Jamie Brodie 01 - Cited to Death

first, and then they’re going to hold the graveside service.”
    “A viewing? I didn’t know anyone did those anymore.”
    “Well, I guess they do. We don’t have to go in if it skeezes you out.”
    “No, it’s okay. The more time I spend indoors the better.”
    We walked inside and into the odor of dozens of bouquets of flowers. I groaned inwardly. The air quality was almost as bad in here as it was outside, as far as my lungs were concerned. We were directed into a small room, with a couple of dozen people standing around. One guy seemed to be the funeral director, and another a clergyman. A youngish man in a tailored suit was standing by himself, seemingly as far away from the casket as he could get. Someone from the hospital? I wondered. He didn’t look like Dan’s type. There were a couple of tattooed guys who did. An older couple, a woman around 40, and a couple of young teenage girls were sitting in folding chairs, perpendicular to the open casket.
    “That must be the family.” Diane elbowed me. “Let’s go give our condolences.”
    We introduced ourselves. Dan’s parents were both wispy and gray, holding themselves stiffly. His sister was overweight and harried-looking; the nieces looked bored. Dan’s mother held onto my hand when I offered it. “Thank you both so much for coming. It’s nice to know that Danny had friends who cared about him.”
    Diane stepped in smoothly. “Dan loved library work. It was a pleasure to have known him. We’re so sorry about what happened.”
    We moved away from the family and approached the casket. I looked at Dan. He looked peaceful, much more so than he had in life, or at least as I remembered him. When I knew him, Dan had sported piercings in nearly every spot possible, but I didn’t see any evidence of them now. Dan was dressed in a suit and tie. It looked wrong on him.
    Diane was surprised. “He had more piercings than me. Where’d they go?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe his parents didn’t approve.”
    “Hmph. They do look like staunch conservatives.” Diane linked her arm through mine. “Let’s get out of this room. These flowers are making my nose run.”
    Shortly, everyone filed outside and stood somberly as the casket was carried out. The ceremony was brief; the standard ashes-to-ashes spiel. Oddly, there was no mention of Dan’s military service. Diane and I were heading for the parking lot when someone called to us.
    “Excuse me.” It was the man in the expensive suit. Expensive shoes, tie, everything. Including, unfortunately, strong cologne. Drakkar Noir: one of the worst offenders when it came to my lungs. I tried not to breathe deeply.
    “I’m sorry – I overheard you introducing yourselves to the family.” He smiled thinly, but his gaze was belligerent. “I thought I knew all of Dan’s friends. I’m Benjamin Goldstein. Dan’s lover.”
    An odd choice of words these days . Did he want to shock us? “We’re so sorry for your loss. We were in library school with Dan.”
    “Ah.” Goldstein surveyed both of us and didn’t seem impressed. “You’re not medical librarians.”
    “No.” What an ass . “Are you?” I could do belligerent too.
    Goldstein snorted. “I’m on the clinical faculty at USC School of Medicine.”
    A doctor. No wonder . Suddenly it hit me. Benjamin Goldstein. The authors of the second article were Oliver, Wray and Goldstein. B. Goldstein. Holy shit . The picture was suddenly a lot more complicated.
    “Oh, how wonderful.” Diane stepped in as I tried to control my facial expressions. “Were you close to Dan’s family?”
    “God, no.” Goldstein’s face twisted with disgust. “Pathetic, right-wing Christian losers. Their precious son couldn’t be gay, no matter what he said. They never accepted him for who he was. We’d been together for nearly two years, and this is the first time I ever saw them. He’d cut ties with them almost completely, but as soon as he was gone they swooped in and took control of everything. If they’d known who I was, I’m sure they would have had me removed.”
    Well, that could explain the belligerence . I stood up a little straighter and looked right at Goldstein. “I’d like to have seen them try.”
    Goldstein looked at me in surprise, then barked a short laugh. “I wish they had. Dan would have loved it.” He shook his head. “I have to go. Thanks for coming.” He turned and strode away.
    Diane watched him go, then turned to me. “Well. I don’t