An Unladylike Murder, page 8
part #1 of Jessica Sloan Mystery Series
“She never told me that but she did give me the name of her lawyer, doctor and dentist in case of any emergencies.”
“We’ll take all of those names, please.”
She picked up her phone. “They’re in here. I see you have an iPhone. Let me airdrop them to you.”
After pressing ‘Accept’, Sloan said, “Got them. Thank you. We’re now going to look around. Please stay seated. We shouldn’t be too long.”
They started on the main floor.
Cutter wasn’t impressed. “To me, living in a modern space like this is living in denial. No clutter, no collectibles, means no personality. To me it’s like living in a fast food drive-through.”
Jessica Sloan shook her head. “I don’t see that at all. I think it’s clean and lets the individual be the main attraction.”
As they entered Jill’s bedroom, Cutter said, “Getting to know who a victim was as a real person can be the key to unlocking the shell they’ve used to hide behind.”
“Is that why we’re looking in every room?”
“In order to put yourself in the victim’s life, it’s important to know where they slept, and who they slept with. Everything’s important.”
Twenty minutes later, they’d seen enough.
Cutter moved his head back and forth. “No personal pictures, no evidence of any hobby. It’s as if she treated this as a high end modern hotel, or what I imagine a high end hotel might look like.”
Jessica figured she was beginning to understand Jill Gillberry. “What you need to realize is that Jill was a millennial. After seeing what older generations have done to our planet, many of us are trying to embrace a more minimalistic and simple approach to all aspects of our lives. Jill certainly seemed to believe that less is more.”
“Why would she try to have less when she was so obviously wealthy?”
“Having money doesn’t mean you have to buy everything you see.”
Cutter said, “Let’s see if Gloria can help?”
Gloria was sitting on a new leather chair that looked like it had come from the 1950’s.
“Did you ever see Jill use or buy drugs?”
She scrunched her face as if the question were ridiculous. “Not that I ever saw.”
“Had she said anything about a possible stalker?”
“No. But if Jill’s dead, then I’m leaving San Francisco.”
“Why is that?”
“The Jill’s of the world have made San Francisco too expensive to live here. It’s super crowded, parking is hell, and the people are extremely self-centered and narcissistic. Would you like me to go on?”
“No, I think you’ve made up your mind. Where are you going?”
“Back to Arizona. It may be hotter, but it’s not crazy like it is here.”
Cutter said, “We’re leaving. Here’s my card in case you think of anything that might help us.”
Back in the car, Sloan said, “Gloria needs to take up meditation. But, I think she has a few good points.”
“Yeah like what?”
Sloan pulled away from the curb. “Did you know fast food costs at least a buck more in San Francisco than it costs in the East Bay?”
“Yeah, I know. Higher rents are making everything more expensive?”
“Don’t you think it was strange that Gloria never asked how Jill had been killed?”
Cutter said, “You’re right, she didn’t. I can’t believe Jill Gillberry had no personal pictures. I guess that’s why she had to hire a Rent-An-Actor.”
“Did you notice that Gloria was wearing a nose stud?”
“So?”
“She’s probably as old as you are. Would you date a woman with a diamond nose-jewel?”
Cutter said, “Now that you mention it, no I wouldn’t. But I’ve seen lots of girls and women wear them, why is that?”
“It’s a fashion statement. Men can wear them as well. I can set you up if you like.”
“No thanks. I remember when women didn't have tattoos, nose piercings, and had…”
“Had what Cutter? Go on, spit it out.”
“Had class; I don’t understand why people spend money to ruin what God gave them.”
“You know Cutter, you’re even older than you look.”
“Do you see the parallels between yourself and Jill?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re both millenials, into technology and single.”
“Are you equating being in tech with being single?”
“All I’m saying is that women like to talk and a lot of men don’t want a woman who’s too bright.”
“What does that mean?”
“Most men don’t want to have to spend all day on Google trying to keep up with their nerdy chattering.”
Why, was your wife smarter than you?
Cutter asked, “Why are we stopping?”
I don’t want most men. I want someone who has a brain and isn’t ashamed of it.
“You stay in the car while I get us some coffee.”
Cutter was about to say he didn’t need any but his partner had already left, slamming her door.
I’ve been saddled with an emotional female rookie.
Chapter 21
Jessica returned to the Taurus and placed two small coffees into cup holders. Neither partner spoke.
She buckled up then looked at her traffic app. “The Bay Bridge is slow. It says we should go south on 101 then use the San Mateo Bridge to get to Jill’s company.”
“You’re driving.”
As they passed under an overpass, Cutter saw a homeless man holding a spray paint can in a homeless encampment.
“Did you see that?”
“See what, I’m driving.”
Cutter explained. “He’d sprayed ‘Kill the Tech Assholes’ onto the cement.”
“Did you see the online-news this morning?”
“No, I prefer to hold a newspaper. What’d it say?”
“All of them were basically about how the Bay area is panicking because a tech leader was killed. The editors were also questioning if the protesters had gone too far.”
“They’re feeding fear to the public because people listen to that crap. Which means that you and I will be working under a microscope as the politicians apply pressure for us to wrap this up.”
Highway 101 was slow and became even slower as they passed the airport.
“Talking about solving this case, how do you really feel about iPoirot and the changes we’ll be going through?”
“It’s interesting how people who have never spent a day as a cop want us to change without any idea of what it is that we do and even more importantly what we’re allowed to do.”
“Don’t you think that what we’re allowed to do will evolve as our jobs change?”
“Based on all the years I’ve been a detective, I’d say, no.”
Jessica tried to get her partner to understand the current world. “No one wants to change until they try the new thing. Then once they do, they never go back.”
“Like what?”
“Like who knew they needed a portable phone that could not only make calls, but take fantastic photos and have all the apps you’d ever need to make your life easier, in one device until the iPhone was introduced. Now no one can live without it.”
Cutter said, “And have you seen the stats on how many car crashes and deaths are due to people having their heads stuck in their phones? Perhaps it’s not real progress.”
“Don’t take this wrong, Cutter. I don’t know you well yet, but just when I think there may be hope for you, you say something like that.”
Cutter felt awkward. “I’m just saying that sometimes change can have unintended consequences.”
“I suppose that applies to the people who work in tech as well.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I know a lot of people working in the tech world and the public has no idea what they are really going through. The majority are living paycheck to paycheck and are working long hours only to go home to four roommates after an hour long commute. Most are only doing it because they get to work on the newest and best technologies. Then after a year they get to put easily recognizable names on resumes that will benefit them no matter where they move to next.”
“Why don’t they stay here?”
"They work in a pressure-cooker environment and are rewarded with a lot of perks and a kind of inclusive, feel-good culture. But people my age want to have a balanced life. They can only get that once they move away. Working here is like going to a one-year grad school or putting in a stint in the armed forces.” Sloan glanced at her phone. “ Nope we’re okay."
“Why did you just say that?”
“Because we’re entering the East Bay and my phone says this is the most direct route.”
The water view was serene as they crossed over the San Mateo Bridge heading towards Fremont. “Should we call Jill’s company and tell them we are coming?”
Cutter moved his head from side-to-side as he kept his eyes on the traffic. “Nope. Sometimes it’s best just to show up. If we warned them that we were coming, someone may suddenly remember they have a personal errand they need to run.”
“Good to know.” Jessica looked straight out the front windshield. “I don’t mean to be nosy, but what happened to your last partner?”
Cutter glanced at her then returned his eyes to the road. “Carl and I were partners for eight years. He retired to go work security for a technology startup. He claims to be making a lot more.”
“Is that what you plan to do when you retire, work for a startup?”
Cutter smirked. “I don’t know if they’d hire me. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m not a big fan of new things.”
“I’ll try to remember that.”
“When I’m working a case, I don’t let my mind wander. I try to stay focused. How about you? What’s your goal? You seem to be on a fast track. Do you plan on becoming a sergeant or lieutenant soon?”
“Maybe, if I ever feel ready. Right now I know I still have a lot to learn.”
“I don’t want to date myself, but I remember when most of the tech companies were based down in Silicon Valley. Now they’re opening offices throughout the Bay area. The good news for the employees of Jill’s company is that it’s a wee bit cheaper to live on this side of the Bay.”
“You should start a blog catering to old Generation Xers’ like yourself. They’d love to read about your thoughts.”
Cutter grimaced.
Sloan refocused on Jill Gillberry Technologies. “I did a search on Jill’s company for recent press stories.”
“You’re smiling. What’d you find?”
“Jill’s been promoting her company as if it were a disruptive software company.”
“What does that mean?”
“A disruptive software company drives a new business model that is constantly innovating.”
“That tells me nothing. Why are they called disruptive?”
“If they can evolve to offer higher quality at lower prices, they cause disruption by creating new markets and challenging existing industries. Think of Uber taking market share from taxicabs or Airbnb taking market share from hotels.”
“I see.”
“For the past six years, Jill’s investors have allowed her to operate as if she was about to do the same.”
“What d’ya mean?”
“From the little I’ve read, she was trying to have patients bypass reliance on their doctors. If it had worked as claimed, she would have done that. However, there are questions as to whether her product actually works. Some articles claim that the investors should have been asking questions hiring scientific professionals to ask how she had solved problems in physics and chemistry that thousands of researchers have struggled to crack without success.”
“Hmm.”
“With a normal tech product it either works and people like it enough to use it or not. In Jill’s case she was playing with patient’s lives.”
“How do you know all this stuff anyway?”
“I grew up with it and find the industry fascinating. The generation that’s growing up right now was born with an iPhone in their cribs. Their familiarity and dependence on tech will make me look like a Luddite.”
Cutter asked, “And what’s a Luddite?”
“A couple of hundred years ago they were workers who destroyed machines believing they were threatening their jobs.”
Cutter didn’t reply.
From the road they could see a sign on the building announcing where Jill Gillberry Technologies was located.
Sloan had an idea. “Since Jill’s firm was involved in the medical field do you think there’s any chance she may have been involved in drugs.”
Cutter grinned. “You’re thinking like a true detective. I’ve always found that most murders are a result of associated crimes.”
“Such as?”
“Perhaps she was involved in illicit drug production, or a white collar crime like money laundering or even backdating stock options. Her death could be a direct result of any of those.”
“I’ll try to keep an open mind.”
Chapter 22
Cutter pointed out the front window. “That’s the building over there. The main driveway is coming up. Turn in here.”
Even the exterior of the building reflected Jill’s public persona; it was nondescript and looked like it was hiding secrets.
The parking lot was less than a third full and the visitor spots were all vacant.
Sloan had heard that empty spots like they were seeing was a sure sign a company was in trouble.
She pulled into one of the visitor spots and glanced at the time.
4:15 p.m.
As they entered the building, a uniformed security guard and a receptionist stopped talking with each other.
The guard stood still while the receptionist greeted them. “Who are you here to see?”
Sloan and Cutter pulled out identification. “Who is in charge of the company today?”
“I think that would either be our Chief of Operations or our in-house Counsel.”
“Are they both in?”
“Yes, they are.”
“Then that’s who we’re here to see.”
“One moment, please.”
The receptionist hit a button and spoke into her mouthpiece. “There are two detectives here to speak to the COO and our lawyer… Okay, I’ll send them up.”
After being given guest tags, they were escorted by the security guard up to the second floor.
The hallway was empty.
Sloan noticed security cameras in the ceiling.
A minute later, they were shown into a gleaming white meeting room.
The guard left.
Standing on one side of the white table were two men. One was wearing a three-piece suit.
Sloan figured he was the lawyer.
The other man wore only a long sleeved shirt, was in his forties and overweight.
The Chief Operating Officer.
The second man spoke to Cutter. “You must be Detective Cutter?”
“I am and this is Detective Jessica Sloan.”
“Please sit,” said the lawyer.
Sloan knew from her days walking the beat, that whenever she appeared, people understood that it wasn’t to be announcing good news. Either someone you knew was dead or you were a potential suspect and were about to be questioned.
Cutter established control. “We’re investigating Jill Gillberry’s death. We’re here to learn about Jill and the company.”
The COO spoke up. “The entire company is devastated. How did she die?”
Cutter answered. “We won’t know for sure until the coroner files his report.”
Sloan picked up the conversation. “Like my partner said, we want to know more about the company and the technology. How does your product work? Can you show us?
“Sure.” The COO picked up a device the size of a large digital watch and held it over his wrist.
“You can see that it’s shining a laser onto my skin. This model works on a laser speckle interferometric system.”
The device beeped.
“I’ve been authenticated.” He put the device down.
“What happens next?”
The COO sounded smug. “I can’t tell you unless you’re prepared to sign a full confidentiality and a non-disclosure agreement.”
“I’m only trying to understand why someone might have murdered Jill.”
Sloan swore the COO raised his nose at her.
“It’s illogical that our technology was involved in any way.”
Sloan did a small wave with her hands. “We’ll see about that. Was Jill in a relationship with anyone who worked here?”
The lawyer answered. “Just the normal employer-employee interactions. Let’s get on with why you’re really here shall we?”
“And why do you think that is?”
“The death threats.”
Cutter sat up straight and joined in. “Did she have any enemies?”
“Just what you’d expect?”
“Can you be more specific?”
“Do you have a warrant for this interrogation?”
Cutter sat forward in his chair. “First of all this is an interview, not an interrogation. Second, if you don’t want to do this the easy way and talk to us here in your offices, we can drag you downtown and do it the hard way.”
Sloan watched the lawyer’s throat as he swallowed on the words he wished he could take back.
“Until recently I would have said no. However, since the bad press has cast unfair doubts on our solution there have been several possibilities. We have families who are unjustly blaming our company for the loss of their loved ones. What they are forgetting is that each of the people who were in the trials was already ill. That some have passed away had nothing to do with our technology. All the families have done is upset our investors who have now lost billions in potential returns. The end result is that now everyone is at risk as we most likely won’t be able to perfect our device.”
“What bad press?”
“There was a negative article published in a leading financial rag that alleged that the company was, in effect, a sham. The press are liars, trying to sell newspapers, who don’t know what they are talking about. Do you realize that everyone who was wearing a device was already sick with a deadly disease? To say they died because of the device, is a bare faced lie. Jill finally had to address our employees last week.”
