Beauty Can Be Deadly
Chapter 6
Steve surveyed the scene in front of him. All that was visible of the latest victim was her legs. He was reminded of the scene in 'The Wizard of Oz' when the wicked witch was killed. She was crushed beneath a heavy piece of scenery that had been constructed for the big dance number the night of the pageant. "Can't we get this off of her?" he asked.
"We're bringing the equipment back in to lift it," replied one of the stage hands.
"I don't think it's going to do any good," responded one of the paramedics. "I couldn't get a pulse in the ankle."
"That could just be because the blood has been cut off to that area. She could still be alive," was Steve's urgent response.
"What are you, a doctor?" asked the paramedic.
"No, but he hangs around with them," Cheryl responded for him with a smile.
"Can I get everyone to step back?" asked the stage hand.
They all watched and waited as the scenery was lifted off the victim. As soon as the woman became visible the paramedics moved in to begin treatment. Steve and Cheryl stayed back to give them room and tried to identify the latest victim from their vantage point. Cheryl made the id first. "It's Topaz Gem," she informed Steve.
"You're kidding," he responded.
She never got the chance to answer. The lead paramedic looked up and shook his head. "She didn't make it."
Steve looked at Cheryl. "Do you want to do the gathering or the calling?"
"I don't think we need to do any gathering she responded," while gesturing over her shoulder towards the auditorium. "They seem to be well trained."
Steve looked beyond her to see that the contestants, judges and stage hands had already arranged themselves in the seats in front of the stage. Steve couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. "I'll go start with them you make the calls."
Steve looked at the individuals that were gathered in front of him. "I need you to identify yourself before you answer a question. Can each of you tell me when you last saw Topaz Gem?"
The answers varied and several people had seen her leave the locker room just before hearing the noise of the scenery falling. They had all run out to investigate the noise but didn't recall seeing anyone around the area. Steve thanked them for their time and walked towards Cheryl and the other officers.
Cheryl's mouth split in a welcoming smile. "Let me guess, you didn't get much from them."
"No, how goes things here?" he asked.
"Not much so far. We did find a small piece of material that we don't think is off the victim."
Steve sighed. "Cheryl, I just don't get this. We have some small pieces of evidence but they don't really help us identify a suspect. I think we agree that it is a woman. That gives us 25 suspects. There are 20 remaining contestants and the 5 women judges. The judges are all elderly and three of them are on walkers. I think they would have trouble fleeing the scene as quickly as the murderer has. They also don't have access to the locker room and shower where Jordan Maxwell was killed, and I seriously doubt any of them could have climbed up into the rafters and sabotaged the light fixture. I think that leaves us with the remaining 20 contestants as suspects."
Cheryl nodded thoughtfully. "I agree. I don't think the captain is going to approve surveillance on all of them. I think our next move should be digging deeper into each one of them."
"Let's head back to the station and get to work then," Steve responded.
~~****~~
Steve's neck ached from the constant downward position of reading through background checks. He leaned back and raised his arms above his head. He interlocked his hands and stretched. He looked across the desk as Cheryl finished the report she had been reading. He arched an eyebrow and gave her a questioning look. "Ok, obviously you have found something."
Cheryl smiled. "I think I may have found a pretty good suspect. Her name is Margie Sullivan and she has been in trouble before. She has a few minor offenses for DUI and drugs. However, she competed in a pageant in Venice Beach a few years ago. The grand prize was a modeling contract. Apparently Ms Sullivan really wanted to win. When the contestants received the preliminary scores and she found out she was in second place she decided to help the judges make their decision. She waited in the parking lot of the hotel where the pageant leader was staying and attacked her with a tire iron. The woman survived but she suffered permanent damage. She just got out on parole and this is her first pageant since then."
"Well she certainly has a colorful past," Steve replied. "Was she one of the five who were engaged?"
"As a matter of fact she is. I even have a little information on him. He is currently serving a 7 year sentence for assault with a deadly weapon," Cheryl answered.
"They sound like the All-American couple," Steve stated. "Do you know where she is staying?"
"Her registration form for the pageant says she is staying at the Days Inn on Harper Street," Cheryl responded. "Do you want to bring her in for questioning?"
"I think we have enough for that. Let's go get her."
~~****~~
Steve and Cheryl walked down the hall towards room 331 in companionable silence. As they reached the door they took positions on opposite sides of the door and Steve rapped on it sharply. He heard the sound of someone on the other side and the door opened as far as the security chain would allow.
"Can I help you?" asked a voice.
"Ms. Sullivan?" Steve inquired.
"No, I'm her roommate," the voice replied.
Steve moved so that the woman behind the door could see him more clearly and he could see her. A green eye framed by red hair was visible. "I'm Lt. Steve Sloan and this is Detective Cheryl Banks. We would like to speak with your roommate."
"Lt. Sloan, I'm so sorry I didn't realize it was you. Please come is," she invited as she closed the door far enough to release the security chain and then opened it fully. I'm Savannah Aldridge; I'm a contestant in the pageant as well."
Well I guess I'm not here, Cheryl thought to herself. She watched as Savannah Aldridge batted her eyes and flirted with Steve. The same eyes that batted at Steve turned on Cheryl and they were ice cold. Cheryl blinked and when she looked back the ice stare had been replaced by warmth. Ok, maybe I imagined it.
"Where is your roommate, Ms Aldridge?" Cheryl asked.
The ice was back. "She's taking a shower. Lt. Sloan, would you like something to drink?"
"No thank you, Ms Aldridge. How long has you roommate been in the shower?" he inquired.
Savannah Aldridge smiled sweetly. "About 15 minutes. It normally takes her about 20 minutes to shower. Why do you want to see her?"
"We just have some questions for her," Cheryl responded.
Cheryl was the recipient of a cold look. "Lt. Sloan, is there anything I can help you with?"
Yeah, and I know what you want to help him with, Cheryl thought.
"Well, there are a couple of questions you might be able to help us with," Steve responded.
"Anything," Savannah Aldridge responded.
"Do you know where your roommate was when each of the victims were murdered?" Steve asked.
Savannah Aldridge seemed to ponder the question before she answered. "I don't remember her being with the rest of us when Anthea was murdered but then it wouldn't be hard to miss someone in a group that size. I know she took her shower before Jordan and I didn't see her after that. I don't know where she was when Topaz was killed. Sorry I'm not much help."
"That's fine, I appreciate your trying," Steve replied. He listened closely and didn't hear the water anymore. "Let's make sure she knows we're here," he said to Cheryl.
Cheryl moved towards the bathroom door and knocked lightly. "Ms Sullivan, this is Detective Cheryl Banks and as soon as you're dressed we would like to talk with you."
"Sure,"came a muffled reply from behind the door. "Just give me a minute to dry off."
Steve moved to lean against the wall and Cheryl maintained her position close to the bathroom. They had waited a few moments when he saw Cheryl cock her head to one side. He moved over to join her and heard an unmistakable noise. "Ms Aldridge, is there a window in that room?"
"Why yes, Lieutenant there is, why do you ask?"
"She's running," he shouted at Cheryl as he moved towards the door. They raced down the hallway and down the stairs. They circled to the back side of the hotel and Cheryl and Steve caught sight of a figure running down the sidewalk. They both took off at a run with Steve taking the lead. He finally got close enough and he stopped and pulled his gun. "Stop, police freeze." She slowed but didn't stop and then abruptly turned to her left and ran into the street. She never saw the city bus that had just rounded the corner. Steve heard squealing tires and a sickening thud.
