August 4, 1962-Case No. 81128     Thomas Turman   © Copyright 2026 by Thomas Turman

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

The LAPD sergeant’s voice was rushed and clipped. “Dr. Theodore Murphey at the morgue is sending a special body over to you. This is very special and must be handled with care.” There was a slight pause as Ty thought he heard a small sob. “She must be kept alone and separated from any others you have in there now. Can you take her in at the rear so that no one sees her?”

“Sure, we have an enclosed admission door out of view of the public. Why all the drama?”

“You’ll see when she arrives. This is important, don’t let anyone in until I say you can, got it?”

“Yes, but remember I’m the only one here at this hour.”

“Dr. Murphey has contacted your boss Mr. Holms. I will be bringing them over as soon as we hang up.”

Ty cradled the handset and went out into the holding room and stared back at the rear entrance. It hadn’t been used for a while so he would have to clear the door. He’d leave the outside light off to protect the exchange. Just what he needed some histrionic death of a politician with it gaggle of handwringing relatives to crowd in here.

Not ten minuets later West Village’s driveway sensor told Ty that two vehicles had swept into the rear of the building.

Ty opened the door and saw the Morgue’s station wagon backing up to him and an LAPD squad car in the dark. His boss got out of the squad car followed by a uniformed cop. Dr. Murphey was quickly out of the station wagon along with the attendant. These two got the stretcher with a body wrapped in a light blue blanket inside to the cold room.

Holmes slid noiselessly up to Ty as mortuary people tend to do, and said, “You must stay with her. No one is to come near her until we are done. OK?”

Ty nodded, got his cold room jacket, and slipped into the side of the light blue blanket covered body. His curiosity got the better of him. He quietly stepped to the head of the table and carefully lifted the coverlet. Marylin Monroe’s face stared up at him. He could also see she had nothing on. His knees gave out and he fell to the floor. Gripping the edge of the cold table, he struggled back up to gaze down at her in awe.

All his fantasies about her came rushing up to engulf him. Embarrassed, he quickly covered her face again and stepped back. He was in shock and didn’t hear Holmes come into the room.

“I don’t know if you know who this is, but, as always, we must keep this to ourselves. Security and privacy are of the highest order here. This could get out of hand very quickly and destroy our reputation. No one, and I mean no one, is to get access to our charge.”

“Mr. Holmes it’s Marylin Monroe! We are going to be inundated with press and morbid gawkers as soon as the news gets out.”

“I hope not. The morgue is trying to keep a lid on her death and will not give out our name. I hope this all works.” Holmes put both hands down on the table and hung his head hanging down in fatigue. “Its 5 a.m., I’ve been at the hospital with my wife all night and I’m in no condition to deal with Marylin now. I’m going home. I will come back at 10 tomorrow to take care of her. You’ll have to hold the fort until I get back.”

Holmes turned and left Ty trembling next to a nude Marylin Monroe.

News people would do anything to get this story so Ty quickly realized that he must secure the building. He checked the doors and locked the few windows. The news pimps must be kept out.

After a cup of coffee, back in the cold room, he tried to settle himself. After all, this was just another body to be prepared for burial. He could do this. He approached Marylin and, in a flourish, swept the blue blanket off into the air like a bull fighter brandishing his cape. He almost crumpled to the floor again at the sight of the most sought-after body in the world.

Her cool calmness so embarrassed him that, with tears in his eyes, he gently covered her again saying, “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”