outcome!”
The
doctor shrugged. “When the killer finished, the victims wore a
concrete block on their heads. They were still alive because there
were hollow cavities in the concrete around the neck area. These
cavities formed when the tissue collapsed after death. If the
victims were dead when the concrete was curing, then these cavities
wouldn’t be there.”
“ After
the concrete hardened and the box was removed, I believe that the
victims could still see their killer. The killer positioned the
boxes or forms so that the faceplate of the dive mask was clear of
the concrete. And as I said, they could still breathe through the
snorkel. Talking was impossible, but they would have been able to
hear muted sounds through the snorkel tube.
Kara,
still grasping at the horror summarized. “You mean doctor,
each victim was aware of what was happening and could see their
murderer through the masks?”
“ That’s
correct.”
Gybe
inquired about the weight of each block. The coroner revealed that
the man’s block weighed eighteen pounds while the woman’s
weighed twenty pounds. He didn’t know if this was significant
but he noted it in his green spiral notebook.
“ Anything
special about the concrete? Any way to trace it?”
From
the doctor’s hesitation, Gybe knew that there was something
unique about the concrete. The doctor was still thinking when Gybe
asked, “Doc, you’re silence has answered the question.
If the concrete was unusual, then it narrows the field of suspects.
The prosecutor won’t be able to hide this.”
“ The
concrete contained an additive called Mellose .
It’s a viscose agent based on under water Cellulose –
Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose. As I understand it, the product is
a self-leveling agent that increases viscosity of flowing concrete.
Something to do with concrete that is used underwater.”
“ What
does it look like?” Gybe asked.
“ From
the company’s Web site, it is sold in powder form.”
Gybe
scratched in his notebook for a few moments. “Is that why the
concrete is so light? A cubic foot weighs around one-fifty as I
recall.”
The
coroner smirked. “What line of work did you say you were in?
Gybe – is it?”
“ I
didn’t. I’m a writer. Yes, it’s Gybe.”
The
coroner glanced at the ceiling for a moment. “What kind of a
name is Gybe?”
“ It’s
Hindu for the one who breaks horses. Now about the concrete?”
“ You’re
right about concrete. Beyond the Mellose ,
the killer added Styrofoam packing peanuts to the concrete. Before
you ask, the woman’s weighed more than the man’s because
she had a smaller head. Ergo, more concrete to fill the box.”
Kara
and Gybe absorbed the information before Gybe changed the subject
away from the concrete helmets.
“ Were
the victims using any drugs?”
“ Only
small amounts of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Hardly
anything to note in today’s society.”
“ Other
than the Mellose that might
tie underwater construction, was there any other physical evidence to
tie Susan to the victims?”
The
coroner shook his head. Gybe and Kara thanked him for the
information and reaffirmed their agreement not to reveal the
conversation.
From
the coroner’s office, they walked to the jail where they asked
to see Susan.
19
Susan
was in a small room talking with her court-appointed lawyer when Gybe
and Kara asked to meet with her. After consultation with Susan’s
lawyer, the guard showed Kara and Gybe to the conference room. This
time, they walked through a metal detector.
Susan
introduced her lawyer as Maka Hong.
Kara
took the lead. “Ms. Hong, how many murder cases have you
tried?”
“ Maka,
please call me Maka. This is my first murder case. I’ve been
in the public defenders office for almost a year. Don’t worry
though; I am not afraid to ask the other attorneys in our office for
help.”
“ Susan,
this is your life. From what I have read, Hawai‘i doesn’t
have the death penalty –
The
doctor shrugged. “When the killer finished, the victims wore a
concrete block on their heads. They were still alive because there
were hollow cavities in the concrete around the neck area. These
cavities formed when the tissue collapsed after death. If the
victims were dead when the concrete was curing, then these cavities
wouldn’t be there.”
“ After
the concrete hardened and the box was removed, I believe that the
victims could still see their killer. The killer positioned the
boxes or forms so that the faceplate of the dive mask was clear of
the concrete. And as I said, they could still breathe through the
snorkel. Talking was impossible, but they would have been able to
hear muted sounds through the snorkel tube.
Kara,
still grasping at the horror summarized. “You mean doctor,
each victim was aware of what was happening and could see their
murderer through the masks?”
“ That’s
correct.”
Gybe
inquired about the weight of each block. The coroner revealed that
the man’s block weighed eighteen pounds while the woman’s
weighed twenty pounds. He didn’t know if this was significant
but he noted it in his green spiral notebook.
“ Anything
special about the concrete? Any way to trace it?”
From
the doctor’s hesitation, Gybe knew that there was something
unique about the concrete. The doctor was still thinking when Gybe
asked, “Doc, you’re silence has answered the question.
If the concrete was unusual, then it narrows the field of suspects.
The prosecutor won’t be able to hide this.”
“ The
concrete contained an additive called Mellose .
It’s a viscose agent based on under water Cellulose –
Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose. As I understand it, the product is
a self-leveling agent that increases viscosity of flowing concrete.
Something to do with concrete that is used underwater.”
“ What
does it look like?” Gybe asked.
“ From
the company’s Web site, it is sold in powder form.”
Gybe
scratched in his notebook for a few moments. “Is that why the
concrete is so light? A cubic foot weighs around one-fifty as I
recall.”
The
coroner smirked. “What line of work did you say you were in?
Gybe – is it?”
“ I
didn’t. I’m a writer. Yes, it’s Gybe.”
The
coroner glanced at the ceiling for a moment. “What kind of a
name is Gybe?”
“ It’s
Hindu for the one who breaks horses. Now about the concrete?”
“ You’re
right about concrete. Beyond the Mellose ,
the killer added Styrofoam packing peanuts to the concrete. Before
you ask, the woman’s weighed more than the man’s because
she had a smaller head. Ergo, more concrete to fill the box.”
Kara
and Gybe absorbed the information before Gybe changed the subject
away from the concrete helmets.
“ Were
the victims using any drugs?”
“ Only
small amounts of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Hardly
anything to note in today’s society.”
“ Other
than the Mellose that might
tie underwater construction, was there any other physical evidence to
tie Susan to the victims?”
The
coroner shook his head. Gybe and Kara thanked him for the
information and reaffirmed their agreement not to reveal the
conversation.
From
the coroner’s office, they walked to the jail where they asked
to see Susan.
19
Susan
was in a small room talking with her court-appointed lawyer when Gybe
and Kara asked to meet with her. After consultation with Susan’s
lawyer, the guard showed Kara and Gybe to the conference room. This
time, they walked through a metal detector.
Susan
introduced her lawyer as Maka Hong.
Kara
took the lead. “Ms. Hong, how many murder cases have you
tried?”
“ Maka,
please call me Maka. This is my first murder case. I’ve been
in the public defenders office for almost a year. Don’t worry
though; I am not afraid to ask the other attorneys in our office for
help.”
“ Susan,
this is your life. From what I have read, Hawai‘i doesn’t
have the death penalty –
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