Introducing - How i Died

Summary

Podcast Summary: Trap Street – Episode "Introducing - How I Died"

Overview

In the inaugural episode titled "Introducing - How I Died," Trap Street delves into the eerie narrative of the acclaimed fiction podcast How I Died. Hosted by Tony Martinez and Michael P. Greco, this episode serves as an introduction to the show's gripping storyline, blending supernatural elements with forensic mystery. Set against the backdrop of Ocean Bay, a town plagued by unexplained deaths, the episode unravels the haunting tale of John Spacer, a forensic pathologist with the unique ability to communicate with the dead.

Setting the Scene: Springfield’s High Mortality Rate

The episode opens with the new forensic pathologist, Dr. John Spacer (voiced by Vince Dejani), arriving at the sprawling pathology lab in the seemingly tranquil town of Springfield. From the onset, the tension is palpable as Sheriff Fran Crowley (voiced by Shayna Waring) introduces John to the grim realities of his new workplace.

“This is a pretty big lab for a small town. That’s two whole walls of cold drawers... You might be out of your element here, John.” [02:00]

Meeting Sheriff Fran Crowley

Sheriff Crowley isn’t your typical law enforcement officer. Her brusque demeanor and sharp wit hint at the underlying stress of dealing with Springfield’s alarming death rates. Their initial interaction sets the stage for the complex relationship between law enforcement and forensic investigation in tackling the town’s mysteries.

“Look, it’s late. I know I am. So let’s say we just disregard the sexism for a minute and move on.” [04:05]

The Case of Maggie Lane

The central plot revolves around the mysterious death of Maggie Lane, a 31-year-old woman found lifeless in her home. As Dr. Spacer begins his post-mortem analysis, Maggie’s spirit appears, initiating a supernatural dialogue that drives the narrative forward.

“Yes. You’re a ghost. Welcome to the afterlife.” [07:29]

Maggie accuses her husband, Mark Lane, of poisoning her and their daughter, Danny, revealing deep-seated family tensions and possible motives. This confession introduces a complex web of relationships and secrets within Ocean Bay.

Supernatural Investigation

Dr. Spacer’s ability to communicate with the deceased offers a unique perspective in solving crimes. However, as Maggie divulges her story, inconsistencies begin to surface, challenging the initial assumptions about the cause of death.

“You tricked me.” [26:08]

Uncovering Hidden Truths

As the autopsy progresses, Dr. Spacer discovers alarming details:

• Codeine Overdose: Maggie’s system is riddled with codeine, contradicting her claim of anaphylaxis due to shellfish poisoning.

  “According to this, you’ve got a ton of codeine painkiller in your system.” [17:50]

• EpiPens and Prescriptions: The discovery of multiple EpiPens and prescriptions for painkillers suggests a deeper layer of deceit and possible foul play.

  “It sounds like you don’t want her to be guilty.” [24:26]

These revelations point to a potential cover-up, where the true cause of death may be obscured by manipulated evidence, adding complexity to the investigation.

Dynamic Between Characters

The interplay between Dr. Spacer and Sheriff Crowley highlights differing approaches to unraveling the truth. While Dr. Spacer relies on scientific analysis and supernatural insights, Sheriff Crowley employs practical law enforcement tactics, creating a compelling dynamic that drives the investigation forward.

“Figure that shit out on your own. But you shouldn’t be surprised around here.” [25:19]

Climactic Unveiling

The episode builds tension as Sheriff Crowley arrives with Maggie’s husband, Mark, and daughter, Danny, both of whom are experiencing severe allergic reactions. The situation escalates when Danny collapses despite medical intervention, leading Dr. Spacer to reassess his earlier conclusions.

“You thought they were both dead.” [23:32]

The climax reveals a shocking twist: the initial poisoning attempt may not have been solely Mark’s doing, suggesting Maggie’s possible involvement or a more intricate scheme to save her family.

Notable Quotes

• Dr. John Spacer: “You’re a ghost. Welcome to the afterlife.” [07:29] “The devil is in the details.” [19:37]

• Maggie Lane: “You tricked me.” [26:08] “We were promised salvation. I was lied to.” [26:01]

• Sheriff Fran Crowley: “Welcome to Springfield, Doc. Enjoy your stay while it lasts.” [25:41]

Themes and Insights

"Introducing - How I Died" explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the quest for truth in a town shrouded in mystery. The fusion of forensic science with supernatural elements creates a unique narrative tension, emphasizing the struggle between uncovering factual evidence and confronting ethereal apparitions. The episode also delves into the psychological toll of investigative work, highlighting the characters' vulnerabilities and moral dilemmas.

Conclusion

The pilot episode of How I Died masterfully sets the stage for a series filled with suspense, supernatural intrigue, and complex character dynamics. As Dr. John Spacer and Sheriff Fran Crowley navigate the chilling cases of Springfield, listeners are left eagerly anticipating the unraveling of deeper mysteries that threaten the very fabric of the town. With its engaging storytelling and rich character development, "Introducing - How I Died" successfully captivates audiences, promising a riveting journey through the unknown.

Transcript

[Vince Dejani]

Today's episode is sponsored by How I Died, an award winning fiction podcast. The show begins with John Spencer, a forensic pathologist with a very special talent. He can speak with the dead. And that skill is going to come in handy because John just started working in a strange and shadowy town called Springfield, a town with an unusually high mortality rate. As bodies start piling up in the morgue, John uses his secret ability to help local police solve the case of the week, while also tracking down clues about a mysterious serial killer. I listened to the entire first season of this show and was hooked from the start. Working on Trap street and Strange Air has made me love supernatural mysteries, and this one delivers in a major way. How I Died has received nearly 4 million downloads over three seasons. The series has more than 40 episodes already in release, with a new season currently in production. You can find and listen to How I Died by clicking the link in this episode's show notes or. Or by searching for How I Died on any of your favorite podcast platforms. Thanks for listening. And here is the very first episode of this amazing show.

[Dr. John Spacer]

How I Died contains adult language and themes that may be inappropriate for younger audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. Stick around after each episode for some director's commentary. Audio Media presents How I Died Stop talking. Stop talking. Leave me alone. Hello? Huh? It's too early for this shit. Oh, hi. Sorry, what did you say? I asked if you were the new doctor here. Yeah, I am. I'm John Spacer. Are you Sheriff Crowley? No, it's just I've been waiting here for almost an hour. On the phone they said get here asap, so I figured next time we'll tell the victim to die faster so you don't have to wait as long. I didn't mean it like that. I meant that. Sorry. I'm just here to let you into the pathology lab. Go ahead in. The sheriff will be bringing in the body soon. The hospital Cafeteria is open 247 in case you need a cup of coffee or anything. Oh, do you know if they have tea? I don't drink coffee. I don't know. I drink coffee. Off to a great start on your first day. Phew. This is a pretty big lab for a small town. That's two whole walls of cold drawers. What is that, a sink over there? Two nicely cleaned exam tables right in the center here. You might be out of your element here, John. You can do this. You can do this. Fresh start.

[Shayna Waring]

Dr. Spacer?

[Dr. John Spacer]

Oh, yeah, I'm here.

[Shayna Waring]

Hey there, Doc. I've got a present for you.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Who's the victim.

[Shayna Waring]

Nice to meet you too. I'm Fran Crowley.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Oh, you're the sheriff.

[Shayna Waring]

Oh, Aren't you a little young to be a coroner?

[Dr. John Spacer]

I was not trying to. I'm a forensic pathologist, actually. It's lower on the totem pole.

[Shayna Waring]

Look, it's late. I'm sure you're tired. I know I am. So let's say we just disregard the sexism for a minute and move on. I'd rather enjoy the short time we have together.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Um, excuse me. What's that supposed to mean?

[Shayna Waring]

Don't worry. I didn't mean you'll end up like her here. I just mean you'll cycle out eventually. Nobody sticks around long in this job.

[Dr. John Spacer]

You said her. The victim is a woman. Do you have a case file?

[Shayna Waring]

Bare minimum, we just found her.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Um, this is essentially blank. Female, age 31. There isn't even a name written down. Do we have a wallet or personal effects?

[Shayna Waring]

Got our purse, but we don't need it. That is Maggie Lane.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Did you know her because we're both women? What? No. Because it's such a small town, I.

[Shayna Waring]

Relax, doc. I'm just messing with you.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Ah, you got me. Not used to people joking about murder.

[Shayna Waring]

Yeah, well, after how tense tonight's been, I needed a laugh.

[Dr. John Spacer]

What happened to her exactly?

[Shayna Waring]

Don't know. We've got a missing husband and child. Someone called this in from their house phone, but by the time we arrived, all we found was Maggie.

[Dr. John Spacer]

How strange.

[Shayna Waring]

My deputies are looking for the husband now. My bet is he poisoned her, took the kid and fled. But that's what you're here to confirm, Mr. Coroner.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Oh, forensic pathologists, remember?

[Shayna Waring]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just confirm for me what I already know.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Um, do you hear that?

[Shayna Waring]

Hear what?

[Melissa Sheldon]

Hello?

[Dr. John Spacer]

Nothing. Just something in the pipes, I guess.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Hello?

[Dr. John Spacer]

I must be anxious just to get to work.

[Shayna Waring]

Whatever, doc. Don't go loopy on us already. Took us long enough to replace the last one.

[Dr. John Spacer]

I've really gotta scrub up.

[Shayna Waring]

I'm leaving. I'm leaving. Let's see what you can do.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Yeah, let's see what I can do. Hello? All right, let me get my mic set up for dictation. Here we go.

[Melissa Sheldon]

What is happening? Don't destoy. Where am I?

[Dr. John Spacer]

It's Wednesday morning, 4:24am Dr. Jonathan Spacer, conducting post mortem analysis. Case number 1328. 31 year old female, 117 pounds, 5 foot 3 inches tall.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Hey, you. I have a name, you know.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Pronounced dead at the scene approximately 3am after a 911 call. Cause of death Currently unknown. First responders noted no signs of pulse or breathing, but they did note some marks on the neck.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Is this. Is this heaven?

[Dr. John Spacer]

I'll be examining the body for other notable external markings before beginning surgery.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Am I. Am I dead?

[Dr. John Spacer]

Yes. You're a ghost. Welcome to the afterlife.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Wow. If I would have known. I never. Wait. You're alive? But you can hear me?

[Dr. John Spacer]

How is that important right now?

[Melissa Sheldon]

I. I guess not. So this is what it's like to die? This is not the escape I was promised.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Technically, this is what happens after you die.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Who are you? Where is everyone else?

[Dr. John Spacer]

I'm a doctor. My name's John. It's just us in the lab. And it's my job to determine how and why you were killed so that we can put whoever did this behind bars.

[Melissa Sheldon]

It's a little late for that. It doesn't really matter who killed us, now does it? Have you done this before? You don't seem freaked out to see me.

[Dr. John Spacer]

I. This is a pretty standard post mortem exam. I've done dozens of these on cadavers, but.

[Melissa Sheldon]

But what? You've never done it on a real case? Holy shit.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Calm down. You're not the first ghost I've seen, if that's what you're wondering. And I've done autopsies with ghosts around before. Just. There's always been someone else with me, so I never been able to talk to them about the case. I'm kind of figuring out what I need to say to you as we go.

[Melissa Sheldon]

You don't need to say anything to me. Just write down that my husband, Mark Lane, poisoned me and Danny.

[Dr. John Spacer]

That's unfortunate. But I need some hard evidence.

[Melissa Sheldon]

We're dead. There's your evidence.

[Dr. John Spacer]

We? Is Danny your daughter?

[Melissa Sheldon]

Damn it. You don't know anything. Sheriff France should have just done this without you.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Victim does not appear to have any physical markings on her body other than her neck. I'm going to check for signs of sexual assault.

[Melissa Sheldon]

You're. You're going to what? Just get someone else in here to do this. Kid.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Look, you're dead. I'm sorry about that. And I'm sure it is a lot to take in right now, but you need to either get over it quickly or figure out how to deal with it yourself so that I can focus on this case.

[Melissa Sheldon]

You're an insensitive ass, you know that?

[Dr. John Spacer]

I'm trying to help you. But I can't answer your questions while trying to examine your body. So I suggest you let me do my job before your husband gets away.

[Melissa Sheldon]

With Murder gets away with murder.

[Dr. John Spacer]

For the record, there are no signs of sexual assault.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Whoa. You said Mark was going to get away with murder. What does that mean?

[Dr. John Spacer]

Hmm. Looking at the victim's wrist, I've noted a slight shadow or some sort of indentation. Did you wear a bracelet here?

[Melissa Sheldon]

I. I used to. It was a gift from me mama. An old family heirloom.

[Dr. John Spacer]

That must have been some large bracelet to make that kind of outline. Hmm. Note. Return to this later. If the wrist still has an indent from the bracelet, it could be a sign of a skin or bruising problem.

[Melissa Sheldon]

You think the fact that I've got an indent on my wrist is important?

[Dr. John Spacer]

I think every detail can be important.

[Melissa Sheldon]

And. And now what are you doing?

[Dr. John Spacer]

I'm drawing blood for a toxicology report.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Why are you wasting time? My husband killed us all. That's the important detail.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Well, as soon as this report is done, we'll figure out what type of poison it was.

[Melissa Sheldon]

That's not what I meant.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Another note. There are small tracings. They look like red marks on the upper torso leading to the victim's neck. No signs of a struggle, though.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Maggie. My name is Maggie.

[Dr. John Spacer]

There seems to be no damage to the epidermis around the neck. These red bumps are more consistent with an allergic reaction rash. I'll need to check the victim's throat.

[Melissa Sheldon]

You're treating me like I don't even exist. What I have to say could help you.

[Dr. John Spacer]

You're right. I apologize. Did you know Sheriff Crowley well?

[Melissa Sheldon]

What?

[Dr. John Spacer]

You called her Fran. And then you got mad at me when I didn't know who Danny was. I'm assuming that you saw the sheriff in here a minute ago. I'm deducing that means you two were on a first name basis.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Yeah. Danny went to kindergarten with Fran's son, Josh, you know, years ago, before.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Before what?

[Melissa Sheldon]

It's not my place.

[Dr. John Spacer]

I'm going to have to cut open your throat to examine the inside. You may want to look away.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Fine. Talk to me then.

[Dr. John Spacer]

I don't know what to say. What is Danny like?

[Melissa Sheldon]

Oh, she was a wonderful little kid. Always so happy about everything. She loved pigs and cows. I'd always catch her at the neighbor's pens after school. She said she wanted to be a farmer when she grew up. And. And now?

[Dr. John Spacer]

You'll miss her, I'm sure.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Of course I'll miss her. Your kids are the light of your life. You do anything to keep them safe.

[Dr. John Spacer]

You think you weren't able to keep Danny safe?

[Melissa Sheldon]

No one could have. This world. It's no place to raise kids. She. She was being bullied in school, and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it. Mark lost his job, and we were gonna lose our home, too. We. We had no options.

[Dr. John Spacer]

So you don't blame Mark?

[Melissa Sheldon]

Of course I do. Mark was a bastard. We. We had Downey right out of high school. And he was cruel. From the moment I got pregnant, he took out all his frustrations on me. He beat me and drank all day and night. I tried to keep Danny away from it, but I couldn't. I couldn't let her go on in this terrible world to grow up and be abused by her husband, have the world shit on her. It's a fucking unavoidable cycle that's not worth living through. Death is the only thing that breaks the cycle.

[Dr. John Spacer]

I didn't notice any bruising or indications of past beatings during my initial exam.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Are you saying I'm lying?

[Dr. John Spacer]

No. No, no, not at all. But I wasn't looking for the signs. I might have missed something that only an X ray could see. Can you tell me what happened tonight before you ended up here?

[Melissa Sheldon]

Don't you care what I have to say now?

[Dr. John Spacer]

You asked me to talk to you. I'm perfectly fine just taking notes as I operate.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Fine. I see. I came home and Mark had made dinner for us, which was surprising.

[Dr. John Spacer]

You don't seem so sure.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Oh, I don't know. Maybe the details are just fuzzy because I'm dead. Did you ever think of that?

[Dr. John Spacer]

Maybe. Continue if you want to.

[Melissa Sheldon]

I came home and Mark had dinner on the table. I didn't know at the time what it was, but we ate and we talked like a real family for once. And he seemed happy, and I was happy. And then. And then I started to have trouble breathing.

[Dr. John Spacer]

An allergic reaction.

[Melissa Sheldon]

That's what it felt like. It was just, like, itchy at first. Then it felt like someone was putting their hands around my neck, slowly choking me of air. And I panicked. And I hit the ground hard.

[Dr. John Spacer]

And I'm seeing red rashes, tightened muscles, and a closed airway on the inside of your throat. It's definitely consistent with anaphylaxis.

[Melissa Sheldon]

I will never forget that feeling of just sitting at the table across from him. I was so happy to look at him and watch him eat. And I squeezed Danny's hand as she ate dinner, too. And then I saw it. The look of fear in her face. My little baby saw me hit the floor, and I tried to just hold on to her as it happened. It had to happen. That way. And then I was at peace. Finally.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Damn. I'm sure they'll catch Mark and find Annie safe. I wouldn't worry.

[Melissa Sheldon]

What?

[Dr. John Spacer]

The police haven't been able to locate them yet.

[Melissa Sheldon]

What do you mean? They were in the room with me.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Wait, when you died?

[Melissa Sheldon]

Yes. We're all deathly allergic to shellfish. And they ate the food just like I did. Maybe more.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Are you telling me you could taste shellfish in the dish?

[Melissa Sheldon]

What? No. I'm just assuming that's what it was.

[Shayna Waring]

But you're.

[Melissa Sheldon]

You're telling me that Danny and Mark are still alive?

[Dr. John Spacer]

Actually, now that you mention it, I don't know that for sure. Sheriff Crowley said There was a 911 call placed from your home. Your husband's car was missing from the driveway, and I guess the police were assuming that they were on the run. Hold on just a moment.

[Melissa Sheldon]

They're. Oh, God. They're alive. That is impossible. I. Where are you going?

[Dr. John Spacer]

I'm actually done with the surgery. I think I've found all the information that I can glean from your body other than a stomach pump. But you just told me what I'll find. Shellfish. Or at least something that's cooked with it. That won't be detectable. And that sound was the toxicology report Finishing.

[Melissa Sheldon]

This was supposed to be our escape.

[Dr. John Spacer]

According to this, you've got a ton of codeine painkiller in your system. And trace amounts of clozapine, haloperidol, lurasidone. Those medications are antidepressants and an antipsychotic. Interesting. But the amounts show inconsistent or not recent usage. Why would you have that much painkiller in your system? Unless that's.

[Melissa Sheldon]

That's not possible. They shouldn't be alive. I saw their faces. Danny was so afraid, she couldn't breathe either. And Mark, I know, is allergic to shellfish. They shouldn't be alive. And I shouldn't be the only one dead.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Hi, I'm trying to reach Sheriff Fran Crowley. This is John Spacer. I'm the new forensic pathologist. Yeah, the new coroner. If you could ask her to. Oh, she's still at the hospital. Could you radio for her to come down to the pathology lab? Yes, as soon as possible, please. Thank you. Sheriff Crowley's on her way down.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Please tell her that Mark poisoned us. And if they do find him, he did it.

[Dr. John Spacer]

I will. If that's really what happened.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Of course it's what happened. Why wouldn't it be?

[Dr. John Spacer]

What did you have for dinner?

[Melissa Sheldon]

What? Why?

[Dr. John Spacer]

The devil is in the details. And Right now, there are a few that aren't adding up.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Screw you. You don't know anything.

[Dr. John Spacer]

You thought they were both dead.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Screw you. Screw you.

[Dr. John Spacer]

You also immediately went to shellfish as the ingredient. How did you know that?

[Melissa Sheldon]

They shouldn't be. I shouldn't be dead.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Tell me something. The indent on your wrist, that was from wearing a medical alert bracelet, wasn't it? Why did you take it off?

[Shayna Waring]

What did you find? Doc, I need answers now. There's a shitstorm upstairs.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Sheriff. Here. Come. Come see.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Fran. Fran. Mark killed me. He. He. He tried to kill all of us. But what.

[Shayna Waring]

Why are you making me look at this?

[Melissa Sheldon]

She. She can't hear me, can she? Fran. Fran.

[Dr. John Spacer]

I assumed you'd want to know what I found.

[Shayna Waring]

Not like that.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Fuck.

[Shayna Waring]

Just tell me.

[Dr. John Spacer]

The cause of death was anaphylaxis after ingesting something. She was allergic to shellfish.

[Melissa Sheldon]

What?

[Dr. John Spacer]

That was my guess. How did you.

[Shayna Waring]

That's all you have for me? I found that out already.

[Melissa Sheldon]

No, no, wait.

[Dr. John Spacer]

How?

[Shayna Waring]

We found Maggie's husband and her daughter. They're upstairs in the ER right now.

[Melissa Sheldon]

You found them?

[Dr. John Spacer]

You found Danny?

[Shayna Waring]

Yeah. I was hoping you had more answers for me. It's not looking good.

[Melissa Sheldon]

They are going to die.

[Dr. John Spacer]

What happened?

[Shayna Waring]

Dani pulled up to the ER entrance with her dad in the passenger seat before we even arrived.

[Dr. John Spacer]

She drove here?

[Shayna Waring]

Yeah. 11 years old. Can you believe it? Apparently, she knew her parents were having a reaction and tried to find their EpiPens. When she couldn't, Mark hobbled out to his car with her. And Maggie? Well, Maggie was already unresponsive. Danny told the intake nurse her dad was having an attack. They gave him some steroids and he's doing fine.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Holy crap.

[Melissa Sheldon]

This was our chance. Yeah.

[Shayna Waring]

Problem is, a couple minutes later, Danny collapsed.

[Dr. John Spacer]

She was having a reaction, too.

[Shayna Waring]

I don't know. Neither do the doctors up there. I was just with her. She's not responding to steroids.

[Melissa Sheldon]

It's too late.

[Dr. John Spacer]

If she's not responding to steroids, that means. Wait a second.

[Shayna Waring]

What?

[Dr. John Spacer]

If I'm remembering biology correctly, which I am, allergies aren't always passed down genetically.

[Shayna Waring]

So.

[Dr. John Spacer]

So Maggie has a massive amount of codeine in her system.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Danny never ate fish before.

[Dr. John Spacer]

If she was the one who tried to kill the family, maybe she gave Danny codeine as well as a way to mercifully numb the pain.

[Shayna Waring]

You're thinking Maggie did it?

[Dr. John Spacer]

Oh, what was the extension to the ER again? Ah. Hey, this is Dr. Spacer in the pathology lab. You have a patient, a young girl named Danny Lane. Who isn't responding to steroids. Right. I'm pretty certain she's suffering from some overdose of codeine and other medications. Run a urine or a blood test to confirm, but she's going to need her stomach pumped immediately. Yeah, actually, send the test down and I can run it for you. Thanks.

[Melissa Sheldon]

She wasn't supposed to suffer. Neither of us were. But, Mark, how the hell can you.

[Shayna Waring]

Prove any of this?

[Dr. John Spacer]

I can't. Really?

[Shayna Waring]

Then how do you know? And how did you know their daughter's name was Dani earlier?

[Dr. John Spacer]

Oh, it's just something I heard around town. I put two and two together and, you know, I guess word travels fast around here.

[Shayna Waring]

Rumors aren't going to cut it here. I'm going back upstairs to see if we can question Mark. He's conscious, but at this point, it's his words against. Against a dead woman.

[Melissa Sheldon]

I hope he does get blamed for it. He took this away from all of us.

[Dr. John Spacer]

That's it. Sheriff. Wait.

[Shayna Waring]

What now?

[Dr. John Spacer]

The purse. What did you say you found in it?

[Shayna Waring]

I didn't. But we found it in Maggie's car, still parked at the house. Why?

[Dr. John Spacer]

It wasn't in the home?

[Shayna Waring]

No.

[Melissa Sheldon]

We were all supposed to be at peace.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Look.

[Shayna Waring]

Holy shit.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Are those EpiPens? Three of them. And I bet they're labeled for prescription, too. Yep. Mark Lane, Danny Lane and Maggie. And a bottle of codeine also prescribed to Maggie.

[Shayna Waring]

Circumstantial evidence. How do we know she didn't just leave them in there? Normally.

[Dr. John Spacer]

You forgive me, but it sounds like you don't want her to be guilty.

[Shayna Waring]

Guilty? Calm it down, new kid. Guilty or innocent isn't for either of us to decide. All I want is enough evidence for a judge.

[Melissa Sheldon]

It doesn't matter anymore.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Damn.

[Shayna Waring]

Don't worry, Doc. You might have just saved a little girl tonight. And all before sunup. That's a pretty good first day.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Hey, Sheriff Crowley. Is. Are they all going to be like this?

[Shayna Waring]

Like what?

[Dr. John Spacer]

This ambiguous. I mean, it's my job to find the evidence so that we can put it together. But what if we can't ever know for certain?

[Shayna Waring]

Kid, I'm not your shrink. I'm not your mentor either. Figure that shit out on your own. But you shouldn't be surprised around here.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Why not?

[Shayna Waring]

They really didn't tell you when you accepted the job, huh?

[Dr. John Spacer]

Tell me what?

[Shayna Waring]

We've got the nation's highest rate of unsolved deaths. Not for a lack of trying, either. Seems everyone here dies in a weird way. And that, well, starts to get to.

[Dr. John Spacer]

People and that's why no one wanted this job.

[Shayna Waring]

Welcome to Springfield, Doc. Enjoy your stay while it lasts.

[Melissa Sheldon]

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Why did you do it?

[Melissa Sheldon]

We were promised salvation. I. I was lied to.

[Dr. John Spacer]

You kept saying I should trust you and listen to you, but you lied to me, too.

[Melissa Sheldon]

You tricked me.

[Dr. John Spacer]

The worst part of all of this. This whole exam, this whole back and forth. Just to solve an attempted murder by a woman who can't ever be proven guilty. How is that fair? Even if you and I know the truth, the outcome is the only thing that matters. Here.

[Melissa Sheldon]

What are you doing? What is that box for?

[Dr. John Spacer]

When I was looking through your purse, I saw your license. You had a heart on the back, which meant you're an organ donor.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Stay away from my body.

[Dr. John Spacer]

If all that codeine damaged Dany's heart or her liver, she'll need a new one.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Don't touch me.

[Dr. John Spacer]

And even if she's not a match, your death will save someone else. That might be the only positive thing to come out of all of this.

[Melissa Sheldon]

I'll haunt you, I swear.

[Dr. John Spacer]

Victim Maggie Lane shows undeniable evidence to the cause of death being suffocation and anaphylactic shock due to allergic reaction. Thankfully, we'll be able to harvest some usable organs for potential transplant. She may save her own daughter's life.

[Melissa Sheldon]

Don't touch me.

[Dr. John Spacer]

You can do this, John.

[Melissa Sheldon]

No.

[Dr. John Spacer]

No. I can do this. No. This is Vince Dejani, creator of How I Died, and the voice of Dr. John Spacer. I just wanted to pop in real quick and say a personal thank you for listening to our show. It's been a huge undertaking, going through about five separate rewrites, multiple recastings, and a ton of time to perfect it. And we couldn't be more proud of the cast, crew, and everyone involved in working with the show. It means the absolute world to us that you personally took the time to listen and hopefully enjoy it. Now, before I spend an hour saying thank you, let me get into the credits. How I Died is an Audio Media original production co starring Vince Dejani as John Spacer and Shayna Waring as Sheriff Fran Crowley. This episode featured amazing guest performances by Melissa Sheldon as Maggie Lane and Mike lynch as the grumpy deputy. Audio editing and sound design by Vince Dejani and Eric Howell at Audiomedia. Sound effects and foley provided by freesound.org are created in house at Audio Media. The How I Died theme song was created by Mike [e-mail] with additional music by Maiden. If you enjoyed the show and want to help support it, head to patreon.com howidied for bonus episodes, crime scene photos, handwritten case files and more. Thank you again for listening. And until next episode, try not to die.