“A combination of multiple stab wounds, a severed carotid artery, and numerous blunt-force traumas, including a broken jaw. The severed artery alone could have caused death, as well as the trauma to the head, had she been left unattended, but in combination, death occurred at the time of the attack.” He thumbed through some papers. “The medical examiner hasn’t completed the autopsy yet, but my notes say that the victim suffered a severed left carotid artery that resulted in exsanguination—which means bleeding to death—so that will likely be the official cause of death when the autopsy report is completed.”

As Thompson was speaking, Carolyn peered out the picture window and tried to focus on the trees in the Schroeders’ yard. Her eye landed on the house across the street. What an ugly yellow color the owners had painted it. Who would do that? A car motored by, and two teenagers on skateboards invaded the soccer game in which the Schroeder kids were engaged. They all started shouting with their kid voices. It sounded good. For a moment, she found some solace in the normal things of life. Then, as if on cue, a flock of five or six crows descended upon the front yard and started arrogantly parading around like a bunch of gangsters busting their way into rival territory.

She could sense Detective Thompson was struggling to relate the facts with as much compassion as possible, and she felt sorry for him, but was repulsed nonetheless by the litany of words that were being uttered regarding her best friend, “the victim.” Phrases like “blunt force trauma,” “severed artery,” “exsangu-something,” “autopsy,” “medical examiner.” The scene outside at least offered a mild distraction and provided some reassurance the world was still humming along despite the horror being discussed within these walls. Then those damned crows had to appear. She felt herself starting to slip away.

She knew they had yet to discuss Evan. What a sweet little boy. She pictured his cherubic face. He was always laughing, and so easygoing, even as an infant, even on the day he was born. She remembered the first time she held him, just a few hours after his birth. He came into this world on a wintery night in December, almost eleven years ago. Danny had a great story about that night, and how their beat-up old Camry went skating down Mayfield on the part that bottoms out at Chagrin River Road. Danny’s imitation of Rachel freaking out was hilarious. He said he didn’t know Rachel could curse like a construction worker until that night. When they got to the hospital, the nurses rushed her into the delivery room and Evan made his appearance in no time at all. He was never any trouble his whole little life, and Rachel and Danny were glowing that night.

Now all three were gone.