The woman clears her throat. “No, sir. That wasn’t it. You really should talk to the coroner. I can’t speak further on the subject without putting my job at risk.”

Frustration mounts, but I understand her position, and I know I’m not going to get anywhere if I keep pushing her.

“Thank you for the information. I’ll handle it from here.” I end the call, probably quicker than I should, but it’s better than unleashing my temper on the messenger.

I pick up the phone to call the coroner, but when no one answers, I’m forced to leave a message full of questions.

The main one running through my mind is, What the fuck is going on? What could my mother possibly have been taking that would show up in a tox screening that would disqualify her from organ and tissue donation?

I leave the office and track McKinley down in the library to find out if she knows any more than I do.

McKinley shrugs. “She took heart medication. That’s it, as far as I’m aware, other than vitamins. I can’t imagine those would’ve been an issue.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive,” she says with a nod.

I have to believe my sister is right. I can’t picture my mother being able to hide taking something. Not just because she had no way to obtain illicit drugs, but because her behavior and attitude never changed. I would have noticed.

For the first time since Harrison walked out the door, I wish my brother hadn’t left. He spent more time with our mother than either McKinley or me . . . and if she wanted something, he would have found a way to get it for her.

But my brother wouldn’t have acted as my mother’s drug dealer. Would he?

The fact that I can’t answer that question with complete certainty bothers me more than anything.

“Call Harrison. Ask him what he knows. He’ll respond better to you than to me,” I tell my sister.

She nods and pulls out her phone to initiate the call, but it doesn’t ring. Instead, we hear a recorded message stating that his number is no longer in service.

“Fuck. Commodore already shut it down.” I stare out the window for a beat before I look back at her. “Do you have any idea where he’d go?”

“Other than old frat brothers, I don’t think Harrison has many friends. I have absolutely no idea who he’d call for help or where he’d go.” McKinley shakes her head. “Do we know how much money he had?”

“I didn’t keep track of what he kept in his bank account. He got paid well and didn’t have any bills that I know of, so unless he blew it all, he would have plenty. He could be on the other side of the world by now.”

McKinley presses her lips together. “I’ll start looking online.”

“Let me know if you find anything. I’m going to go talk to Commodore. We need the coroner to get out here and explain what the fuck is going on, because something doesn’t feel right.”