An Unladylike Murder, page 4
part #1 of Jessica Sloan Mystery Series
Sloan noticed how Cutter ignored the mess. “Why aren’t you upset with the homeless problem, Cutter?”
“Why bother? If it was up to me I’d create a concentration camp out in the Mohave Desert where I’d send them all to be locked up.”
“That seems a little severe.”
“You asked, I told you how I felt. Since you don’t like the truth let me try my politically correct answer. They’ve decided to opt out of today’s world. Unless they’re bothering someone, I say leave them alone. Let them inject their drugs and drink their cheap booze. Hopefully, it’ll kill ‘em.”
Really, that’s his idea of a PC response?
Cutter’s phone buzzed. He stopped and found that he’d been notified that they had a warrant to enter the crime scene and take control of the situation. “We have the warrant, we’re good to go.”
Sloan followed Cutter’s lead.
On the side of the theatre, Sloan spotted fresh graffiti that read “Leave San Francisco or die.”
I wonder how the tourists feel when they see crap like that.
Sloan glanced at the onlookers who were holding up their cell phones and posting to social media.
Seeing the crime scene tape excited her.
“Okay Sloan, let’s go and read the crumbs.”
Chapter 8
As they walked up to the well-lit grand entrance of the Orpheum Theatre, Sloan saw the Forensics and Medical Examiner teams already standing outside. She knew both needed to be told by Cutter that he had a warrant so they could enter to perform their jobs.
Off to their right, uniformed cops held back a contingent of reporters salivating for an interview with anyone.
An officer holding a clipboard stood just in front of the brass doors that framed the entrance.
He seemed to recognize Cutter and held the clipboard out to him. “Welcome to the party. Does this case belong to you, Detective Cutter?”
“It does.” Cutter scribbled his name and time of arrival onto the log. “I need to speak to the Patrol Supervisor.”
Two minutes later Sloan and Cutter received a briefing from the Patrol Supervisor about what the first responding officers had discovered. “The performance started at 7 p.m. There was one intermission and it started at 8:15 and was over at 8:30. The victim was found dead in the Ladies Restroom at 8:33. She was found sitting on a toilet in a stall. Her skirt was pulled up around her waist and there’s an injection site on her upper thigh.”
“Is this an overdose or a murder?”
“Good question. I missed a detail. Unless she was able to hit herself on the side of her head before she injected herself, it’s not an overdose.”
So, it’s probably a murder.
Cutter snapped. “You’re right. That’s the kind of important detail you should have mentioned up front. Is the murder weapon still in there?”
“Yes, it’s a huge syringe.”
Poisoned.
“That’s a good break.”
“Cutter,” Sloan interrupted, “I think the Medical Examiner is heading our way.”
The Patrol Supervisor stepped aside.
Cutter made the introductions. “Sloan, this is Doctor Peter Fitzpatrick, but we call him, Fitz. Fitz, this is my new partner, Detective Jessica Sloan.”
Fitz shook Sloan’s hand. “Sloan, you’re lucky that you’ve got such an experienced partner in John Cutter.”
Sloan nodded. “Thanks.”
Oh, Cutter’s just a hoot so far.
Since no one could do anything until the Medical Examiner was finished, Cutter gave him the lead. “Fitz, I have the warrant. You can go ahead and start.”
As Fitz went inside, the Patrol Supervisor stepped back in to finish his information dump. “There are over two thousand theatre goers jammed inside and they will all want to leave as soon as the performance is over which should be at 10 p.m. He checked his watch. “That’ll be in thirty minutes or so.”
Cutter told him, “We’re having officers taking videos of everyone as they leave. We’ll use photo recognition to identify them.”
“Gee, that’s a smart way to do it.”
Jessica grinned and waited for Cutter to acknowledge that it was her idea.
He didn’t.
Thanks partner.
Cutter said, “I’m gonna need at least half a dozen uniforms positioned here at the front exit. As soon as the performance ends, I need you to announce that if anyone saw anything suspicious they should come forward and tell the uniformed officer at the exit. Also, get those people’s contact information. Then you can let them go. One more thing, I want the identification of all the ushers and performers as well. Have your men handle them.”
“Copy that, Cutter.” The Supervisor waved over a uniformed officer. “Officer Rankin here will show you into the crime scene.”
They went in through the gleaming doors.
The lobby was empty as music and voices drifted in from the performance.
They passed bored ushers waiting to give assistance to anyone who needed help on their way out.
Stepping inside where they could see the stage, Sloan couldn’t help but look up at the walls and ceiling. While the cast was singing, she marveled at the dramatic space they’d entered.
It’s like going back in time.
A soft white light from a huge chandelier stood out against the ornate dark fiery ceiling.
It probably represents the sun.
Jessica wasn’t sure if the grand space was decorated more like a palace or cathedral. Her eyes were then drawn to the full-bodied lions ringing the ceiling.
Officer Rankin interrupted her gaze by moving his arm to guide them. “This way, detectives.”
They were shown down a long hallway to the Ladies Restroom. “This one is for the patrons of the main floor. “
Another Patrol Officer lifted crime scene tape so Jessica and Cutter could enter.
Cutter established his control. “Make sure that this restroom stays closed until we release the crime scene. Now, where’s the body?”
“In that handicapped stall at the end.”
The Patrol Supervisor walked up to them. “As you can see, the Medical Examiner and his assistant are still at work. Would you like me to show you where the victim was sitting before her restroom break?”
“Good idea.”
Chapter 9
Standing under a doorway arch, Cutter and Sloan were pointed towards the Orchestra Center seats. “Your victim was in the first row, sitting in the third seat from the aisle. In seats one and four were her bodyguards. The man in seat two was her rent a date.”
“Her what?”
“The young man’s name is Dale Lint. He claims to be a method actor who’s working as her date tonight. He works for something called Rent-An-Actor.”
“What in hell is a “method actor”?”
The Patrol Supervisor knew. “It’s a technique of acting in which an actor aspires to complete emotional identification with a part.”
“You mean he’s a gigolo.”
“No. He said that he’s an actor playing his role as a date tonight.”
Sloan couldn’t stop looking at the two bodyguards with their shaved scalps.
They must be going for that Bruce Willis look.
With the audience wrapped up in the performance, Sloan zeroed in on the male in the second seat.
He’s oblivious to his date’s death.
Sloan whispered into Cutter’s ear. “I know about Rent-An-Actor. It’s kind of like an Uber for friends. I’ll explain it to you later.”
“Okay.”
She listened as Cutter spoke to the Patrol Supervisor. “I want the names and contact info for everyone sitting two rows back of her and say six seats in. I also want a list of all the staff on duty tonight with their contact information. Especially anyone who may have come in contact with the victim.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
“Is there a private office in here that we can use to interview the actor and bodyguards?”
“Yeah, there’s a manager’s office. I’ll make sure its empty for you to use.”
“Great. Get the three men to go there and wait for us. Put an officer outside the door so they don’t leave.”
“Copy that.”
Cutter twitched his head towards the washrooms. “Let’s see how the Medical Examiner’s doing.”
Cutter told Sloan to notice that there were no cameras visible near the Ladies Restroom.
Before they entered the restroom, Cutter pulled out blue shoe covers and puncture resistant nitrile gloves for their hands. He handed a set to Jessica. “Put these on.”
Without touching anything, Cutter looked over the first restroom stall. It was a standard metal one with a twist lock. “These are easily defeated. All it takes is a little push.”
The Medical Examiner stepped out of the last stall. “I’m done for now. Luckily the victim took the handicap stall, otherwise there’d be no elbow room.”
She listened as Cutter and Fitz talked.
“Any idea of the cause of death?”
“This is an odd one. I won’t know for sure until I can complete the autopsy.”
“How about an unofficial educated guess?”
“First of all there is a dent on the left side of her scalp where she was hit on the head. The blow most likely incapacitated her. Then there’s a needle mark on her upper right thigh near the groin indicating someone injected something into her femoral artery. If it was a fast acting poison or a drug overdose, that may be it.”
“Would it take someone with medical training to do an injection into an artery like that?”
“Not necessarily. Anyone with access to YouTube on their phone could find out that it only takes a few seconds to find the femoral artery by using the ‘V’ technique.”
Fitz showed Cutter his hand. His thumb was down creating the ‘V’.
Cutter tried to understand what he’d heard. “So a suspect broke into the stall; took a quick step to get closer to her, whacked her on the head while she was busy on the toilet, and then injected her with something.”
“It would appear that way.” The Medical Examiner pointed at a large syringe lying next to the toilet. “It would seem she was injected by a 200cc syringe. I won’t know what she was injected with until the forensics lab analyzes it and I’ve completed my autopsy. I can tell you that I’ll be doing a complete series of tox screens on her.”
“Did she fight back?”
“I’ll scrape her nails, but so far I don’t see any defensive signs.”
“Strange. “ Cutter stared at the floor. “I’ve never seen a syringe that big before.”
“Syringes that large are not generally used anywhere but inside a laboratory.” The Medical Examiner cracked a smile. “However, I must admit that I’ve seen them used for everything from watering plants to measuring out Jello shots at a party.”
“Jello shots, eh. That’s a side of you that I’ve never seen, Fitz… So, whoever did this, had to have planned it.”
“I would think so.” The Medical Examiner stepped outside allowing Cutter and Sloan clearer access to the stall. “The crime scene is all yours, Cutter.”
Cutter looked back to Fitz. “Time of death?”
“I took the liver temp and did the math. Probably forty five minutes ago, just after the second act of the performance began.”
Cutter glanced at Sloan as she let him get close to the body. “This is an easy death. Wait until we snag a floater or ripe one. They’re much worse.”
Jessica forced a half grin.
Cutter crouched to look at the victim’s thigh.
He winced as his nose told him that she had defecated.
There was definitely a red mark on her thigh where she’d been injected.
Sloan noticed how Cutter’s eyes lingered on her pubic area.
She watched as Cutter finally looked up and noticed the victim’s white pearl necklace and earrings.
Then he looked at the black dress that she’d hiked up around her waist.
Out of habit, he lifted her arms searching for drug tracks.
He was careful not to let her topple over. “Look how her skin is getting a purple hue and looking waxy.”
Next, he picked up her hands looking at her nails for foreign debris
The hands were turning blue. “Fitz is right, she’s been dead for at least thirty minutes.”
Sloan noticed how the victim’s black panties were sagging around her ankles.
A huge syringe still lay on the floor next to the toilet.
The victim’s black evening clutch was beside it.
Cutter picked it up.
Trying to stand, both knee joints cracked.
Sloan asked, “Does the clutch have any identification in it?”
Cutter lifted out a driver’s license. “Jill Gillberry of San Francisco.”
Next, he pulled out a business card. “She’s the Chief Executive Officer of Jill Gillberry Technologies.”
Sloan was surprised. “I’ve heard of her. She’s around my age and she’s already a female celebrity because she runs a medical high tech firm worth billions.”
“Given all the demonstrations against tech firms that are going on, that’s not a good coincidence. ”
“Are you saying you think that she was murdered because she was the CEO of a tech firm?”
“No, that would be pure speculation until we know more, but we have to keep open minds. What does the crime scene tell you?”
“Whoever broke into the stall, either surprised her so she wasn’t able to fight her off… It might have been a man… Maybe a man, dressed as a woman. I think we need to talk to her date and guards next.”
“Good call. Let’s do it. We need to let forensics take over anyway.”
Chapter 10
The Lead Forensic Investigator was waiting at the entrance to the Ladies Restroom.
John Cutter spoke in a soft voice to Sloan. “All the physical evidence that’s uncovered during a forensic investigation must hold up in court which means the investigators must follow chain of evidence practices.”
Sloan inhaled before she spoke in an effort to be polite. “Yes, I know, Cutter.”
“Just making sure, that’s all. It’s my job to break you in.”
Cutter turned to the Forensic Investigator. “This is my new partner Detective Jessica Sloan. You’ll find the victim is a Jill Gillberry who was the CEO of a technical medical company. So, I’m sure the politicians and press will be all over this one. You’ll find a huge syringe on the floor. I need to know what she was injected with, as soon as possible. If we’re lucky, the killer also left fingerprints on the syringe and hopefully the stall door.”
Sloan spoke up. “Besides having the restroom stall finger printed, I’d like it swabbed for DNA as well.”
The Lead Investigator looked to Cutter who nodded.
“I’ll make the syringe and needle the first items we process. If we’re lucky, the suspect left fingerprints and biologics.” He glanced at Sloan. “I’ll also make sure we process all of the stalls.”
Cutter grinned at Sloan then turned back to the Lead Investigator. “Thanks. Document everything. Write down everything. Take lots of photographs. Use your 3D laser scanner to measure everything.”
“I’ll also have one of my techs try to do electronic dust print lifting.”
Sloan looked at him. “What’s that?”
The Lead Investigator explained. “Something new. Anyone who walked in here, transferred dust and other particulate matter to the floor leaving latent impressions of their footwear. We’ll try to lift the prints. The problem is that there may have already been too many people in the stall and walking up to it.”
“Too bad.”
“I was told today that we are to input all the Forensic information into the new iPoirot cloud in real time.”
Sloan grinned. “It should cut down on paperwork and speed everything up. I’m looking forward to using it.”
Cutter raised his eyebrows. “You mean I won’t have to chase Forensics to get your findings.”
“That’s what I was told.” The Forensic Investigator smirked back at him. “Just in case, don’t delete my phone number.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t until I see that it works.”
The Forensic Investigator added, “But I do think it’s a huge step forward.”
Sloan grinned.
At least someone else believes in the future with me.
Sloan said, “We’ll also need a map of the theatre and photographs of all means of accessing the seats and routes to this restroom.”
“Yes, Detective Sloan.”
Someone knows who I am.
Sloan said, “We also need to make sure there are enough uniforms to prevent any group of women from rushing the restroom.”
Cutter raised his eyebrows.
Sloan explained. “They’ll be pissed when they find they can’t use the restroom before they leave.”
“Good idea.”
Cutter waived Officer Rankin over and told him what to do.
Then Cutter glanced at Sloan who was using her iPad. “What’re you doing?”
“In case you’re interested I’ve done a quick look at Jill Gillberry’s social media and mentions of her.”
“What’d you discover?”
“Not much. For a Silicon Valley leader she wasn’t making good use of social media to promote herself or her company. The company had inactive pages on most of the normal applications like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. My guess is the accounts are just placeholders in case she ever wanted to make use one of them in the future.”
“What about her personally?”
“Nothing. Either she didn’t believe in social media or she really valued her privacy.”
“Too bad. I guess we’ll have to use old-fashioned shoe leather and knock on doors then… Say, are you on Facebook, Sloan?”
“No, It’s against police policy. Are you?”
“Are you kidding?” Cutter shook his head.
Sloan said, “I agree with the police policy. It’s not hard to imagine a criminal wanting to get personal information on one of us and track us down. It would be easy to set us up in a trap or go after family.”
