Cars, vans, and pickups lined the edge of the narrow road that snaked through the cemetery. Each parked vehicle had two tires in the grass and two on the pavement. Jack drove slowly along the line while Ross pointed the video camera through the passenger window to capture the license plates of each of the cars. An analyst would review the tape later and identify the owner of each of the cars for them. At the end of the row of cars, Jack pulled onto the grass, angling the car so Ross would have a good view of the area around the funeral party and a good vantage point for capturing faces on film when they returned to their cars after the burial ceremony.
Jack checked his hair and tie in the mirror. “I’m glad I found my sunglasses, Junior. I wouldn’t have worn yours to a funeral.”
“You look good, Jack. Nice, but official. You’ll blend right in.”
“Thanks.” Jack handed Ross the camera with the long zoom lens. “You shouldn’t have any problem getting everybody’s picture with this. I’ll leave the car running with the AC on for you so you don’t die. Be polite. Don’t let anybody see you taking their picture.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be waiting for you right here,” Ross said.
The heat was almost unbearable. By the time Jack walked across the grass from the car to the gravesite, he was sweating. His shoes crunched through the dry grass, a sound amplified by the quiet of the cemetery. A couple of people glanced at him as he took up position at the back of the group of thirty or so people all facing the pastor preparing to perform the ceremony. Jack bowed his head while he waited for everyone’s attention to return to the pastor. Then he looked up and started his surveillance of the group in front of him.
Nobody appeared not to belong. Family, friends, and coworkers were here to provide support and pay their last respects. The pastor said something that got Jack’s attention. Take these persons into your kingdom? Jack shifted to his right and looked over the shoulder of the man in front of him. Two caskets, side by side, identical in every detail except for their size, sat supported over the holes in the ground into which they would be lowered. The mother and the baby. Jack felt a knot in his stomach. He closed his eyes and turned his face up to the sky. He wanted to swear, but not here. He controlled his anger and returned his attention to the service to pay his respects.
At the conclusion of the service, some people shuffled off to their cars, while others milled around to support each other. Jack waited off to one side in the shade of an old oak tree watching the people around him. A few people had formed a line offering condolences to the husband. Jack waited for most of the people to head to their cars before he approached.
“Mr. Humphrey?” Jack extended his hand. “I’m Special Agent Jack Miller with the FBI. I’m very sorry for your loss. I’m a husband and a father, but I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I just wanted you to know that we’re doing everything we can to catch the man that did this.” Mr. Humphrey nodded and Jack turned and strode back to the car.