Obstruction of Justice Read Online Free PDF Page B

His job encompassed more than simply determining the facts of the matter. He needed to be on the lookout for anything off-kilter that might suggest something other than an accidental death. Under these circumstances, Nina knew he must be operating from habit. He couldn’t expect to find anything other than an accident in Ray de Beers’s death.
    From her tussles with Clauson in court, Nina knew he was a good autopsy surgeon but prosecution-oriented. He had dispensed with his jacket, and his thin white polyester shirt displayed a more substantial undershirt and an honest-to-God plastic pocket protector for his pens.
    A knock on the door announced Collier, who came in with a nod and took his seat, looking as crumpled as his clothes. Bags under his eyes signaled a lack of sleep. He nodded at Nina, his expression pleasant and professional, as always.
    "Both illustrious counselors here, but no case this time," Clauson said. "Hope we can agree on that right quick."
    "Act of God," Collier said, "in the fullest meaning of the legal term."
    "Okay." Clauson saw the secretary was finished, and went on: "We’re here pursuant to California Government Code section 27491, which states in pertinent part as follows: ’It shall be the duty of the coroner to inquire into and determine the circumstances, manner, and cause of all violent, sudden, or unusual deaths; unattended deaths; deaths wherein the deceased has not been attended by a physician in the twenty days before death; deaths related to or following known or suspected self-induced or criminal abortion, known or suspected homicide, suicide, or accidental poisoning; deaths known or suspected as resulting in whole or in part from or related to accident or injury either old or recent; deaths due to drowning, fire, hanging, gunshot, stabbing, cutting, exposure, starvation, acute alcoholism, drug addiction, strangulation, aspiration,’ etcetera etcetera." He passed out copies of the statute.
    "This death requires at least a good look," he went on. "Violent, sudden, unusual; no physician in attendance ; death related to accident or injury. Agreed?"
    They all nodded.
    "We’re having an informal inquiry, not an inquest. Read along a few more paragraphs, you’ll see it, and I quote: ’The coroner shall have discretion to determine the extent of inquiry to be made into any death occurring under natural circumstances and falling within the provisions of this section.’ So. Mrs. de Beers, you don’t want an autopsy, you want the body released—or so you told my secretary this morning."
    Sarah de Beers said, "He’s already been ... injured enough. I don’t see any point."
    "He didn’t have a regular physician?"
    "He was healthy, didn’t even get colds. And he didn’t trust doctors." She obviously didn’t mean this as an insult to Doc Clauson, who peered at her as if to assure himself of it before continuing.
    "Anyone else want to comment on the autopsy question? I have a report on the incident here from the emergency medical techs. I took custody of the deceased and looked him over. Deceased was struck by lightning. Direct strike. Severe linear burns and lacerations at both the entry and exit sites of the current. Charring through the full thickness of the skin in places.
    "The body exhibited lightning prints, reddish streaks that form a skin rash like a fern, on the trunk. The characteristic pattern is called Lichtenberg’s flowers. Clothes burned or torn off, body hurled some distance. Body fluids ejected. Skin cyanotic. The body was banged up on the trip down the cliff, but there’s no medical doubt as to cause of death. I’m not inclined to overrule the wife."
    Nobody seemed to have any comments. Sarah de Beers showed no emotion at the listing of her husband’s injuries. She was so abnormally serene under the circumstances that Nina decided she must be on some kind of tranquilizer.
    "Okay. Next. Mr. Hallowell, you first. Tell us what you saw."
    Collier reported in an