, no problem – you can take a copy with you now – I’ll get my clerk to photostat one – hang on a bit.” A copy of the report, neatly attached to a buff coloured folder was handed to Darren who gave the P.A. a wink and a smile and noticed that she did not let go of the folder right away. Nice little flirt he thought – maybe I’ve forgotten something and I’ll need to come back here later. Dr Jenna escorted Darren and Dan to the marbled steps of the building and gave them a farewell wave and smile – that smile quickly disappeared when he began to try and think of some clever words to say on the phone to Noble and his lackeys. No, better go to the morgue and face them in person – wouldn’t trust those geeks – wouldn’t put it past them to hide the cadaver – that would really bust my balls!
“Thanks so much Darren, I think he would have smooth talked me into giving him more time to stuff around with Robert’s body.”
“A pleasure Dan – I think everything will fall into place – do you need a hand with transferring the estate, titles, deeds and all the other bullshit government and authority notifications – it can be a sea of overwhelming paperwork and red tape?”
“Well, believe it or not, I’ve spent the last few days getting ready for that. Trouble is, I desperately need that Death Certificate to verify all of the notifications and applications I have to do. Once I have that, everything will be moving along. So how many guitar lessons do I owe you Darren?”
“I’ve calculated eight, less if you bring my friend Jack Daniels with you.”
“How about tonight?”
“Not tonight Dan, I’ve got to come back here and pick up something from the Coroner’s Office – I hope. By the way you may want this Autopsy Report for your records. See you back in Richmond buddy, I’ve still got a week left here to enjoy the sunshine.”
Dan hailed a taxi back to Robert’s house – ah progress at last – still, it was a little annoying spending nights in a house where all the furniture was stacked, wrapped and tapped ready for removal. He lived in a corner of the lounge room and slept on a stretcher bed – it seemed ages since he had a home cooked meal. The empty pizza cartons and fast food wrappers gave evidence of that. He would practice different strumming techniques on his guitar of an evening, write some compositions, talk on the phone with Claire and Jade and go over the comprehensive check list of things to do as an executor.
He tried to make sense of Robert’s autopsy report, saw the many diagrams, drawings and notes attached to the prime report page – like the coroner said, everything referred to the heart. Only one detail was incorrect though, the report showed Robert as being uncircumcised – this certainly was not the case and Dan knew it for a fact – after all he was his brother. He remembered a conversation he had with mom. After Robert had left home permanently, Dan simply asked her how come Robert was circumcised and not him. Mom explained that when Robert was about five, he suffered repeated infections to his genitalia, so much so, that the doctor suggested he be circumcised, which subsequently happened. She regretted that things were not properly explained to Robert beforehand and ever since that event he carried some resentment, especially towards Pop.
Tomorrow afternoon he would collect his brother and organise shipment to Vermont, after that, and when he finally got that Certificate, it would be all systems go – the sooner the better – he was missing home and there was still much to do after that. The real estate agent called in to say she had some interested clients and could they come
by in the morning – no problems.
Late afternoon and Dan met the morticians at the door. They were ready to collect Robert’s body. Doctor Jenna was also there waiting and handed a large envelope to Dan, “The Death Certificate Mr Kellor – you’ll find everything in order – and again, I apologize for the delay – good luck to you and your family.” He personally ushered the undertakers and their trolley into the large, stainless steel labyrinth that was the morgue. “If you wish Dan, you can stay out here till they do their thing, might be a bit upsetting for you.” Dan shook his head, he needed to do this. “I have to go, hope everything works out for you.” Mike Jenna walked away and gave a sigh of relief.
A large handle was pulled and a sliding table came out of a wall – on this, lay the body of his brother. The morgue technician checked and scanned the bar code on the toe tag to confirm that it was the correct body – it was. The trolley height was adjusted and the body was slid onto it. The technician unfolded the body-sheet and Dan (as he had already done before) confirmed it was Robert.
He grimaced as he saw the terrible maze of cuts and intrusions all over the body, the pathologists and examiners were definitely not neat and the large stitches and staples looked like a mass of spaghetti randomly thrown over it. The undertaker covered Robert with special sheets and wraps. Dan made a point of looking at Robert’s penis - he was not circumcised.
Dwarg in the Seventh Dimension : The Aggie Kellor Experience Page 16
