It took him nine minutes to get the duty investigator, and Margaret stood eight feet away and listened to a homicide detective say the following sentence:

“I’m telling you I’m standing here looking at her and there’s patterned bruising and petechiae, and you released this on a phone call.

I want a hold on the disposition and I want her in your building today.”

The cremation permit was pulled at 12:40.

It had been due to be exercised at three.

Margaret has thought about that gap for years.