statement.
Sandy referred to her notes and gave him a
description of the couple she had encountered on the path after leaving the
money on the bridge. They were the best suspects, as she didn’t see how anyone
else could have taken that money. She explained her confrontation with the kid
on the bike, and told Jaworski she had photos of all the vehicles in the
parking area. He told her that the police also had photos for comparison. He
left for a minute to take her phone over to Judy to download the photos. She
had already started tracing the license plate numbers; she’d make a list of the
owners and contact them.
At fifteen minutes to ten, Jaworski was finished
and Sandy took a copy of her statement down to Chief Stabler’s office on the
first floor. The chief apparently had cooled off; at least he didn’t exhibit
any animosity toward her. He had her read the first statement into a recorder
and then continue with what had happened after she made the money-drop and
found the body. The second statement was completed in less than an hour,
although the chief did say he might need a follow up.
Back up on the second floor she checked to see if
any reports had come in. Judy greeted her with a smile. “I located the couple
you saw on the path in Lagoon Park.”
Sandy raised her eyebrows. “Already?”
“Hey, I start work at eight and it’s almost noon.
What do you think I do around here?”
“Apparently, nothing but work. How do you know
it’s them?”
“There were only six vehicles. First, I made a
list of all vehicle owners or rental car agencies. Three owners are local, so I
just phoned them and asked if any of them painted their toenails pink
fluorescent. The first guy hung up on me.”
“You’re joking!”
“Of course, I’m joking. No, I confirmed they had
been to the park, and then I used the clothing descriptions you gave Eddy, madras
short-sleeved shirt, jeans, sneakers and light colored Capris. No luck. I’m
thankful this didn’t happen at a crowded ball game. I had only six vehicles to
deal with. Anyway, only the three non-local names were left on my list. So I
started with the tourists. I was going to phone the larger motels and see if
they were registered. The second call to the Holiday Inn I hit bingo. They
confirmed being over at the park and what they were wearing. A couple from
Montana. Jaworski’s over there now interviewing them.”
“I’m amazed, Judy.” She suspected Judy had
expended a great deal of special effort on her behalf.
Judy continued, “We don’t have the CSI report yet,
but Eddy told me nothing useful was found at Lover’s Bridge. No plastic tray,
no trace evidence, nothing.”
Just then Detective Jaworski stepped off the
elevator and came up to them.
“We got a hit back immediately of the dead guy’s
fingerprints.” He held up the report. “Name is Calvin Boyd, age twenty-five,
LKA Sarasota, Florida.”
“That’s great, how’d you get it so fast?” Sandy
asked.
“He was in the national database for offenders.”
“Which could mean anything from a DUI to a
homicide,” Sandy added. “In any case, he’s a bad actor. Just the type I’m
looking for. He’s looking less and less like a mugged tourist and more like
Dick. I love it.”
“I’ve requested a full report on him, of course. And
we need to check our local criminal records also. Mel Shapiro has someone
checking the civil records over at the courthouse.”
“Now things are moving. Judy said you interrogated
the couple I encountered in the park.”
“Yeah, over at the Holiday Inn. Sorry, Sandy, I’m
satisfied they have no useful information. They aren’t your Dick and Jane. They
saw a young woman leaving the bridge, and the description fit you. Said they saw
no one else. Hadn’t seen any gym bag or tray. Hadn’t heard any gunfire.”
“They’re lying. They must have the money. There’s
no other explanation. That gym bag sat there untouched for no more than a couple
of seconds. It
Sandy referred to her notes and gave him a
description of the couple she had encountered on the path after leaving the
money on the bridge. They were the best suspects, as she didn’t see how anyone
else could have taken that money. She explained her confrontation with the kid
on the bike, and told Jaworski she had photos of all the vehicles in the
parking area. He told her that the police also had photos for comparison. He
left for a minute to take her phone over to Judy to download the photos. She
had already started tracing the license plate numbers; she’d make a list of the
owners and contact them.
At fifteen minutes to ten, Jaworski was finished
and Sandy took a copy of her statement down to Chief Stabler’s office on the
first floor. The chief apparently had cooled off; at least he didn’t exhibit
any animosity toward her. He had her read the first statement into a recorder
and then continue with what had happened after she made the money-drop and
found the body. The second statement was completed in less than an hour,
although the chief did say he might need a follow up.
Back up on the second floor she checked to see if
any reports had come in. Judy greeted her with a smile. “I located the couple
you saw on the path in Lagoon Park.”
Sandy raised her eyebrows. “Already?”
“Hey, I start work at eight and it’s almost noon.
What do you think I do around here?”
“Apparently, nothing but work. How do you know
it’s them?”
“There were only six vehicles. First, I made a
list of all vehicle owners or rental car agencies. Three owners are local, so I
just phoned them and asked if any of them painted their toenails pink
fluorescent. The first guy hung up on me.”
“You’re joking!”
“Of course, I’m joking. No, I confirmed they had
been to the park, and then I used the clothing descriptions you gave Eddy, madras
short-sleeved shirt, jeans, sneakers and light colored Capris. No luck. I’m
thankful this didn’t happen at a crowded ball game. I had only six vehicles to
deal with. Anyway, only the three non-local names were left on my list. So I
started with the tourists. I was going to phone the larger motels and see if
they were registered. The second call to the Holiday Inn I hit bingo. They
confirmed being over at the park and what they were wearing. A couple from
Montana. Jaworski’s over there now interviewing them.”
“I’m amazed, Judy.” She suspected Judy had
expended a great deal of special effort on her behalf.
Judy continued, “We don’t have the CSI report yet,
but Eddy told me nothing useful was found at Lover’s Bridge. No plastic tray,
no trace evidence, nothing.”
Just then Detective Jaworski stepped off the
elevator and came up to them.
“We got a hit back immediately of the dead guy’s
fingerprints.” He held up the report. “Name is Calvin Boyd, age twenty-five,
LKA Sarasota, Florida.”
“That’s great, how’d you get it so fast?” Sandy
asked.
“He was in the national database for offenders.”
“Which could mean anything from a DUI to a
homicide,” Sandy added. “In any case, he’s a bad actor. Just the type I’m
looking for. He’s looking less and less like a mugged tourist and more like
Dick. I love it.”
“I’ve requested a full report on him, of course. And
we need to check our local criminal records also. Mel Shapiro has someone
checking the civil records over at the courthouse.”
“Now things are moving. Judy said you interrogated
the couple I encountered in the park.”
“Yeah, over at the Holiday Inn. Sorry, Sandy, I’m
satisfied they have no useful information. They aren’t your Dick and Jane. They
saw a young woman leaving the bridge, and the description fit you. Said they saw
no one else. Hadn’t seen any gym bag or tray. Hadn’t heard any gunfire.”
“They’re lying. They must have the money. There’s
no other explanation. That gym bag sat there untouched for no more than a couple
of seconds. It
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