D. Gilles - Colder Than Death

“Or ambulance drivers,” said the person with Nolan. “They have to pick up bodies after accidents and whatnot.”

“It’s not the same,” said Nolan. “Sure, they’re handling dead people, but they aren’t spending time with the bodies or, as I like to say, living with the bodies. That’s what an embalmer does. And if you’re also doing the restoration, you spend even more time with a corpse.”

Nolan and his companion were at the bottom of the stairs. I had no idea why Nolan was saying what he was saying until I saw who was with him. It was Quilla’s friend Viper.

They both seemed surprised to see me.

“Yo, Mr. Coltrane,” said Viper with a big grin.

“Hi,” I said as I walked down the stairs, extending my hand to him. I realized that Viper had come to discuss career possibilities with Nolan.

“Looks like the boy’s a keeper,” said Nolan, gently punching Viper on the right shoulder. “We might want to think about giving him some sort of part-time job. Let him hang around, doing odd jobs. Like you did when Lew first hired you way back when.”

“I don’t see why not,” I said. If Viper was as serious as Nolan believed it would be a tremendous break for him to get a foot in the door.

“Meanwhile,” said Nolan. “I’ll make up a package of reading material for you. Start to familiarize yourself with the profession. Call me in a day or so if I don’t call you.”

“No problem,” said Viper. “Well, guess I’ll get going. Thanks a lot for the tour, Nolan.”

“My pleasure, “ said Nolan, patting Viper’s shoulder.

“And thank you , Mister Coltrane,” said Viper.

“I’m glad it worked out.”

Viper waved good-bye and walked up the stairs.

“Kid reminds me of myself when I was that age,” said Nolan. “Unsure. Awkward. A little uncomfortable about even thinking about going into a profession like this. Oh…” Nolan laughed. “He even has the same kind of fly paper memory as me. He remembers the first television show he ever watched. A re-run of The Brady Bunch . Remembers the date and time of day he ate his first chocolate donut with sprinkles on top.” He laughed again. “I impressed the hell out of him with the fact that I remember not only the day and date that my wife left me twenty-six-and-a-half years ago, but the actual minute she walked out the door.”

Had Nolan not been talking about his capacity for remembering things, I probably wouldn’t have asked him the next question, but the information that his wife had left him twenty-six-and-a-half years ago triggered a question that had been lingering in my mind.

“Nolan, this might sound strange, but since you have such a good memory, can I bounce something off of you that happened almost twenty-six years ago?”

“Sure.”

“A woman disappeared from Dankworth twenty-four years ago.”

“Virginia Thistle,” Nolan blurted matter-of-factly. “May ninth. No… tenth.”

“Do you remember anything about the case?”

Without batting an eyelash, Nolan said, “Not only do I remember Virginia Thistle, but I knew her. Saw her right here in this building.”

“At our Home?”

“Hell yes. In fact, I embalmed her father. He was one of my first. Real tough job. Skin and bone.”

“Did you know her beyond your dealings with her father’s funeral arrangements?”

“Not at all.” He looked at me with a curious expression, “Surprises me that you know the name. You weren’t even living here.”

“This is out of left field, but in the investigation of the girl in the mausoleum, there might be a connection with Virginia Thistle’s disappearance.”

“Sounds pretty remote. Way I remember things is that Virginia Thistle ran off with some guy.”

“You don’t think she was murdered by her husband?”

“That’s what most people thought. But I knew Kyle Thistle a little. He was an asshole and a drinker and what people nowadays call an abusive husband, but I never thought he killed Virginia. That kind of violence wasn’t in him.”

“You never believed that he cut up her body and hid it?”

“Cutting up a body is hard. Doing it clean so you don’t make a mess. I should know. I’ve worked on enough of them. You want my opinion, Virginia Thistle was tired of living with a drunk who slapped her around so she bolted.”

“How did you know he was abusive towards her?”

“This is getting complicated. Bringing back more memories. My ex-wife told me.”

“How’d she know?”

“They worked together.”

“They must’ve been very good friends to confide something like that.”

“Nah,” said Nolan, shaking his head in an aw shucks manner. “Know how some people are good at pulling information out of other people? How they have a knack for getting people to open up? Say personal things? My wife was like that. Virginia Thistle poured everything out to her.”

“Did you know that Kyle Thistle lives in the area?”

“I think I heard that.

“I’m going to tell you this in confidence because it’s probably completely unfounded and I don’t want it to get out, but Kyle Thistle is a suspect in Brandy Parker’s murder.”

Nolan genuinely seemed taken aback. “Why?”

“Accused of wife murder twenty-four years ago. Released from the institution twelve years ago. Nine years ago Brandy Parker disappears. It’s a slim pattern, but… ”

Nolan smiled sympathetically. “I don’t know, Del. Doesn’t feel right.”

If he had been more supportive I would’ve told him about Alyssa and how her disappearance would enhance the idea of a pattern, but his lack of enthusiasm diminished my own.

Nolan fingered his goatee. “How come you know so much about this?”

I explained to him how I’d gotten involved because I felt sorry for Quilla.

“I can understand that, Del. The grief in that kid is frightening. I don’t know what I could contribute, but if there’s anything I can do to help.”

“Meeting you was important to her. And being supportive to Viper is too. She’s somebody who hasn’t met very many adults she can trust.”

“Neither have I,” he said with a silly grin.

“She’s hell-bent on finding her Aunt’s killer.”

“How’s Perry coming along with his investigation?”

“I’m not optimistic. But I’m staying on his ass. And Quilla will be relentless.” I laughed. “ She’s the person the killer should fear most.”

“Why’s that?”

“There’s nothing worse than somebody who won’t give up.”

Nolan nodded. “Oh, before I forget. Viper asked if he could watch me prepare a body. I said I’d check with you.”

“Hold off on that. Showing him the Embalming Room and the tools you use is one thing. This interest in the trade could all be a passing fancy. You said you’re giving him some material to read. Let him get through it. And if we find some part-time work for him and he shows the right attitude, maybe then we’ll let him watch.”

“You’re the boss,” said Nolan with a wink.

“Nolan, one more thing: if that memory of yours dredges up anything about Virginia Thistle’s disappearance or if something your wife might’ve said to you pops into your head, could you bounce it off me?”

“You bet.”

“Oh… ah, never mind.”

“What, Del?”

“Tell me if I’m pushing too hard, but… is it possible that I might contact your ex-wife and ask her if she remembers anything?”

Nolan stiffened up a bit. “Only way you could contact her is if you were in hell.”

“What?”

“She’s dead.” His voice was without emotion. “Haven’t see her since the day she walked out. Heard she kicked the bucket ten years ago or so ” He stretched, looked at his watch and made a move to return to the Embalming Room. “If I remember anything though, I’ll tell you right away.”