Chapter 9

After the Chief had left the conference, Ed and Eve finally decided to follow his example. They felt they had better things to do right now. Talking to people had always proved to be a rewarding approach, worth the effort and time spent and so they chose to pay a visit to some of the many gambling halls

But what where they looking for? As the Chief had said there was no reason yet to let anyone conclude a crime had been committed. Maybe it was simply an act of despair. Though they knew, they sensed that there had to be something else.

First thing to do was to listen to the gossip. Unfortunately they soon discovered that Vegas being what it was only few people seemed shocked by what had happened. Many hadn't even heard about it and others simply hunched their shoulder. They should have known. After all, this was Sin City : kingdom of indifference.

"Shall we split up, Ed? Maybe some people might talk more easily to a woman alone." Eve suggested. "I take this side of the road and you the other."

"I guess we have no other choice if at least we want to come up with something. Ok. then. Two hours from now back in the lobby of our hotel." Ed proposed, looking at his watch. "Good luck, Eve!"

Ed decided to choose at random where to enter. He strolled amidst the slots but rapidly learned it was wasted energy. This was déjà-vu. Punters who wouldn't lift a finger if someone next to them dropped dead. Still hopeful, he walked towards the classical games where dealers of flesh and blood skillfully juggled with the color and value chips. He made a few attempts to engage in a conversation but it was all in vain. People here were, unfortunately for Ed, made of the same stuff as the one armed bandit addicts. "Hear nothing, see nothing, say nothing" a dictum that ruled in master over this army of game enslaved marionettes.

"I should have remembered my lesson. Damned fools. Same bunch of dummies we already encountered yesterday evening." Ed grumbled as he shuffled out utterly disappointed, hoping

Eve had been luckier.

Exactly two hours after they had split up Ed arrived at the hotel. He was mad at himself and paced up and down in front of the lobby waiting for Eve.

How was it possible he had made such an error? He was convinced daytime gamblers would have proven to be much more responsible people than the ones who populated the Las Vegas nights. What a disillusion.

He looked at his watch. "What's keeping you, Eve?" Knowing how punctual she usually was he preferred to interpret it as a good sign.

Only seconds later a cab stopped a few feet from the entrance and Eve got out. "Ed, oohooo!" She was waving at him as he turned around. He briskly walked over to her. "And ..., any luck?"

"Maybe, Ed, maybe. Let's go up and see the Chief. I think he will be interested by what I was told."

"By the way, how come you showed up by cab?"

"I had to go out of my way to see someone on the other side of town."

"The other side of town, Eve? I hope it was worth it?"

"Mmmm. It was. Kind off." Eve answered flashing a little smile. "Now! Shall we, Ed?"

Eve knocked, "Mark! ... It's us!"

"Aha! There you are. Finally! You really stayed till the end? Very courageous, I must admit," the Chief joked as he turned away from the window and wheeled over to them.

"To be very honest, Chief, we also left soon after you did. We thought we'd give you a hand."

"Kind of you, Ed. But ...give me hand with what. There's nothing concre…"

"I may have discovered something, Chief" Eve intervened, hoping he would be pleased.

"My eavesdropping paid off. A loose-lipped female dealer filled me in on the gossip and she even went on beyond my expectations."

"Now don't you two get excited. Remember what we came for: a conference. And there still is no reason at all to conclude a crime has been committed." Ironside tried to cool their enthusiasm.

"Wait until you hear what I uncovered, Chief. The dealer, she gave me an address. It was almost on the other side of town but … it was worth it. You'll see," Eve added; hardly able to conceal her satisfaction? "I had a very interesting conversation with an elderly lady. She told me about a certain ... Goldberg, no ...," She snapped her fingers, " It was something with Gold ..."

Maybe ..., Goldham!" Ironside suggested.

"Yes, Chief ..., Goldham it is." Eve paused; surprised. "You know him?"

"Somebody mentioned him to me earlier today. Now, Eve," he hunched forward, "What about him? You tickled my curiosity."

Eve threw, Ed a little triumphant look.

"It might mean nothing but it seems that a few years ago, this Mr. Goldham, forced some young ladies into relationships with customers. It came to an abrupt end when one of the girls was brutally murdered." Eve observed the three men as a silence installed. No doubt, she had captured their attention.

"Murdered!" they repeated in chorus.

"Yes. And this lady insisted heavily on the fact that it was definitely murder. Though no one was ever arrested, let alone brought to justice. Incredible, isn't it, Chief?"

"Hmmmmm …., how can that be? You're sure, Eve? Did you feel she was trustworthy?"

"A hundred percent, Chief. She was excited at the idea someone finally showed new interest in this strange case. She told her story as if it happened only last week."

"That could mean there actually might be reason to believe that yesterday's mishap was after all not just an accident. Interesting." The Chief looked at his colleges and noticed how they already expected him to give instructions.

"No …, no…," he sighed after a few seconds, shaking his head. "That just isn't enough to go on." And returned to his observation post at the window.

Astonished, Ed, Eve and Mark watched him sit there, simply looking out of that window, obviously with his thoughts miles away. That was not what they had expected.

Eve joined him first and sat down on the windowsill like Cathy the night before. "But, Chief …, you haven't heard the rest of the story yet. There really is more to it and I can assure you that you'll find it most surprising."

He looked up at her, "Why didn't you say so right away? Come on, Eve. Don't make me wait now. What more can there be for you to tell me?" he continued in his usual grouchy style.

Mark and Ed exchanged a quick glance. That was more like the Chief. Without hesitation Ed grabbed a chair and went over to sit next to his boss while Mark settled at the foot end of the nearby bed. The team reunited, eager to hear what Eve still had to say.

Anyone entering the room at this point could have sworn those four were up to something.

"We're listening, Eve."

"At that particular time this lady used to run a boarding house. Many newcomers ended up at her place because it was quite cheap and had a good reputation. She felt she was a little like a surrogate mother for many of the youngsters. They easily confided in her and …"

" Skip the details." A clearly impatient Ironside ordered. "Stick to the facts. For the moment that's all we need: facts."

"Fact is, Chief that some girls were used to charm the customers. Tempt them to prolong their stay and thus spend more money. All benefit for the casino. This modus operandi was a public secret. No one did anything to stop it, until …that girl got killed."

"Facts, Eve! Facts! Come to the point."

"I'm coming to it, Chief. It was a brutal murder. She was stabbed at least a dozen times. The weapon was never found and …

"There had to be other clues, Eve."

"There most certainly were, Chief, if hadn't it been for the guy who uncovered the body."

"What do you mean?"

"Well …, they attributed it to him being in a state of total panic. First of all his fingerprints. They were on every possible object belonging to the victim. Also he must have run up and down that alley several times, presumably in search of help. He totally disturbed the scene, almost completely erasing all other traces with his own footprints."

"Oh boy! That Samaritan really knew how to mess up things, huh, Chief?"

"He sure did, Mark. But at the same time it raises the question as to whether he did it on purpose or was it really due to a panic reaction?"

" Well, there were a couple of presumed suspects, including the young man who stumbled upon the corpse, but in the end no one was arrested, and …, it never made it to court. That's about it, Chief." Eve said clearly satisfied.

"It's no surprise it never got to court, if you ask me," Ed joined in. "With such a heap of non – evidence the first the best lawyer would have gotten his client off in no time. Puff ..., you said it, Mark: what a mess. There's no better word for it."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"To me it's crystal clear," Ed reformulated his opinion, "No evidence, no condemnation."

Surprised, Ironside swiveled in his chair to face his Sergeant. "This is not like you, Ed. You've accustomed me to more perseverance and stubbornness."

"True. But this case is none of our concern, Chief. And that's how we should keep it."

"Which was exactly my intention until I heard Eve's account. Amateurs at work. Pure amateurism," he growled. " And that is something I can't stand whether it's in San Francisco or here in Las Vegas."

"Amateurs. No evidence …, and what else?" Ironside was talking to himself shaking his head in disbelief while again looking out the window.

The other three realized this strange story had caught his attention beyond a point where he could, or better, would not longer be able to ignore it.

" Look!" he finally said, turning his chair away from the window, "I'm scheduled to meet Catherine tonight for dinner. She should be able to tell me more. Meanwhile I suggest you two enjoy your evening and we'll consider later."

"I think, Ed and I should try to find more information?" an eager Eve suggested.

"No, Eve. I appreciate the offer but with the little we know we're bound to waste our energy."

"The Chief is right, Eve, and I continue to believe we should leave this whole matter to the local authorities. Come on! Let us find a nice little restaurant for tonight. My treat."