She jumped on the casket, knocking the flower arrangement to the floor, and began barking loudly.When Bella sat in her alert position on the floor and stared at him, Ryan sensed something was off. “Open the casket!” he demanded. A gasp rang out in the gathering. Ryan didn’t care. He walked over to the casket and opened it, only to find it empty. “Wh-Where’s my brother?” His uncle stared at the funeral director. Ryan’s mother couldn’t stand what was happening. Her eyes rolled back in her skull, and her knees gave way.
Ryan caught her just in time before her head hit the marble floor. He rushed her to the hospital. At his mother’s house, Ryan called the police. “At this point, all we know is that the coroner confirmed the cause of death and released the remains to the funeral home,” Detective Bradshaw told him. “Was your father involved in any activities I should be aware of?”Ryan hadn’t been involved in his father’s business since he opened his dog training and rehabilitation center. But he knew Arnold would never put his or the company’s reputation at stake. Since there was no vital lead yet, Detective Bradshaw left, promising to be in touch with updates. But Ryan didn’t want to wait. The hospital was keeping his mom overnight. He left Bella at home and went to the morgue to find answers. “The coroner resigned? What about the new coroner?” Ryan was baffled when the nurse at the reception informed him there was no new coroner yet. He asked to see his father’s file, but the nurse refused, saying it was against policies. Ryan knew how to convince her. He set $1000 on the counter, and she turned a blind eye when he slipped inside the coroner’s office. He started searching the shelves for his father’s file, but it was futile. Arnold’s file was missing.
