"We've Mariposa in."
Ryan and Sara went back to the department after their conversation with the security man. Ryan put out a broadcast on Steps.
"Where has she been?"
"Boulder Highway."
"Interesting. I come over. There's a warrant we're waiting for. If we get it Greg will take a look at the apartments of Mariposa and Steps."
"Perfect. Room five."
"Okay." She finished the call. Boulder Highway. That didn't sound like Mariposa would make it to her show in two hours. Sara had a file of Marilyn Mariposa. She had been arrested twice for assault. The first time three years ago, the second time last year. Both times for assaulting a colleague. Sara had only have a short look at the files, both women had been showgirls . She wondered if they had the leading part or if Marilyn Mariposa was the star and the other two had been more talented and therefore a thread. Another strange was that Mariposa had never been to trial for these assaults.
A tall woman in a white suit was sitting next to the showgirl, who was build more than Teleah Bath had been: petite and lean.
"Her lawyer?" Sara asked when Ryan joined her.
"Yes. Was here before the suspect arrived."
"She looks familiar."
"Doris Gray, a really great lawyer. We need some really good evidence to get Mariposa. We won't bullshit Gray, she's too good. Takes a Benjamin up per hour."
"Do showgirls earn that good?"
"I assume they're friends. Gray greeted her with her first name. She was her lawyer when Mariposa was questioned the first two times."
"That's why she never went to trial."
"I guess so."
"She'll block the warrant."
"You can bet on that."
"We need to get to her through Steps. Anything of him?"
"No. He isn't home and not back in the casino. Gelder isn't happy. First a dead showgirl, now his leading part is held here by us and his dance instructor is missing and a suspect."
"He'll have to improvise the show today and may…" Sara's cell rang. A text message.
Steps is at 592 Kingsdon Alley. Keane.
She showed Ryan the message.
"How does he know?"
"I've no idea. I wanted to talk to him anyway, now I've another two questions."
"Which one is number two?"
"Where did he get my cell phone number from? I never gave it to him. Do you want to check this place he wrote about?"
"It's a clue, we'll check it. I'll send a black and white to that address. We can use it for some pressure on Mariposa. I bet her lawyer doesn't want her to talk to us. If we tell her we found Steps she might say something to save her ass."
"Yeah." Sara would contact Keane later. "Let's talk to Mariposa – or her lawyer." She opened the door for Ryan who commented that with a smile. No need to tell his girlfriend she was switching roles, she did that on purpose.
"Miss Mariposa, nice that you found your way to us. Good evening Misses Gray, I'm lieutenant Clark and that's Miss Sidle, CSI."
"There's no reason why my client was brought in like a criminal."
"She didn't want to come with the officers."
"There is no reason why she should."
"That depends on whom you're asking. We were looking for her, nobody knew where she was and when she didn't cooperate with the officers, they had to bring her in."
"What do you want from my client?"
"Talk."
"You did that last night."
"There are some more questions."
"About her apartment? Or why do you requested a warrant to search her place?"
"We're investigating the death of Teleah Bath, a colleague of your client."
"Was she killed in my client's apartment?"
"We're still looking for the primary crime scene."
"Any evidence my client's apartment is the primary crime scene? Or that she's involved in the death of that woman?"
"Your client has the leading part of the show at the moment. According to some people she didn't get the part because of her dance talents."
"She is a great dancer."
"I didn't say she's bad but apparently there are better dancer. The victim for example."
"She was a nobody." Marilyn Mariposa snorted.
"Don't talk, Marilyn." Her lawyer stopped her.
"My client has been the leading part in this casino for four years, she has talent, more than Miss Bath could ever dream of."
"Four years? Isn't that the same time Mister Steps got employed?"
"And?"
"The funny thing is, he left his work place today when Miss Sidle and me talked to a colleague and this man mentioned that Mister Steps and your clients are…very close friends."
"Nothing is wrong with friendship between colleagues."
"Not if the friendship doesn't interfere with the job. Mister Steps makes the decisions who gets the leading part and if your client has a close relationship with him, he might have given her the leading part not because of her dance talent."
"When Mister Steps has other reasons than the enormous talent of my client to giver her the leading role it's his fault. And that he left the casino without a reason makes him a suspect not my client. You should use your energy in finding him and not harassing her."
"Oh we found him, no worries." Ryan smiled and noticed the short shock in Marilyn Mariposa's face. She had hoped he would be gone. He hoped Keane hadn't lied and his colleagues were taking Steps in.
"What does he say?"
"We'll talk to him later, ladies first."
"Nobody believes you're a gentleman, lieutenant Clark."
"Not? My mother will be disappointed. What did you do the night Teleah Bath died, Miss Mariposa?"
"She was on stage."
"So was the victim. After that."
"She was home, a show is very exhausting."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
"Not good enough."
"Why does she need an alibi?"
"Two assaults of former colleagues."
"There were no trials."
"She has an excellent lawyer."
"She was innocent."
"Tell me, were these women interested in the leading part?"
"Every girls want to have the leading part, lieutenant. That's why they come to the casino, that's why they become showgirls. They want to be the star."
"The funny thing is your client got accused that she assaulted two women and these women lose their job while your client is still there."
"That means she is innocent and these other women were only jealous."
"We'll see into that. I'm going to talk to these women, ask them why they accused your client. And I wonder what Mister Steps will say when I ask him where he had been in the night of the murder of Teleah Bath. If he has an alibi or if he was home alone too."
"Talk to him and let my client go you've nothing to hold her." Unfortunately she was right on that.
"No I haven't. But I'd like your client to stay in town and be available for some more questions. I don't wish to find her again on the highway to Boulder and resist the request of an officer to follow him to the department."
"She has no reason to leave. In fact, she has a show to perform. We're late already."
"You're free to go."
"Come on, Marilyn." Both women left the room without further words.
Sara followed them with her eyes.
"I don't like either of them."
"Me neither."
"Mariposa was nervous when she heard we have Steps."
"Yeah I saw that too."
"They were together and she knows he's the weak part of them. You think she'll tell her lawyer to help him out?"
"If she does so she'll have to find an excuse why. I think Gray will try to get Mariposa out of this and they won't bother throwing Steps to the lions."
"I think the same. What about the warrants?"
Sara checked her cell phone. "Greg is on his way to Steps' apartment, he couldn't get a warrant for Mariposa's so far. Her lawyer is too good."
"I told you."
"The officers found Steps?"
"Yes they're bringing him in. He was where Keane told you he is."
"Means we'll go on with him."
"What do you think of a little break before we go on with Steps?"
"Sounds good. Fifteen minutes?"
"Eat something, Sara. Half an hour."
