One or the Other by John McFetridge Page A

night.”
    â€œEverybody’s talking about it,” Carpentier said.
    â€œWhat are they saying?”
    Carpentier shrugged. “What’s to say?”
    â€œWhat can I do for you?”
    â€œA body was found this morning in the river in Montreal East. It’s been taken to the coroner. He won’t be doing the autopsy until tomorrow, but I want you to go and see if it’s a homicide.”
    â€œAnd if it is?”
    â€œCome and tell me.”
    â€œRight.”
    Dougherty walked out of the office, thinking he wasn’t sure if he would rather be Carpentier’s gofer or be left on the sidelines of the big moves by the special squad.
----
    â€œCome on,” Dougherty said, “even I can see those are rope marks around his neck.”
    â€œDoesn’t mean it was homicide.”
    The body was male, probably between fifteen and twenty years old, and he’d been in the water awhile, but the marks on his neck were clear. He was naked from the waist up but he was still wearing shoes and jeans and the belt was tight.
    Dougherty said, “So, what happened, he tried to hang himself and when that didn’t work he went swimming?”
    The technician said, “You’ll find out when Dr. Robillard performs the autopsy.”
    â€œWhen will that be?”
    â€œI don’t know, he has a few to do before this one. I don’t know how long they will take.”
    â€œIt would help with the homicide investigation if we could start right away.”
    â€œIf it’s a homicide.”
    Dougherty started out of the morgue, saying, “Is he in his office?”
    A woman in a police uniform was coming in then, and she looked past Dougherty and said, “
Est-ce que c’est le garçon qu’on a sorti de la rivière?
”
    The technician was closing the drawer and said, “
Demandez au Docteur Robillard.
”
    She said, “
Laissez-moi voir.
”
    The drawer was closed.
    Dougherty spoke French, saying, “Who are you?” He didn’t recognize the uniform.
    The woman said, “Who are you?”
    â€œI’m Detective Dougherty.”
    â€œSergeant Legault, Police de Longueuil.”
    Dougherty figured she was somewhere between twenty-five and thirty-five, it was hard to tell because unlike most of the other policewomen he knew, this Sergeant Legault wasn’t wearing any make-up and her hair was short.
    She said, “I believe that’s Mathieu Simard.”
    â€œHe’s been missing?”
    â€œFor three days, yes.” She looked at the morgue technician and said, also in French, “You were supposed to call me.”
    â€œAfter the autopsy.”
    â€œAs soon as the body came in.”
    â€œTalk to Dr. Robillard.”
    â€œI will.” She turned and walked out of the room.
    Dougherty caught up with her at the elevator. “He’s from Longueuil?”
    â€œYes, both of them.”
    â€œThere are two missing?”
    The elevator door opened and Legault said, “Yes, him and his girlfriend.”
    â€œIs she still missing?”
    â€œNo,” Legault said as the elevator doors closed. “Her body washed up on Île du Fort yesterday.”
    Dougherty waited a moment then turned and walked out of the Parthenais building. He was a little disappointed that the homicide would have to be turned over to the Longueuil police, but he was also relieved. Couple of teenagers in the river, unless there was a very good witness, which Dougherty just knew there wouldn’t be, it didn’t seem likely an investigation would go anywhere.
----
    At the homicide office Carpentier said, “You met Sergeant Legault, that’s good.”
    Dougherty said, “Why is that good?”
    â€œYou’ll be working together.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe Longueuil police do not have a dedicated homicide squad,” Carpentier said. “And they asked us to lead the