“Sir, are you reporting that someone inside the casket may still be showing vital signs?” she asked.

“Yes, exactly that, and I need emergency personnel and law enforcement dispatched to evaluate this immediately,” I answered firmly.

The dispatcher assured me that patrol units and paramedics were being routed toward the cemetery entrance without delay.

Meanwhile, Mr.

Thomas stood nearby, gently reiterating that childhood grief often produced acoustic hallucinations during funeral ceremonies.

Then Rachel’s older brother, Kyle, stepped out from under his umbrella and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“If Brian feels this strongly that an error occurred, we cannot leave this cemetery without letting proper authorities verify it,” Kyle told the director.