Chapter 75

Kings County medical examiner Dr. George Eye arrived at the section of fire road, shortly after Rawle and Verryn, sitting on the back of an RCMP ATV, in his suit and trenchcoat.
Rawle knew “Dr. George” pretty well.
He had run for office in the past two federal elections, trying to take Kings-Hants for the Conservative Party.
Valley bureau was right there with him, covering the failure of his earnest campaigns.
Dr. George said hi to a few people and then went over and had a closer look at the bodies, working them around a little with his off-white surgical gloves.
Rawle felt like he was definitely going to throw up again.
His throat made a gross roaring sound, but he managed to keep it down this time.
Verryn and him were keeping well back of the bodies now, making sure they didn’t step on any evidence, or puke on it.
It seemed obvious that the bodies had been driven to this location to be buried after being killed where the dog was killed. But why?
“Why would he bury them half-way in snow?” Rawle wondered aloud, feeling generally disoriented and confused.
“I think they were buried as much as posible,” Cst. Keith muttered. “The first-on-the-scene found them pulled them up a bit, to get a better look.”
“Okay,” Rawle said.
“And I think the ground is frozen, all he could do was pile snow on them,” Verryn said.
Rawle bit his lip.
None of it made sense, and the feeling of confusion made him feel sicker and sicker.
“Someone drove them here,” Cst. Keith said. “The Jimmy’s keychain was hanging in the ignition. It’s being dusted for prints. The inside cab of the vehicle too. The actual Nova Scotia RCMP Forensic Unit are en route from Halifax,” Cst. Keith said. “They’re good. They’ll find something.”
A few local Members in coveralls were crouched on the road and down in the ditch, near the Jimmy, taking photographs and marking evidence sites with either yellow plastic markers or yellow tape.
The white, hooded coveralls they were wearing made them look like ninjas.
Kyle was periodically snapping pictures of the police activity: The Jimmy, the shape of the bodies now hidden under the orange blanket, Dr. George, the ninja cops.
Mittelstaedt wanted a truly epic photo, worthy of Jack for page one. Structured. Filled with colour. Illustrating everything.
He wanted to blow up the crime scene huge on the front page.
He wanted detailed close-ups, some photos of family members weeping in the parking lot, for A2. He wanted family photos, recent family photos of Jack and Tee, smiling, close-ups.
Rawle had some good ones at home they could use.
After Kyle had enough pictures, the reporters stood around for awhile just doing nothing.
Rawle talked a bit more with Cst. Keith and then Insp. Palipschuk about some of the procedural details of what would be a major investigation for Kings RCMP.
Who was going to head up the case? Southwest Nova Major Crime. What would happen to the bodies? Autopsies would be in Halifax at the H Division forensic lab. When could they expect preliminary results? Sunday afternoon or maybe Monday.