Chapter 5: Inquestioning

Scott began by inviting his contact at the coroner’s office to lunch. He’d known Shelley Durant for several years, having worked with her to investigate cases of suspicious deaths. Shelley wore normal business clothes in subdued colours, suitable for meetings with bereaved family members.

She was an investigator, not a medical professional. But Scott wanted her knowledge of the rules applying to cases like David’s. She listened to him describe the facts, then held up a finger to show “one minute” while she swallowed her sandwich bite and took a quick drink to wash it down.

“To answer your questions, Scott, I need to talk about Mary Louise Duncan.”

“Sorry, I don’t follow.”

“Mary Louise Duncan was widowed four years ago in a similar accident aboard the BC Ferry on the Tsawwassen-to-Swartz Bay run. Her husband Morris, yes, Morris Duncan, was lost over the rail and his body was not recovered. You might remember his name, he was well known as an important donor to BC political campaigns.”

“Yes, Shelley, I remember his name.”

A server came by brandishing a carafe and refilling their cups with fresh coffee. She tried to entice them into ordering desserts, but Scott declined saying he needed to maintain his “delicate figure,” drawing laughs from both the server and Shelley.

At six-three and trim, with an athletic and muscular build, Scott was about as delicate as a diesel locomotive on the Canadian Pacific.

Shelley resumed her story. “Without a body, Mary Louise was left in legal limbo, without the documents needed to settle his estate. She called every one of her husband’s political contacts, and the provincial government passed an emergency measure to forcibly tidy up the legal processes to relieve her situation.”

“And then the same exceptions were applied in David’s case.”

“Exactly.”

A loud car alarm interrupted them. Scott’s eyes flicked toward the car, but he didn’t see anything unusual to explain why the system was triggered. Shelley winced at the noise but returned to eating her sandwich.

“Scott, I suppose it’s possible that your guy was aware of the new legislation. However, your possibilities still exist: a staged disappearance, suicide, or murder. If he simulated his own death, somehow he’s existing without his old identity, that is, his driver’s licence, credit cards, health ID, and so on. Or, somebody tossed him over the rail.”

“Of course, Shelley. But the Duncan rules do explain how his widow collected life insurance and other payments after he was declared deceased by the coroner’s inquest. She’s worried that if he does show up alive she’ll have to pay everything back.”

The alarm timed out or was defeated by the owner. Shelley continued, but didn’t have a lot more to say.

“Honestly, Scott, I have nothing helpful to say about that. She would need a really experienced lawyer, I’m sure. So, what’s your part in all this? How did you get involved?”

“David had left behind a fairly valuable sports car. When his widow came home earlier this week, the car was gone. She was sure his keys are at the bottom of the sea with his body. She called her bestie Joanne who works police dispatch, and she got me to come over and investigate.”