The Official Conclusion

The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting dappled light and shadow on the glass curtain walls of the high-rise buildings in downtown Seattle.

After a brief silence at night, the city was awakened once again by the hustle and bustle of traffic, people, and commercial activities. However, beneath this orderly busyness, two seemingly unrelated deaths that occurred in different locations and were discovered almost simultaneously on the same morning were like two pebbles thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in a specific small circle and quickly attracting the attention of the authorities.

Scene 1: Basement parking garage, level B2, IRS Seattle office building.

Yellow police tape cordoned off the area. Uniformed Seattle Police Department (SPD) patrol officers, detectives in dark jackets, and several well-dressed, serious-looking IRS Internal Affairs Division officers were gathered at the scene. The air was still thick with moisture and a faint smell of bleach, left behind by the property management after initial cleanup of the overflowing water.

The dark gray Cadillac CT6 had been towed to a corner of the garage. The windows were shattered, the interior was a mess, and water stains remained on the seats and dashboard. Forensic experts and technicians were conducting a detailed examination of the vehicle and the surrounding area, taking photos and collecting evidence.

A middle-aged white police officer, whose epaulets indicated he was a superintendent from the Major Crimes Unit, was listening to a briefing on the initial investigation of the scene. Standing beside him was a senior supervisor from the IRS Investigations Division, his face ashen.

"There were no signs of a struggle at the scene, nor any indication of third-party intrusion," a technician reported. "The doors were locked from the inside, and the windows were shattered from the outside. The distribution of the broken glass is consistent with a powerful impact pattern from the outside in. Numerous traces of high-pressure water and metal fragments from the overhead fire hoses were found in and around the driver's seat."

The police inspector's gaze fell on the thick fire hose at the top of the garage. The crack at the clamp had been temporarily marked by a technician with special tape, the crack looking grotesque. Water stains remained nearby.

"Have the water pipes been checked?" the police inspector asked.

"Initial inspection indicates that old corrosion reduced the pipe's pressure-bearing capacity. A routine nighttime pressure test was conducted on the building's fire protection system last night; the sudden pressurization likely caused this weak point to burst," explained another person in overalls, who appeared to be from the fire department or property management. "The flying debris was mainly from this cast iron valve, weighing approximately 1.5 pounds. Driven by the high-pressure water flow, it had considerable kinetic energy. Simulations based on the direction of the crack and the trajectory of the debris indicate it was aimed directly at the victim's driver's side window."

The police inspector nodded and looked at the silent IRS chief beside him. "What's the preliminary medical report on Mr. Cohen's body?"

A forensic assistant in a white coat approached and opened the logbook. "Richard Cohen, male, 52 years old. The fatal wound was located in the left temple, caused by a single, high-speed, blunt force trauma, resulting in a comminuted skull fracture, extensive subdural and brain parenchymal contusions and lacerations, and massive intracranial hemorrhage. The shape, size, and depth of the wound closely match the edge of the valve fragment found at the scene. Blood and tissue samples were extracted from the fragment. In addition, the victim had multiple minor glass cuts on his face, neck, and arms, caused when the car window shattered. No alcohol or common drugs were detected in his system. The estimated time of death is between 9 PM and 11 PM last night, which coincides with the time of the burst water pipe and the triggering of the alarm."

"Where's the phone?" the IRS supervisor asked in a deep, dry voice.

"The device was found in the water under the passenger seat inside the car. It was severely damaged by water and could not be turned on; data may have been lost. It has been sent to the technical department for recovery attempts, but the chances are slim," the technician replied.

The police inspector and the IRS chief exchanged a glance. The scene investigation, the medical examiner's report, the condition of the water pipes, the pressure test records... all the clues pointed to a clear, simple, yet brutally unbelievable conclusion.

"So," the inspector concluded slowly, his tone coolly official, "Mr. Richard Cohen went to the underground parking garage to retrieve his car after working overtime last night, intending to leave. At that time, the building's fire protection system was undergoing a nighttime pressure test, causing a fire hose on the B2 floor, which was old and rusty, to unexpectedly burst under high pressure. Fragments of the flying metal valve, propelled by the high-pressure water flow, accidentally shattered the driver's side window and struck Mr. Cohen in the temple, causing his immediate death. This was... an unfortunate, coincidental industrial facility safety accident, or rather, an accident."

He paused, then looked at the IRS supervisor. "Your internal records regarding plumbing maintenance?"

The IRS manager, his face grim, pursed his lips. "The last comprehensive inspection was three years ago. Routine inspections... there may have been oversights. We're currently reviewing the building management's maintenance contracts and records."

The inspector nodded and didn't press further. He knew that this "accident" would likely cause quite a stir within the IRS, and accountability and restructuring would be inevitable. But to the outside world, this was the only possible conclusion.

"The on-site investigation is basically complete. We will close the case as 'accidental death,' and the report will detail the aforementioned causes. If no new or groundbreaking evidence emerges..." The police inspector looked at the IRS supervisor, his meaning clear.

The IRS director paused for a moment, then finally nodded wearily. "... Understood. Treat it as an accident. We'll handle the follow-up internally." He knew this conclusion would minimize the damage to the IRS's reputation and best serve the interests of all parties (including those at the top who might not want things to escalate). As for whether Cohen was truly just "unlucky," or whether it was related to some "sensitive" cases he had handled... that was something the internal investigation needed to do discreetly.

Scene 2: Exit of the underground parking lot of the "All-American Express" headquarters building.

The cordon here was wider, and the scene was even more shocking. The ground was littered with shards of glass of all sizes, gleaming coldly, like diamonds scattered in the morning light, yet carrying the aura of death. Large patches of blood, already dark brown, had soaked into the concrete, and the strong stench of blood in the air had not yet completely dissipated.

Daniel Crawford's body has been removed and sent to the medical examiner's office, but the human figure outlined in white chalk and the surrounding messy glass "graveyard" still silently tell the story of the tragedy that happened last night.

Also present were SPD inspectors and detectives, as well as the head of security for "All-American Express" and several pale-faced legal personnel.

"Preliminary investigation," a detective reported solemnly, "The deceased, Daniel Crawford, is the CEO of ' All-American Express.' The fatal wound was a sharp, triangular piece of glass (already collected as evidence) deeply embedded in the left side of his neck, severing the carotid artery and trachea, leading to hemorrhagic shock and asphyxiation. The time of death was approximately between 10 p. m. and midnight last night. There were numerous other cuts and impact wounds caused by glass shards around the body."

"Where did all this glass come from?" The police inspector frowned as he looked at the mountain of broken glass.

A middle-aged man who looked like the head of a construction company or a garbage collection company was brought over, his face showing fear and unease.

"Officer, it's like this..." The man wiped the sweat from his brow, "Yesterday afternoon, our company was responsible for clearing away the old doors and windows being demolished from the old office building next door that was under renovation. According to the plan, we were supposed to use a specialized enclosed container truck. But yesterday afternoon, that truck's hydraulic system malfunctioned, so we temporarily dispatched another ordinary open-top flatbed truck. Because it was late, the workers, wanting to save time, simply piled the dismantled, not-yet-completely-broken glass directly onto the truck's flatbed, secured it with ropes and tarpaulins, and planned to transport it away this morning."

He pointed towards the street above the parking lot. "The truck was temporarily parked in the loading and unloading area on that side road, very close to the exit of this underground parking lot. We checked the securing repeatedly and put up warning cones... but maybe because of the strong wind at night, or... a stray cat or something bumped into it, or maybe the rope itself wasn't tied securely... part of the glass slipped off the edge of the truck and fell down, getting stuck in the gap in the roof and the drain of the underground parking lot exit ramp."

"And what about this piece of cloth?" The police inspector pointed to the dirty canvas on the ground, soaked in blood and torn to shreds.

"That was a corner of the tarpaulin we used to cover and conceal the glass. It's possible that when the glass slipped, it pulled the tarpaulin down with it, getting caught on the metal railing at the exit or some protrusion, hanging down and obscuring the glass pieces stuck in the ceiling, making it difficult for people below to see the danger above," the man explained, his tone filled with regret and lingering fear. "This... this was entirely our company's negligence! Poor management! We are willing to take full responsibility!"

The police inspector walked down to the bottom of the exit ramp and looked up to observe carefully. He could indeed see some glass shards and torn canvas fibers remaining in the gaps along the edge of the canopy and in the drainage ditch. There were also fresh scratch marks on the metal railings of the ramp.

"Based on the evidence at the scene and the location of the deceased's body," the forensic assistant added, "We presume that the deceased drove here last night and found the exit blocked by this draped tarpaulin. He got out of his car and tried to tear the tarpaulin off. However, in the process of pulling on the tarpaulin, he accidentally pulled and loosened the already loose supports of the glass. This caused the pile of glass above to lose its balance and collapse, burying him and causing fatal injuries."

The forensic technicians nodded in confirmation. "We extracted biological samples from the triangular glass plate that served as the murder weapon, and also found the victim's fingerprints and fibers on the canvas. The victim's shoes and clothing had a large amount of glass shards and dust consistent with those found at the scene. The vehicle showed no signs of impact or being forced to stop; it appears the victim stopped and got out of the car voluntarily."

The police inspector listened to the report, his gaze sweeping over the mess on the ground, then turning to the ashen-faced security manager from "All-American Express": "Where are your parking lot's security cameras?"

The security manager gave a wry smile, "The camera directly above the exit ramp was reported for repair last week, and we haven't had time to replace it yet... Several cameras nearby captured footage of the deceased's vehicle entering, stopping, and the deceased getting out, but the exact moments of the tarpaulin being pulled and the glass shattering are unclear..."

The chain of evidence has been closed once again. It was an extremely rare and tragic "accident" caused by a combination of coincidences: the waste disposal company's violations, inadequate safety measures, malfunctioning parking lot surveillance cameras, and the victim's own improper actions (getting out of the car and pulling on an unidentified obstacle).

The police inspector remained silent for a long while. Two high-profile "accidental" deaths in one day, both victims being respectable local figures. The coincidence was rather striking. Yet every detail at the scene, every report, pointed precisely to "accident," with no evidence or reasonable suspicion of homicide. There were no witnesses, no motive (at least on the surface, there was no apparent, life-or-death public conflict between Cohen and Daniel, or between them and any other possible suspects), no murder weapon (if the glass and metal fragments didn't count as "murder weapons"), and no signs of forced entry...

Could it be... divine retribution? An absurd thought popped into the police inspector's mind, but he quickly suppressed it. He was a policeman; he only believed in evidence.

"Notify the person in charge of the waste disposal company to undergo further investigation and be held accountable for their safety management responsibilities. For ' All-American Express,' restore surveillance cameras as soon as possible and strengthen security patrols. As for the deceased's family, provide comfort and handle the follow-up matters." The police inspector finally instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument. "This case is preliminarily determined to be an accidental death. A detailed report will be submitted to the prosecutor's office. If the family has any objections, they can request an independent autopsy or investigation."

The security chief and legal counsel of "All-American Express" exchanged a glance and breathed a sigh of relief. Although the accident was a blow to the company and the Crawford family's reputation, it was much easier to handle than being involved in a murder case. The follow-up would simply be compensation, rectification, and dealing with possible civil lawsuits.

The news spread like wildfire through internal channels, police briefings, and the ever-present media.

The Seattle Times ' midday online news headline was concise and alarming. "Two Tragedys in One Day! IRS Official Dies in Garage 'Water Cannon,' Logistics Tycoon Perishes in 'Glass Rain'." The subheading highlighted the preliminary conclusion. "Initial Investigations Show Both Were Unfortunate 'Accidents,' Raising Concerns About the Safety of Related Facilities."

On the television news, the anchor delivered the report in a somber yet slightly sensational tone, the screen flashing images of a garage exit blocked by police tape, close-ups of broken glass scattered on the ground, and photos of Daniel Crawford in his prime.

On social media, various speculations, sighs, and conspiracy theories began to emerge. "What a coincidence!" "Did they offend someone?" "The IRS's facilities are clearly outdated, and the logistics guy... they really brought this on themselves, making things up." "Even the rich can't escape accidents..." "I heard these two have recently had some kind of feud with a newly rich guy from the East?" "Shh, don't talk nonsense, the police have already ruled it an accident."

But in any case, the official conclusion, like a heavy coffin lid, has been laid down.

Richard Cohen died from "an old high-pressure water pipe bursting in an underground parking garage, from which flying debris accidentally struck him and caused his death."

Daniel Crawford died after "illegally stored glass above a parking lot slipped and collapsed, causing a secondary collapse as the victim pulled on the tarpaulin covering it, and was struck in the neck by the glass."

Two separate, tragic, and cautionary "accidents."

The case files were archived, and the investigation (at least the public one) gradually subsided. Life went on, and the city's hustle and bustle soon drowned out the two brief tragedies. Only certain eyes watching from the shadows and certain hearts beating in the silence understood the cold, precise, and unquestionable will and power behind this "accident."

The sun finally dispelled the morning mist, illuminating a brand new day in Seattle. The streets were bustling with traffic, and people hurried about, busy with their lives. The blood and death of the previous night seemed to be nothing more than two drops of dew that evaporated quickly and left no trace in the long history of this city.