Doc Coblentz pronounces Reuben Kaufman dead at the scene. It’s premature to rule on the cause or manner of death, but in an off-the-record conversation, the coroner tells me that if my bullet had killed Kaufman he wouldn’t have continued to bleed once the hogs went to work on him. By all indications, while the fall and the bullet incapacitated him, he more than likely died of massive trauma and blood loss caused by the mauling that followed. At some point a local animal-protection organization is called in and the hogs are rounded up. I don’t know what will happen to them. I’m not sure I want to.

I recount the incident a dozen times to several law enforcement officials affiliated with two agencies. The case is officially assumed by the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department. I give another statement along with the pertinent information on Abigail Kaufman to the lead detective. I physically walk him through the scene, which is being sketched, videotaped, and photographed. I try not to look at any of it.

Once Kaufman’s body is transported to the morgue, the CSU from BCI goes to work. The rifle is confiscated. Since I fired my service revolver, my .38 is also taken for testing “just to cross the t’s and dot the i’s,” according to the detective. The CSU is looking for the slugs from the .22 when Tomasetti calls.

He begins with his usual: “Are you all right?”

“I’m okay.” But I tell him about my wrist. “Might just be a sprain.”

He makes a sound that’s part dismay, part disapproval. “That’s not code for ‘compound fracture,’ is it?”

I can’t help it; I laugh. It feels good after the things I witnessed this afternoon. It reminds me that I’m alive. That I still have my life and a future with the man I love.

As if understanding, Tomasetti falls silent and listens as I take him through it.

“Tough scene,” he says when I’m finished.

“I don’t think I’m going to be eating pork chops any time soon.”

Now it’s his turn to laugh, but it’s short-lived. “Nick Kester and his wife were taken into custody. Kester had a handgun in his possession, but not a rifle.”

“Reuben Kaufman did.”

“He knew you were getting close to figuring things out.”

“Ballistics will probably confirm he was the shooter, not Kester.”

I want to add something about closure and justice, but I’m not sure either of those things is the case. While a killer was taken into custody and three cases were closed, none of them entailed a happy ending for anyone involved. Especially little Lucy Kester, who was the only innocent in the bunch.

“Kate, have you been to the hospital?”

“I’m going to head over that way in a few minutes.”

He just sighs. “Look, I can drive down there if—”