my worth

condolences

The burial was done and dusted and everyone was dispersing one after the other. Julia turned to leave but not before giving the casket a little blessing. it was her mother's, she pulled some of the weeds out before she was startled by Jason's voice.

" your mother?"he asked

" yeah"

"I'm sorry. it was strange hearing condolences but Jason seemed sincere

thanks. "Julia chimed.

" it must have been hard loosing her at a very young age, what did she die of ?"

" she died of luekemia."

after a few moments, Jason broke the silence " you wanted to talk?"

"yeah, thanks for waiting, I wanted to talk to you about Thomas and the argument I heard between you two at the airport yesterday."

"why, what is it to you." Jason asked

"I know you don't like the way he handled Emma's case."

"that's right."

"what did you expect?"

" It's a suicide and all suicide case are supposed to be handled like a homicide, you are away of that right?"

Julia nodded.

" And chief Thomas didn't do that he let a lot of rules slide. "

"wait, what do you mean he let the rules slide." Julia chirped.

" There was no autopsy. is that specific enough. I find it unconscionable. "

"No , not exactly. I find it humane . the family is in a lot of pain and he did what he thought would be of their best interest and minimize the pain."

"I see the autopsy as a necessary procedure that ensure justice and peace of mind."

"and what do you want to pro9ve, that someone else fired the bullet." -but Jason did not react the way she expected- and besides there haven't been any murder on the island for about eighty something years.

" I didn't say anything about murder."

"but that's what you were hinting at. I think you're one of those unprincipled reporters who doesn't care about people's feeling other than getting a flashy headline" Julia blurted.

his jaw clenched. "I don't need an award." Jason countered.

"sure you don't?" Julia asked

"I don't, I already have one a Pulitzer"

she rocked back on her heels, that didn't make him infallible he might be lying.

"if you're not out on a story, why are you doing this then? look Thomas is a smart man he's had thirty five years of it and if he judge a situation to be so, that's how it is."

I'd like to believe you, I'm sure he was an an admirable police officer.......... they talked until they couldn't, none could budge to the other