5. Investigation

Summary

• The chapter begins with Sheriff Ed Jackson at the scene of an accident where Chase has died from a fall. Jackson indicates that he needs to continue investigating but Chase's family needs to be informed. Dr. Vern Murphy agrees to notify Chase's family and bring the ambulance back for the body.
• Sheriff Jackson instructs the boys present at the scene to not touch anything or create more footprints in the mud. The sheriff and his deputy, Joe Purdue, discuss that Chase's death could appear to be an accident but they have not been able to find footprints suggesting that he walked towards the steps of the tower he supposedly fell from. They also haven't found evidence that someone else might have been with Chase and concealed their footprints.
• The lawmen thoroughly document the scene by taking photos and notes. They later allow the boys to leave after Chase's family has been informed of the incident.
• Upon climbing the steps themselves, Sheriff Jackson and Deputy Purdue observe that one of the platform grates is open. They contemplate why Chase or another person would have left the grate open and suggest that it might have been done intentionally to make Chase's fall seem accidental.
• They also notice a damaged support beam beneath the open grate and presume that Chase hit his head on it during his fall. Deputy Purdue collects evidence from the beam while Sheriff Jackson plans to fingerprint the grates, railing and banisters.
• The lawmen conclude their initial collection of evidence over two hours later. While Sheriff Jackson is not yet ready to conclusively call Chase's fall a murder, Deputy Purdue suggests that Chase's infidelity could have made him enemies. In response, Sheriff Jackson posits that Chase could have had a disagreement with someone outside of town.