Jason, yes, it is you?”
“I’m Jason,” I said.
“I am Rosa Valencia. Mr. Mike’s housekeeper. Yesterday he told me you were coming.”
“What’s going on?” I asked her, not wanting the answer I thought would be coming.
“Mr. Mike, he,” she paused as she tried to hold back sobs, long enough to say, “he is gone.”
I heard what she said, but my mind needed clarification, so I asked, “Gone, as in dead?”
“Yes, Mr. Jason, he has passed.”
“How?” was my next question.
“Gun, he used a gun.”
My heart sank deep. It had gone deep too many times recently, but this depth staggered me to a point I wanted to sink to my knees.
“When?” I asked.
“This morning sometime. I was not here when it happened, but I found him when I came to the house about eleven fifteen. Sheriff Alvarez says I need to stay. He needs to clear me. Mr. Jason, what does that mean?”
“It means he needs to check all the evidence in the house to make sure you are not a suspect.”
“How could they think that? Mr. Mike was good to me.”
“Rosa,” I said, “it is just a normal thing. “You’ll be okay, I’m sure.”
“There was blood, the wall, the bathroom floor, I was afraid, but I still went to him. He lay in the tub. I checked for breath. No breath. I said, ‘Mr. Mike, wake up.” He no answer. I call 911.”
Rosa put her hands to her face and covered her eyes. I placed my hand on her shoulder. “There was nothing you could do. You did the right thing. You made that call,” I said.
I knew it was little comfort after what she had seen.
Just then, Sheriff Alvarez walked out on the porch. I saw him about a year before. Mike let me conduct a security training exercise at his ranch. Our paths had crossed even before that.
Alvarez took off his hat and said, “Mr. Orr, sorry to see you again under these circumstances. I’m sure Rosa here told you about Mike.” Then added, “he’s gone.”
“Yeah, yeah, she did.” I was looking at Alvarez. I knew he had probably seen many crime scenes over the years, but he looked shaken.
Alvarez said, “Let’s go out on the drive.” He motioned for me to walk out first. I did, and we both stepped down from the porch and into the sun. I felt it’s warmth on my shoulders. It barely eased the chill that encompassed my whole body.
When we were away from the house and Rosa, he instinctively put both hands on his duty belt just to have something to hold on to.
Alvarez was looking down at the ground. I could tell he was searching for words. A few seconds passed, and then he spoke, “We found a note and a sealed envelope with your name on it.”
Mike’s handwriting. I have no doubt.
“Even though the envelope is evidence, I didn’t open it, out of respect for Mike and you. I know you two were close. Mike talked about you often.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the envelope and handed it to me. My name was clearly written on the outside in block print, Major Jason Orr.
I took the envelope and tucked it into my inside coat pocket.
“The other note was a suicide note for us to find and read. I bagged it already. None of my men touched it. Rosa said she didn’t see it. We’ll dust it for prints, but I’m sure Mike wrote it. I’ll give you a summary, it said, ‘I’m taking my own life to end my pain, both my physical and my mental anguish.’ He signed it and dated it today.”
I was still in shock as I stood there. All I could say is, “I don’t get it. Mike was one of the strongest men I’ve known.”
Alvarez put his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry for all of us here in Taos County. Me along with the rest of this community will mourn this loss. Mike gave of himself to any and all that needed his help and never took anything in return.”
I hesitated then asked, “Can I see him?”
“Coroner has him already. EMT van transported the body a couple hours ago. It’s probably in Albuquerque by now to do the autopsy. You know, it’s protocol.”
“Be hard for me to see him then.”
“Let me make a call.” Alvarez stepped away and walked toward the barn, pulled out his cell, and spoke to someone for a few minutes, then returned.
“Coroners name is Romero, good guy. He’s also a doctor at the Holy Cross Hospital in Taos. He says after the autopsy, you can claim the body. He’ll do his best to make Mike look good after he’s examined him if you want an open casket.”
I responded, “I got to look around here. See if Mike left any instructions or wishes. Is the place cleared for me to go in?”
“Yeah, but there’s still blood in the bathroom. I could find someone to come out and clean it up if you want.”
“Yeah, that would be good.”
Rosa came off the porch and asked Alvarez, “Mr. Sheriff, can I go now? My son has been home alone from school. I worry.”
“Yeah, Rosa, sorry I kept you so long. Head home. Make sure Manual is okay.”
Before she turned, I asked her for her phone number, then asked, “Rosa, can you come back out tomorrow? I’d like to talk to you more about Mike and his last days.”
“Yes, I can do this. Is nine thirty okay?”
“I’ll be here,” I said.
Rosa turned and walked to her old Nissan sedan. It took her several tries, and then it finally started. She drove out the gate and down the road. The dust trail behind hid her vehicles exit onto the highway.
Alvarez said we’re about done here. We both headed back to the house. I saw two other deputies standing on the porch, a large male, white guy, and a female that looked Native American, probably Navajo.
When we reached them, Alvarez introduced me. “This is Jason Orr. Still with the feds, I guess.” He looked back at me.
I just nodded.
“Jason, this is Officer Jacobs and Officer Hathale.”
They both took off their hats.
Jacobs said, “Sorry for your loss, sir.”
Hathale then said, “Mike Groves was my brother’s good friend. He helped him when he came back from combat. My brother will be devastated by this.”
“Tell your brother
