An Unladylike Murder, page 7
part #1 of Jessica Sloan Mystery Series
“Sounds good. So tell me Cutter, how do you feel about wearing these new cameras?”
“The idea of someone who is not on the street, working under the stress of the situation, and is sitting in some cozy office judging me, doesn’t sit well.”
Chapter 17
Tuesday
Jessica’s phone alarm woke her.
Wanting to get into the office by 8 a.m., Sloan had only managed four hours of sleep.
I’ll get an extra shot of caffeine at Starbucks.
Even though it was a pleasant summer morning in Dublin where she lived, she knew that by noon there could be a thirty-degree difference between San Francisco and the East Bay.
Remembering what her partner had said about working into the night, and since it’s normal for the nighttime summer temperatures in the city to hover around forty-five degrees, Jessica put a jacket into the trunk of her Camry.
It’s all about layering for the temperature changes.
At 8:45 a.m., Jessica heard Lieutenant Brown’s voice. “Sloan. My office.”
Jessica knew it was an order, not a request and went straight in.
“Yes, Lieutenant.”
“Close the door, Sloan.”
No sooner had she shut it than Brown picked up a newspaper from her desk and showed her the front page. It had a large picture of Cutter and Sloan leaving the crime scene at the Orpheum Theatre. Under the picture it said, ‘Homicide Detectives John Cutter and Jessica Sloan hunting Technology CEO Killer.’
“Since the press already know who you are, you can be sure the Police Commissioner and the Mayor will be watching your and Cutter’s every move.”
“What would you like me to do about it?”
“Other than trying to stay away from the press, nothing more than you’re already doing.”
Brown ran a hand through her short hair. “How is the case going so far?”
“Last night we interviewed Jill’s hired date, her limo driver and her two bodyguards. Then we drove over to the East Bay and woke up her parents to notify them. That was around 1 a.m. Today, Cutter’s having Jill’s father come in to identify his daughter’s remains. Then we plan to drill into Jill’s residence and her company.”
“Good. I’ve already put pressure on Forensics and the Medical Examiner so you shouldn’t have to wait a week or more for results.”
“Thanks, I’ll let Cutter know.”
“How are you getting along with him?”
“I’d say I’m off to a good start.”
“So, you’re telling me that he’s giving you a cold shoulder?”
“It’s early and I still need to fit in.”
“You’re not the first female homicide detective in San Francisco to feel that way. It’s still an old boy’s club. It doesn’t help that, at the moment, you’re the only female detective on the squad. There’s been five of us over the years, but when the others found out that it wasn’t as glamorous as they make it out to be on television, that it’s downright tedious sometimes, they decided to transfer into other departments.”
“Do you have any hints for me?”
“The right for women to have a meaningful career in policing has been hard-won and remains a continuous struggle… First and foremost, you need to be a policing professional who just happens to be a woman. You’ll find that you’ll need to balance your work with being a wife, mother, daughter and a friend. It’s all about finding your balance.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, how do you keep yours?”
“Women are expected to work like men as if they don't have children at home and then raise children as if they don't work. We’re measured by impossible standards. So there is no good answer to your question.”
I need to change the subject.
“How did you become a Lieutenant?”
“I’ve tried to develop a leadership style based on empathy, encouragement and compassion. But I still have to work at it every day trying to gain the professional respect of both my male and female colleagues.”
She sure hides her supposed style well.
Sloan wasn’t sure what to say next. “Have you received an alert from iPoirot yet about identifying the people leaving the theatre last night?”
Her boss paused. “No, I haven’t and I’m surprised. I’ll check into it.” Brown looked at her. “With your talents and familiarity with technology, I’m counting on you to be the tugboat that pulls this department into today’s world of technology.”
“I’m going to give it my best shot Lieutenant.”
“Good. Now go out there and use the new technology to solve this case.”
Chapter 18
As soon as Sloan returned to her desk, Cutter walked into the squad room. “Good morning, John.”
“Come with me. Let’s grab a coffee at the deli.”
The deli was busy. Once they had coffees in hand, Cutter said, “You did well yesterday.”
“Thanks.”
“That’s why I’m about to tell you the most important thing a detective needs to know.”
"Great, what is it?”
“You need to micro manage every case that you’re assigned. And the way you manage it, is by being the leader of all the resources at your disposal. That includes Forensics, the Medical Examiner, patrol cops, technicians, your fellow detectives and the people who may become suspects.”
“Like the way you did yesterday at the crime scene.”
“Yeah and until the case has gone to court and the killer’s in prison. Now, let’s head back.”
Sloan stopped in her tracks. “Now tell me the truth Cutter. This was just a pretense to get a cup of decent coffee into you, wasn’t it.”
“Guilty as charged.”
He’s in a better frame of mind today.
At 9:15 a.m., Jill Gillberry’s father called Cutter to say that he could be at the Medical Examiners at 11 a.m.
Cutter went alone. “While I’m gone, follow up on your resources.”
While he was gone, Sloan made telephone calls. She made sure that Forensics had taken the fingerprints and DNA samples from Ben and Carl Lopez.
“Ben has an appointment to meet with a sketch artist on Wednesday morning. We’ll have it sent over to you.”
She also called the Patrol Supervisor. “Did anyone come forward from the audience to say they’d seen something suspicious?”
“I’m afraid that I wasn’t able to make the announcement.”
“Well then, did you collect all the usher’s and performer’s contact information?”
“That we did.”
“Great, please email it to me right away so I can input it into the system.”
Jessica was pleasantly surprised when fifteen minutes later the email she received also contained the names and contact information for the patrons who sat within two rows and six seats of Jill.
I’ll enter them into iPoirot.
She was surprised to discover iPoirot hadn’t yet connected anything.
Why hasn’t it identified the theatre goers yet?
It must take a few hours to make connections when it starts up.
When Cutter returned forty-five minutes later, Sloan brought him up to date.
“Good work. I’ve got the warrant to check out Jill’s home, so let’s grab lunch on the way there. You’re driving.”
Sloan and Cutter stopped at the deli then left the Hall of Justice’s parking garage.
“Who are we going to interview today?”
“After we check out Jill’s house, I want to visit Jill’s company and talk to whomever is running things now. If we have time, I’d like to also talk to her main investor.”
“The one who set up her date and hired the guards?”
“Exactly.”
Jessica asked John how the identification with Jill’s father had gone.
“The father came by himself and he was more emotional than I thought he would be.”
“I’m guessing that’s pretty standard, right?”
“Yup.”
“While you were busy, I checked on some loose ends and ran deeper background research on our actor and both of the guards.”
“Good. What’did ya learn?”
“As I expected, both guards have been involved in assaults. Each time the charges were thrown out as the assaults were a result of protecting clients. That might explain why both of the guards touched or scratched their faces when you asked them if they’d ever been arrested.”
“Good job Sloan. Facial touching could mean that they were lying. I hadn’t noticed.”
“I’ve been told that my observation skills are pretty good.”
“I’ve tried reading people’s tells but I prefer to trust what my gut tells me. Has iPoirot found our killer for us yet?”
“Not yet.”
Cutter grinned, then changed the topic. “With the brass figuring they can replace us, I wonder when they’ll take away our pool cars and tell us to call an Uber or Lyft to get around?”
“Ha, ha, I don’t think that’ll happen anytime soon. Although I did read recently where they figure that no one will own a car in San Francisco within ten years. They say we’ll all be using self-driving things that we summon by using an app when we need it. Homeowners will be able to convert their garages into AirBnb rooms that they rent out.”
“So how will we chase someone with our lights blinking and our siren blazing?”
“I guess we’ll find out.” Sloan switched it up. “Tell me the truth, have you ever had a female partner before?”
“Nope.”
“Then how do you feel about having to work with a female?”
Cutter wore a poker face.
He probably thinks I’m a typical female, for asking him about his feelings.
“I don’t know you yet. Let’s solve this case and then I’ll give you feedback.”
“That’s fair.”
“What I can tell you is that being a detective has changed since I started.”
“How’s that?”
“When I started on the force everyone respected the uniform instead of always crying police brutality. The way the media screams about us, you’d think we were here to harass and shoot them, when all we’re trying to do is help people, enforce the laws and solve crimes. There are more rules and regulations. Shit, at first only the beat cops had to wear body cameras. With this new system even we have to...”
“Not to change the subject, but are detectives as afraid of working with women as beat cops are?”
“We aren’t afraid. We’re just concerned that working with a female might be a hindrance since we have to worry about them instead of focusing on the problem we’re called to handle.”
And we have to worry about you thinking with your little heads and hitting on us.
Sloan said, “I see from the tan line on your finger that until recently you wore a wedding ring.”
“Wow, you’re a regular Sherlock Homes, aren’t ya? And to answer your next question, yes, I recently divorced.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, John. It seems to be a common problem with us who serve in law enforcement.”
“Between not wanting to discuss what we see while we’re on the job and the hours we put in, it’s tough to have a healthy relationship.”
“It is.”
“My wife was one of those women who asked a lot of questions and had to always have the last word. When she didn’t, it was always followed by even more words. But hell, I can’t blame my ex. I was working too hard and she just got fed up with me. I don’t see a ring on your finger either.”
“You’re right, you don’t. Now, not to change the subject again but why do you think someone might target Jill Gillberry? Surely, the more outgoing tech leaders are easier potential targets. She was almost a recluse. And her company isn’t even in San Francisco. It’s over in Fremont.”
“Those are all great questions and we need to answer all of them in order to find her killer.”
Chapter 19
It’s not only the most expensive neighborhood in San Francisco, but in the entire United States.
It was just after 1:30 in the afternoon when Jessica and John entered the affluent Pacific Heights neighborhood with its panoramic views and multi-million-dollar mansions.
Even this sacred piece of San Francisco was being disrupted as newly minted tech billionaires were displacing old money families who couldn’t resist the outrageous fortunes that were being offered to them if they would only move.
For some embassies and families, the location was worth more than money, which only drove the prices even higher.
Jessica spotted Jill Gillberry’s address on a pillar next to an iron gate so she pulled to the curb.
“Wow. Would you look at this place? It must be worth a mint.” Jessica turned to Cutter. “Where do you live?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Given the outrageous cost of living in the city, I’m curious if I’ll ever be able to afford it, that’s all.”
“I rent a bachelor apartment down on the peninsula.”
“How do you get by in a bachelor space?”
“I don’t spend much time in it anyway. Since my divorce, I work even longer hours so I don’t have to deal with being alone. How about you?”
“My younger sister and I rent a tiny two bedroom in Dublin, over in the East Bay. It’s sort of in between Silicon Valley where she works, and San Francisco for me, at least for now.”
“Why, for now?”
“She just got engaged. I’ll either be moving soon or finding another roommate. Do you at least own your place?”
“I’d never buy a dump like what I live in. It has a view of a busy main street. I like to sleep with an open window, which means I eat exhaust fumes all night and listen to non-stop traffic. Inside, I’ve gone minimalist. Not because I want to, it’s all I can afford.”
Jessica chuckled. “You’re lucky you’re not a real estate agent. You’d never sell a damn thing.”
“Let’s stop getting to know each other and do our jobs, shall we?” Cutter opened his door. “How do you feel about your sister’s fiancé, do you like him?”
“Not really. He thinks anyone not working at a tech startup is a loser.”
“I see.”
They had to ascend twelve bluestone steps to reach the front door.
Cutter pressed on a button inside a blue circle and heard a doorbell ring inside.
A middle-aged woman in a frumpy dress finally answered the door. Her hair hung like a curtain cut just above her eyes.
Sloan found it distracting.
They held out identification and badges. “I’m Detective John Cutter. This is my partner, Detective Jessica Sloan. May we come in?”
She hesitated.
“We have a warrant to search the house, so you really have no choice”
Jessica and John both clicked on their camera pins.
Chapter 20
The woman hesitated, then stepped aside and led them through a foyer into a large living room. “Have a seat and tell me why you’re here.”
“We’ll ask the questions… Who are you and do you live here?”
“My name is Gloria Gladstone and since I manage Miss Gillberry’s home, yes, I live here.”
“Can you show us your identification?”
Cutter made sure his camera captured it. “I’m sorry to inform you that your employer was found dead at the theatre last night.”
The woman looked down at her hands and started to wring them. “I see. I was wondering why she didn’t come home.”
Sloan said, “We’re sorry for your loss.”
Cutter waited a beat then spoke. “As I said, we have a warrant to look around the premises but first we’d like to ask you a few questions.”
“Okay.”
“What did you do for Miss Gillberry?”
“As I said, I manage this large house. I schedule the cleaners, gardeners and order groceries. On the rare evening when she doesn’t work late and she lets me know, I cook for her.”
“Were you here when she left the house last night?”
“I was. She got dressed for a night out. A cute young man arrived with a limo and they left to go to the theatre. That was a first.”
“Are you saying Jill didn’t go out much?”
“Not that I ever saw.”
“What time did she leave?”
“Oh, about six.”
“What did you do when she left?”
“I had a couple of pork chops with a salad for dinner. As I ate the second pork chop, I started watching a movie on Netflix in the media room… Why, am I a suspect?”
“No, not at this time. During the first few hours of any case it’s essential we gather as much information as we can from as many people as possible.”
“Oh.”
“Does anyone else live here?”
“No. Just Miss Gillberry and myself.”
“How long have you been working for her?”
Gloria used her fingers to think. “I’ve been working here for three weeks.”
“How long has she lived here?”
“Not long. I was told by the agency that I’m already her third live-in manager.”
“Why’s that?”
“She wasn’t a people person and had a hard time keeping staff.”
“Was she married?”
“No.”
“Did she have a boyfriend?”
“No.”
“A girlfriend then.”
“No.”
“Can you think of anyone who might have wanted her harmed?”
Gloria took her time. “She wasn’t the most pleasant individual, but I can’t believe anyone would kill her.”
“In case of an emergency, who were you supposed to contact?”
“Her parents. I suppose you’ll want their contact information.”
“We’ve already notified them. Do you know if she had a will?”
