Page 62 of Oddly Fine

“Concluded?” Beckett asked, his tone conveying skepticism.

Both officers looked at him with identical frowns. Beckett threw his shoulders back, as if preparing for a fight.

Hayes rubbed his forehead and muttered a quick prayer to any god willing to listen that Beckett wouldn’t start throwing down with the officers. He didn’t doubt that Beckett would come out on top, but he also didn’t want the fucking hassle, nor the paperwork, that would come with bailing his ass out of jail. The day had been long enough already, and it wasn’t even lunch time yet.

“As we explained last night, it appears that Dr. Thérault jumped from a bridge. We wanted to confirm there was no foul play by looking at camera footage and talking with the M.E. before we did anything else,” Officer Carrier explained calmly. Clearly this wasn’t her first rodeo.

“And you’ve concluded—I mean—you saw—” Ma Thérault stuttered to a halt.

Officer Carrier looked apologetic as she nodded.

“Oh, God!” Ma Thérault cried brokenly, pressing a hand to her mouth.

She was sitting on the armrest of the main couch, and her husband reached for her. She pressed her face against his chest for a moment while she collected herself.

“I’m very sorry,” Officer Carrier said. “But the M.E. and the video footage both confirmed that your son committed suicide last night at approximately 7:00 p.m.”

There were muffled gasps and broken sobs. Hayes looked towards Beckett, who sat very still, looking at the officer with open skepticism.

“I want to see it,” Beckett demanded.

“I’m sorry?” Officer Carrier said, one eyebrow raised like she might have misheard.

“I want to see the tape.”

“And you are?” Officer Lowery asked, stepping past his colleague to give Beckett a hard look.

“Franklin’s brother, Beckett,” he replied, as he stared right back. Officer Lowery jotted that down in his little notebook. “Don’t bother running my name—it’s all lies anyway.” Beckett gave him an exaggerated wink. Turning his attention back to Officer Carrier, he repeated, “I want to see the tape.”

“I assure you, you don’t,” Officer Lowery remarked, his expression of disgust was entirely inappropriate and unprofessional.

Officer Carrier nodded in agreement. “I think what Officer Lowery is trying to say is that the film footage is extremely difficult to watch. We don’t recommend—”

“Blah, blah, blah! Sell your bullshit to someone who cares. I want to see the tape.”

“Beckett!” Ma Thérault admonished, shocked by his irreverent, rude behavior.

Hayes was sure that if she knew that was how Beckett acted on a daily basis, she’d probably have a heart attack.

“We are not obliged to—” Officer Lowery began.

“How about we discuss it later—after you’ve told the family whatever it was that you came here to tell them in the first place,” Hayes interjected, certain that a fight was imminent. No doubt about that being in their future, but it would be best if Beckett’s family didn’t have to witness it.

“And you are?” Officer Lowery asked, turning to him.

“Hayes Monroe,” he replied.

“How do you spell that?” the officer asked, quite naively.

“Like it’s pronounced—f.u.c.k.o.f.f.,” Beckett replied before Hayes could.

Hayes disguised his laugh with a hacking cough.

“Dude, seriously!” Jackson interjected, looking at his brother like he’d grown another head.

It had never occurred to Hayes that Beckett’s family didn’t know him all that well. But this morning, it was readily apparent to him that there were sides to Beckett they were completely unaware of.

“I suppose Mr. Monroe has a point. We should let your family process this news in peace. We said what we came here to say, and we hope you’ll accept our deepest condolences.” Officer Carrier sounded genuinely sorry.