Reichenbach Ch. 01

"Wow." whispered Robin Ventura, seeing the 'coincidence' of that.

"Okay, we'll get there in a second. Keep going, Sapper." asked Garnett, who preferred getting the full report, then talking about the parts of it.

"Cherie checked in about 11:00pm last night." said Sapper. "She's on the videotape from the front desk, in the elevator, and the fifth floor elevator lobby. The hallway's cameras didn't seem to record anything at all. Hotel Security thinks it was a malfunction of the camera itself."

Sapper went on. "Cherie used the card to enter the room, and that card was not used again, at all. The door may have been opened at around 1:10am, from the inside and not with a card, but again the recording equipment went faulty."

"Fancy that." I whispered to Cindy.

"So the time of death must be within a few moments of that?" asked Lt. Garnett.

"We think so, sir." said Sapper. "And after that time there's no footage of anyone moving around anywhere in the hotel until the hotel staffer went up to the room, then the police after they were called in."

"Ventura, what did our 'highly esteemed' medical examiners say?" asked Lt. Garnett, with some acerbity in his voice.

"Time of death is listed as between 11:30pm and 2:30am." said Robin. "As an aside for the Commander and Captain Ross: we can never get our M.E.s to pin things like that down any tighter. They're scared to death that if they're wrong on anything at all, they'll be written up and fired... and they would be. Anyway, there was one .22 caliber round was recovered from the inside of the victim's skull above the right eye, having traveled diagonally through the brain. The rifling on the bullet suggests a semi-automatic pistol as opposed to a revolver."

"Makes sense." I said, interrupting. "There had to be a silencer on the weapon, or the entire hotel would've heard the shot. That suggests a semi-auto instead of a revolver, as well."

"Good point." said Garnett, who then nodded at Robin to continue.

"The CSI Team found hairs in the shower drain and the lavatory pipes." continued Ventura. "They're being run for DNA but they're not hopeful, since this is a hotel and it could be someone from the night before, and such. There were no hairs or tissue found on the bed or Cherie's body, other than her own, of course. Lipstick smudges on the pillow match Cherie's. There was no signs of trauma on her body, it doesn't appear that someone covered her mouth before shooting her, or anything like that."

"If I may." I said, interrupting again. "Tell the CSIs that the DNA data may not be as irrelevant as they think. I very strongly suspect this room was on retainer... with Cherie's escort agency." Cindy glanced at me when I'd made that pause. She was getting good, I noted happily as I said out loud "Chances are that the only people whose DNA we find will be Cherie's and her clients's."

"That's a nice little point, too, Mr. Crowbar. Anything else? Anyone?" asked Garnett.

"Yes sir." said Sapper. "Our SBI friends here sent us some data from the FBI about a murder up at Lake Amengi-Nunagen, which is three and a half hours from here. Cherie was up in that area with her friend Dawn Starrett, whose real name was Nicole Stanton. Dawn was found dead, and while Cherie apparently had alibis for all timeframes, she was definitely implicated in the case. We're looking to see if there are any other connections beyond Cherie and Dawn being friends."

"Okay, let me see if I have this straight." said Lt. Garnett. "We have a dead woman at the lake that this dead woman here was associated with? And the room this woman was found dead in was paid for by the card of a man who was murdered in our SBI friends' County?"

"We're not sure if he was actually murdered." I said. "He died in a officer-involved shooting and the officer claimed self-defense. It's still being investigated."

"Yer killin' me with details, Mr. Crowbar." said Garnett. "But what I'm saying here is that we have three dead people all linked together through this one case."

"Give the man a crowbar." I murmured to Cindy, who tried to suppress a grin. Everyone else was agreeing with the Lieutenant.

"So why shouldn't we hand this off to our SBI friends here, let them figure out the bigger picture?"

"Let's talk before doing anything like that." piped up Cpt. Wexler.

"I agree." I said. "We're here to help, we're glad to help, but keep jurisdiction for now and I'll have the Ricky Morris information sent to you."

"Mr. Crowbar, before I close this meeting," said Lt. Garnett, "are there any special observations and deductions you have made and can tell us about?" There was only the tiniest bit of sarcasm in his voice; I ignored it.

"Yes, Lieutenant." I said. "First, it was an intentional murder, not an escort liaison gone wrong. It appears to be a professional hit, or styled as one. This new data suggests that Cherie got to the hotel, went to the room, and her client didn't come in for a while. Maybe Cherie was expecting that, as I believe she went to bed and was sleeping in it when the client arrived. Perhaps she opens the door to admit the client, gets back in bed, and is almost immediately shot dead. She might not even have known what happened to her."

"As to the killer, there is virtually nothing to go on, but I can suggest this." I said. "It was either a homosexual man or a woman that came to Cherie's room that night. Cherie was a beautiful woman, and I cannot see a heterosexual man, even a hired professional killer, not taking the opportunity to have sex with her before killing her, especially if he was posing as a client. Yes, that's a huge reach, but I'm willing to bet I'm right."

"There you go, thinking with your little iron crowbar again." Cindy quipped. The room erupted in laughter and I blushed fiercely, making sure to give Cindy a harsh stare before breaking down laughing myself.

"Okay, okay." I said. "Anyway, I also think you should continue to look into the hotel staff, because someone had to have been bribed to fuck up the cameras or the recordings. Get that staffer, and you might get something that leads to the killer."

"Last but not least, Captain Ross and myself are staying in the City tonight. Would anyone like to join us for dinner?"

"Oh, my wife is waiting for me." said Sapper.

Robin said "I've gotta call my dad. In fact, if you were going back I'd ride with you and visit him." Everyone else likewise made excuses. So Cindy and I excused ourselves, said we'd check back in with them in the morning, and took our leave of them.

As we were about to get into my Police SUV and find a hotel, I said "Wow, everyone turned down the chance to have dinner with a beautiful former 'Miss Physical America' contestant. Hard to believe."

"It sure is!" said a voice from behind me. "But we'll take you up on that dinner." I whirled around to see Special Agent in Charge Jack Muscone of the FBI, along with Special Agents Lindy Linares and Sandra Speer, and the TCPD's own boxing runner-up, Martin Nash.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jack had secured hotel rooms for Cindy and myself at the Hyatt City Center Hotel, where Martin and Sandra were also staying. Cindy and I had come prepared with some luggage, and she had a nice green dress and her high heel slides with the leather strap, while I had my light gray suit jacket and pants with the light armor sewn in, and a thin-fabric black mock turtleneck shirt to go with it. We looked good. Damn good.

We had dinner at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. "Where's Eduardo?" I asked as we sat down and settled in.

"On loan to Les Craig in Southport." said Jack. "There's been some Hispanic gang activity, like they're trying to move into there, and Eduardo went to help out with it. I think your guys in your County found some of that and were looking into it. Might've scared them off and so they're further south now."

"No, they're not gone." I said. "They're trying to set up a drug pipeline from Southport to the University. I have a feeling they're going to be feeling some pain up at our end soon, though." Cindy smiled, knowing what Teresa had in store for those perps.

"So, tell us about this murder." Jack said. Everyone's eyes honed in on me, as they prepared to eagerly listen.

"Yes, you're definitely going to be interested, Jack." I said. "It ties in to Nicole Stanton's murder." I filled the FBI agents in on the details and what we knew to this point.

"Don, I just have to ask this." Sandra Speer said. "Do you really believe the killer is a woman or a homosexual man because he didn't bang Cherie before killing her?"

I laughed, then said "No, of course not. But I was trying to get them to open up their thinking about the case. They're too eager to think it's one of Cherie's clients... and a man. And in the case of Wargrave hiring her at times, it may be him that is behind this murder, but only indirectly."

"Oh... there is something you need to do, Jack," I said, "and do it quickly. Get another warrant, and let's go recheck Room 509." I told them what we'd be looking for. Jack phoned in the warrant, and we had time to finish eating before it was ready.

As we ate, I said "Speaking of drug cases, there is one thing I need to look up. You guys know how Captain Malone would cut deals to let one gang operate in the County, while busting and beating down all competition?" Everyone nodded. "I need to check and see if that is going on in the City..."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Just after dark, Jack's FBI Team and a crew of Federal crime lab technicians came into the Marriott Grande Hotel. With his Federal warrant in hand, the City Police officers guarding Room 509 had no choice but to let him enter. The techs got to work quickly.

I whispered to Cindy "I'll bet Captain Wexler gets here within ten minutes." She wouldn't bet against me... and indeed, it was not three minutes later that Captain Wexler appeared at the door.

"Commander Troy, what is going on here?" Wexler asked, her voice irritated and demanding.

"Ah, Captain Wexler." I said. "Allow me to introduce to you Special Agent in Charge Jack Muscone of the FBI."

"We've met." said Jack Muscone, as he and Susan shook hands politely. "Captain, as the Iron Crowbar here has probably told you, the unfortunate woman you found here early this morning was associated with a murder committed on the grounds of a Federal W.M.A. some months ago. I have a warrant to examine the room for evidence pertaining to the connected crimes."

"I can understand that, Special Agent Muscone," Susan said, "but our CSI team has already collected all of the evidence. We'll certainly be glad to share our findings with you, but my people are good and I doubt they missed anything."

"I appreciate that very much, Captain." Jack said in his smoothest voice, letting his eyes take in Susan Wexler's attractive body. "But there were just a few particular things my guys need to check out."

"Captain Wexler," I said, "why don't we step out into the hall and let the FBI guys get their work done. Then we can all go home and to bed that much sooner." I escorted Susan into the hallway.

"Don, why didn't you warn me?" Susan whispered once we were down the hall.

"They ambushed me, too." I said. "One minute they're buying us dinner, the next minute it's 'Oh, come with us, we're executing a Federal warrant.'." Susan was not mollified.

"For goodness sake..." she started, but just then her cellphone rang. Saved by the bell, I thought as Susan answered. A moment later she hung up.

"For crying the fuck out loud." Susan said. "They just assigned a new Detective to my Squad, less than a month ago. Guy named Arthur Wilshire. Bright guy, but he's trying too hard to impress as he learns the ropes, and he wants me to come down about a sting they're about to do."

"My colleague in Vice back home would sympathize." Cindy said. Susan gave her a brief half-smile.

"Okay, I'll go take care of that." Susan said. "Don, do me a favor... let me know if these FBI guys find something... or make a mess of things?"

"Sure." I said. I watched Susan's sweet ass as she walked swiftly down the hallway.

Returning to Room 509, I asked Jack very quietly "Did you find what I'm expecting you to find?"

"We most certainly did." Jack said. "Pops, tell the Commander what you've found."

Pops was an old man with silver hair and a large mustache that was wilted. I understand he was called 'Mark Twain' behind his back.

"Commander, it's a pleasure getting to work with you." said Pops. "As you thought, this room is bugged to the hilt. At least fifteen listening devices and six very-well-concealed video cameras."

"Wires or radio signals?" I asked.

"Wires." said Pops. "This much stuff would generate a huge RF field if they tried to transmit it by wi-fi."


"Don't tell me, let me guess." I said. "The wires lead up to Room 609, right above us." Pops confirmed it.

"But Commander, and Agent Muscone," said Pops, "here's the interesting thing. Fifteen listening devices is overkill, so I looked at them. They were put in at different times, and are different makes and models. And while most of them are wired to Room 609, at least five don't really go up there, but were rigged to look like they do. They're passive listening devices and go to a concealed box up in the ceiling above the light fixture. That device can be activated by radio and its recorded contents downloaded, then shut off again."

"Ahhhhh," I said, smiling. "More than one group of people at work, and the left hand likely does not know what the right hand is doing. Jack, this shows me that Cherie was working with someone, probably the handler for whom she was a C.I., and then there was someone else listening in... and I was going to say Cherie was working for them too, but it's possible she wasn't."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Later that night, after drinks at our FBI friends' favorite bar, they offered to drive us to our hotel.

"It's not far." I said. "Cindy, why don't we walk." Cindy was very amenable to that, so we set out. As we walked leisurely down the sidewalk amongst the high rise building, Cindy's hand on my arm as I escorted her, I slowed down as we went by one particular building.

"Looking at something?" Cindy asked.

"Yes." I said, looking up at the high rise glass office building across the street. "This is the Cannon Building, where Wargrave's office is. He works on the top floor. There's a helicopter landing pad on the roof, where I just might land a helicopter one day. I've had my first three lessons."

"I still say there's something fucked up about that." Cindy said.

"No doubt about that." I replied. "No doubt about that. But it's paid for, and it's kind of fun. So anyway, I'm just looking at the lay of the land, here. I have a feeling about it. Now Wargrave's office up there is just north of dead west, so right below that to the ground is a closed-off area..." Cindy just watched me as I looked up and down the tall skyscraper, until vertigo began setting in and I had to stop...

Part 5 - The Ride Home

At 8:30am the next morning, Sunday, June 14th, Cindy and I were driving home in my SUV.

"So, Crowbar 2," I said, "have you figured it out? Do you know who killed Nicole and Cherie?"

Cindy replied "You know... yeah, I think I do know who it is." She named the name. She was right! I was more than a little bit happy at that.

"Getting proof is going to be a different story, though." Cindy said. "I can see what you were saying about the answer and the solution. It's going to be tough."

"Very true." I said, "but I put a plan in motion weeks ago, with the help of Jack's boss in the FBI. We'll catch our fish."

As we neared the turn for Hillside, the seat of Nextdoor County, Cindy said "Can we stop somewhere, maybe get something to eat? Call me paranoid, but there's something I want to talk to you about, and I don't want to talk in this SUV with the radio in it."

"Don't blame you a bit." I said. "It ain't paranoia if they really are out to get you." Cindy laughed out loud, sounding a lot like her sister Molly.

I turned on the road that led south into the town. If I'd turned north, we'd have gone to where we had hunted down Arruzio all those months before, and also towards where Tom and Janet Riordan lived on the eastern shores of Reservoir Lake. However, we went south, and found the Hillside Diner. We stopped and had breakfast.

Cindy told me about her conversation with Britt Maxwell, and all the info she had learned. "Don," she said as she finished, "how can she possibly know so much stuff? I got the feeling she was trying to use me to confirm some stuff, and also to get more out of me. Did you have any idea she has been able to do this?"

"More than that." I said. "The Governor and I helped her put her systems together. And before you beat me down for not telling you, it's because of what I am about to tell you now."

The waitress came and refilled our coffee mugs, then I started my story. "Britt and I have been sharing some information, but I've always had the feeling she has held some back from me... and she has. I know this because information is regularly taken from her systems by the best hacker I have ever known."

"Milton?" Cindy asked.

"All three of them." I replied.

"Three?!?!?" Cindy asked.

"Yep." I said. "Myron, Mary, and Myron's father, Professor Marvin Milton. Cindy, you cannot say a word about this, not even to Myron and Mary. Professor Milton is a mathematician, and he also can hack computers and break codes like nobody's business. The CIA tried to rather forcefully recruit him years ago, the same way they tried to 'recruit' Barry Oliver and my nephew Ned... and Milton bitterly hates them for it. He only tolerates me in spite of being married to a CIA Deputy Director, because his son and daughter-in-law have vouched for me in the strongest possible terms."

"Myron gets help from his father at times, and Professor Milton really likes his daughter-in-law Mary and works with her a lot... and she has become unbelievably good at computers and databases as a result. Myron and his father have been a bit strained at times... sort of like me and my father, respect both ways, but wariness... so I walk on eggshells around all that."

"I see." Cindy said. "I'd love to hear more about your family some day. Your version as opposed to your mother's."

I laughed. "On the way home, I'll tell you some of it. Anyway, Britt has amassed a huge amount of information, and it's been very useful to me. And I need every bit of help I can get if we are going to defeat our favorite Consultant of Crime."'

"We?" Cindy asked. I could see she was happy at me naming her as my co-equal in the pursuit of the Enemy.

"You bet." I said. "You and I are in this together. All the way and then some, mon ami." We clinked our coffee mugs in toast to the success of our mission.

To be continued.