Free And Leave Her Lay Dying by John Lawrence Reynolds Page A

small number of well-defined categories. Jazz was accessible, rock and roll was for hoodlums, and the classics were highbrow.
    â€œI used to be flattered he needed me so much,” Janet said when the music ended. “He was this big, good-looking guy who could handle himself in any kind of situation, and he needed me. I had never been around an independent man who needed me like that.” She sipped her coffee, staring into the darkness. “Every woman wants a strong man to need her. They’re the two biggest attractions for a woman, strength and need. The strong father figure and the weak child, all in one. But the more a man like that needs you, the less appealing his strength is and the less independent he becomes. And that’s what attracted you in the first place.” She turned to look at him. “Can men understand that? How the more someone needs you, the less you are attracted to them?”
    McGuire nodded. But he didn’t understand at all.
    Before she left they kissed at the door, long kisses empty of passion but suffused with feeling. He watched her descend the stairs before closing the door and walking to his window, where he stood until the tail-lights of her car receded into the darkness. Then he turned and opened the thick grey folder holding details of the investigation into the death of Jennifer Judith Cornell on a soft June morning in the murky waters and tangled gardens that the people of Boston have always called The Fens.

Chapter Seven
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    PRIMARY HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION REPORT

    FILE#: 885–531

    INVESTIGATING DETECTIVES: B. Lipson, R. Innes

    DATE: 6/11/89

    VICTIM’S NAME: Jennifer Judith Cornell

    VICTIM’S ADDRESS: 2281 Park Drive, Apt.2A

    VICTIM’S AGE: 33

    MARITAL STATUS: Single

    CRIMINAL RECORD: None

    BIRTH DATE: 11/9/56

    BIRTHPLACE: Augusta, Maine

    NEXT OF KIN: Unknown (see ref. re: A. Cornell)

    INVESTIGATING POLICE OFFICERS: T. Whalen, L. Wade

    DATE/TIME OF INITIAL CALL: 6/11/89, 7:42 a.m.

    REPORT DETAILS: Call received on 911 from two joggers (see witness/report statement) who found deceased under bridge connecting Park Drive and Fenway St. Investigating officers arrived 7:47 a.m. Head was immersed in Fens water, body in prone position resting on bank. Officers observed apparent injury to victim’s head. M.O. Hayes confirmed death at scene 8:15 a.m. (approx.) Fallen branch found at scene with blood and hair adhering to one end (see forensic report #T–55980 attached) (See photos A to L, film strip #89–7639)

    INTERVIEWS: (LIST ON REVERSE IF NECESSARY):
Richard Fleckstone, TV Producer
Gerald Scott Milburn, underwriter, Upton Insurance Company
Irene Hoffman, Proprietor, “Irene’s”
Frances O’Neil, Waitress, “Pour Richards”
Marlene Richards, Proprietor, “Pour Richards”
Henry Reich, Superintendent, Parkway Apartments

    AUTOPSY REPORT
Attached [X]
Not Attached [ ]
If not, why?

    CURRENT STATUS

    1. Case reassigned, E. Vance, T. Fox, 7/5/89
2. APB Andrew Cornell, NKA, age 36 (see attached APB #88–99310) for questioning
3. Last Update: 8/2/89
4. Authorized HOLD file status: 9/1/89
    Andrew Cornell, the brother Ralph Innes had mentioned. Why focus so much attention on him? McGuire flipped through the pages, pausing at the autopsy report prepared by Mel Doitch. His eyes skipped over the usual clinical descriptions to the paragraph headed “Preliminary Findings”:

    Victim expired as a result of drowning while unconscious, said condition the result of a single blow to the posterior of the right squamous temporal, producing a minor fracture and moderate bruising of adjacent parietal lobe. Estimated time of death: 2:00 a.m.
    The autopsy report and the statements from the two joggers who found the body gave no indication of a sexual attack, just one blow from behind which, on its own, would not have been fatal. He scanned the rest of the details. Scars on each wrist. Old and properly healed