UNbridled

Another policeman, named Chuck, found a pair of sunglasses on the ground near the body. A few feet away, he stooped to pick something up. “There’s a set of car keys here,” Chuck called, turning over the plastic tag. “Looks like they belong to a rental car,” he added. “The car is a white Toyota Corolla, registration number JKO-475. It’s from Budget car rental.” He walked over to show the sergeant what he had in his hand.

“Okay, Chuck,” the sergeant answered, taking the keys from him, “maybe you’d better go take a look in the parking lot and see if you can find the car belonging to them. Here, take them!” he impatiently added, tossing him the keys.

Chuck grabbed the keys and quickly headed off. Then one of the firemen yelled, “I’ve got a watchband here . . . and over there”—he pointed to the left side of the body—“is the face of a watch.”

Burton moved closer. It was a gruesome sight—the woman’s ankle and leg were broken, and her bones were sticking right out of the skin. Two of the ambulance crewmembers turned the body over, and as they did, Burton caught sight of her black-and-blue arms and broken wrists. He suddenly felt sick. Flashbulbs were going off everywhere as the police took pictures of the scene.

Oh my God, she jumped, Burton thought, and began to panic. I should’ve gone over, why didn’t . . . I could’ve stopped her? Why the fuck did she go and do this? I knew something was wrong. Why didn’t I do something?

He rushed to the garden and threw up. As he spewed his guts, he could hear Danny breathing really hard, wheezing. Mike was in shock, looking like he was about to faint. Mike staggered over to be with Regina and Danny. Murphy motioned for her to send the boys away. As he came over to them, he requested Regina’s telephone number.

“For God’s sake!” Sergeant Murphy screamed back to his men, “bring a blanket and cover this body while I get these people out of here. NOW!” he yelled. Murphy’s face was red, and veins protruded from his neck. An EMT immediately brought a stretcher.

Regina reached out and huddled the boys together, protecting them like babies in a nest. Burton was off to the side, overcome with panic, and they could hear him sobbing. Regina came over and stroked Burton’s arm. She desperately wanted to comfort him, but he wouldn’t let her—he shrugged off her touch and took a few steps away, making it quite clear he wanted to be alone.

“Please, Burton, come with us. Let’s go home,” she pleaded. “The police will take care of things. We’ll talk to them later. We need to go down to the police station in the morning; nothing can be done for her now. I’m so sorry this has happened, sweetheart.”

Tears rolled down her face, and she quickly wiped them away, wanting to stay strong for the sake of the boys. They finally left as the body was being placed on the stretcher. Burton turned his head and tried to muffle his choked sobs, preoccupied by thoughts of his own suicide attempt and Uncle Harry.

God, he found me hanging . . . and had to cut me down . . . He thought shaking his head.