(( Responding to my latest review: To her UnSingedIn in Majesty QueenOfSpain-- A whole day to update. That soon enough? =)
~M ))
Elise led the way under the tape, past the crowds and towards the colds white gates of Vantage Pointe, almost skipping as she walked, clapping her hands with joy.
"Oh it's wonderful isn't it? The sun is shining, the birds are out, and that lovely little scene back there. It's just wonderful."
I nodded. The cheeriness of my companion and the peacefulness outside the house was unnatural, sterile, and my stomach was still fighting itself.
"It's not much of course, the scene, very easy to piece together. The murderer obviously drove up with the victim in their own car, hence those horrible tire tracks, a bit of skid mark at one end yet clear and yet untrampled by the vehicles of this morning, and possibly the oil spills, though those look a bit older... Perhaps they knew each other. A most unusual person this suspect, oh yes, and not exactly a member of this 'fine community' " her lips twisted mockingly at the phrase "Honestly speaking I've never met a person of this class who would stick with chewing rather than smoking, have you? Lowell."
Oh great. now I was supposed to answer? I shook my head. She paused just long enough to look at me and say "What was that? I can't hear the rocks in your head."
I swallowed hard and prayed my stomach would settle down " No, I haven't."
"Didn't think so. So he's obviously someone who worked here now and again, like an unnoticed servant. "
"He?"
"Men's shoes. Very distinctive. He walked with his victim into the house, lit a flashlight he'd brought with him, rather than a candle and BAM."
"What about the almonds smell?"
"Poison maybe. But not enough to murder efficiently. It only brought about pain and those twisted features you saw. It was the blow to the head that did it. Am act of merciful cowardness if you will. " She went on for a while as we walked within sight of the gates. I noticed her turn a few feet from the gates and head into a building made of thin plastic rocks (white and brown tinted for some reason)
"Where are we going?"
"I want to see this Marcus Johnson. " she answered. And knocked on the gold and white door. As I watched, she ran a hand through her hair, straightened her shirt and through her shoulders back, adapting look of seriousness. Even the dancing gleam in her eyes made a final brief flash before disappearing.
I only got a brief glimpse of a weathered face, and grizzled hair before Marcus Johnson slammed the door in our face.
"Mister Johnson sir." Elise began, "Captain Fern and Officer Rowlands sent me to speak with you about last night."
"I already gave my statement. And it's Sergeant. Johnson."
"Yes Sergeant. I know, but they wanted me to check up on the details. "
The door "What kind of an idiot do you think I am girl? I said nothing to the press and I'm not saying a damned thing to a bunch of kids no go home." Slam.
"As you will Sergeant but I really believe it would be better for you to tell me about last night than to have me tell the real police what you were really doing down that street last night." A pause "I don't think theft is part of the Protect and Serve motto of your fine establishment, however petty. and I'm certain relations with --"
Her voice was rising as she spoke, until the door was yanked open. "Fine, Fine just get in here and shut up."
We entered a small beige colored room the one large window, a series of high tech computers and cameras and a photo of a young-looking woman on a shelf and a door open to a back room with a small cot and mini fridge. Sergeant Johnson dropped his bulk into the only chair . "So what is it then?"
"We merely wish to confirm what you've already said in your statement. Now you were here last night?"
"No, I was in the clubhouse with everyone else in the place. The community was having one of their get togethers, it was a landlords birthday, a merger or something. Anyway the party was over at around 2 in the morning and since that's when my shift was on I was getting ready to go home. Before I did though, I figured I'd take one last look around. Most everybody on these first streets had been at the party you know, not that there's many here to begin with."
"Why's that?"
Sergeant Johnson gave Elise a sour look. "Because of the traffic from the street. These folks don't like to be near noise. " he continued "So I went driving up and around here and met up with Charlie, he was just getting off and heading for home, so we stopped and talked awhile. Now the clubhouse I mean is the big one, the at the other Vantage Pointe across the street. Most folks from this Pointe took their cars over and back so I came around to check in with the cameras, making sure nothing had happened since Charlie left and that's when I noticed on camera three here" he waved his hand vaguely " that the lights were on at that house. Nw this normally wouldn't be unsual but there ain't been any electricity one that house for a good few months now, and only the owner of this place has the keys. and she was still up at the party. So I went up there and you saw what I did. "
"And you're cameras? What did they see?"
"Cars coming in and out. Nothing more. "
"No one going in or out of the house. Nothing?"
"Look, little girl, I didn't see no one until that crowd started showing . Then there was only one guy. Pretty tall, dark haired. Wore a nice suit. But the dress jacket was undone and he wore something like a red an' white shirt under it."
"A red and white shirt? You're sure?"
"Yes."
"You're positive? it couldn't have been a white shirt with a red vest?"
"How in the hell should I know? It was late and I had a little more to worry about than some drunk fool."
"He was drunk?"
"Wasn't everybody? He'd obviously been at the party and uh...charmed one of our residents if you get me. Though how that happened I can't think. He had this habit of spitting every five minutes it seemed and--"
"Ah, thank you Sergeant I think that's all we need to know for now. We'll let you get back to whatever it is you think you're doing then."
"Wait a minute. What about what you were saying about--"
"The theft and the other thing? " Elise shrugged" What do I care I don't even know you. Just do us one more favor and open the gates so we could leave will you?"
She was back to her joyful self the moment we stepped out onto the sidewalk, next to an occasional rush of traffic.
"Did you get all that Lowell? Of course you did how could you not? And no doubt you see what is means?"
"I have no idea."
"You're kidding me?" She stopped and stared at me "You really don't know?"
"Not a bit. Just that this man Johnson described is the same as your murderer."
"Because he was the murderer Lowell."
"Well maybe..."
"No no, not maybe. Certainly."
"Let's say he was. Criminals don't always return to the scene of the crime."
"They do if they've left something behind. Like a little gold ring, in the shape of a snake eh?" I thought about that "If all else fails, that li'l ring's a good piece of bait."
"And another thing. That place looked pretty well lived in for a renter's home. "
"Sign out front said furniture is included in the renting."
"Yes but still..."
"The real owner probably bought some new junk for their "away from traffic" home and kept this here. It's impressive and easily replaceable."
I nodded, then stopped "Elise wait a minute."
"Yeah?"
I looked around "We came here in Kars' Ford. Which is all the way back inside. Just where are we going?"
"Home."
"And how far is home from here?"
"Only as few miles."
I sighed. A detective she may be, but Elise had a very skewed view of distance. A few miles could have been anywhere between one and ten. "And we're going to walk the whole way?"
"There's a bus stop a few steps from here. Don't worry 'bout the cash I can get it."
There was a bus stop a few blocks from where we had started out. It a good two hours to get us back home , one because of the nature of buses, two because we were kicked off the first one after Elise started arguing with the man next to her about the differences between animal euthanizing and the human Death Penalty. In between rides I asked her how she knew the meaning behind Katharizo and was treated to another of her shocked and confused looks.
"It's obvious isn't it? Where is that machine?"
"The bus schedule says not for another half an hour"
"Well it better be on time. There's a concert at the school tonight you know. Celebrating the spring or some such . "
"That's not until seven though . It's only 11:30 am. "
"Ah. Time for lunch then. A few more trips here and there to take care of some things and Ill be ready."
"What about the case?"
"It's coming together already, a few bits and pieces more is all we need. You coming ?"
I thought of the corpse of Michelle Connor. "Oh no. No umm...no thank you. This is my day off and I intend to stay inside and watch cartoons and court shows for the rest of the day."
She shrugged" Whatever."
~M ))
Elise led the way under the tape, past the crowds and towards the colds white gates of Vantage Pointe, almost skipping as she walked, clapping her hands with joy.
"Oh it's wonderful isn't it? The sun is shining, the birds are out, and that lovely little scene back there. It's just wonderful."
I nodded. The cheeriness of my companion and the peacefulness outside the house was unnatural, sterile, and my stomach was still fighting itself.
"It's not much of course, the scene, very easy to piece together. The murderer obviously drove up with the victim in their own car, hence those horrible tire tracks, a bit of skid mark at one end yet clear and yet untrampled by the vehicles of this morning, and possibly the oil spills, though those look a bit older... Perhaps they knew each other. A most unusual person this suspect, oh yes, and not exactly a member of this 'fine community' " her lips twisted mockingly at the phrase "Honestly speaking I've never met a person of this class who would stick with chewing rather than smoking, have you? Lowell."
Oh great. now I was supposed to answer? I shook my head. She paused just long enough to look at me and say "What was that? I can't hear the rocks in your head."
I swallowed hard and prayed my stomach would settle down " No, I haven't."
"Didn't think so. So he's obviously someone who worked here now and again, like an unnoticed servant. "
"He?"
"Men's shoes. Very distinctive. He walked with his victim into the house, lit a flashlight he'd brought with him, rather than a candle and BAM."
"What about the almonds smell?"
"Poison maybe. But not enough to murder efficiently. It only brought about pain and those twisted features you saw. It was the blow to the head that did it. Am act of merciful cowardness if you will. " She went on for a while as we walked within sight of the gates. I noticed her turn a few feet from the gates and head into a building made of thin plastic rocks (white and brown tinted for some reason)
"Where are we going?"
"I want to see this Marcus Johnson. " she answered. And knocked on the gold and white door. As I watched, she ran a hand through her hair, straightened her shirt and through her shoulders back, adapting look of seriousness. Even the dancing gleam in her eyes made a final brief flash before disappearing.
I only got a brief glimpse of a weathered face, and grizzled hair before Marcus Johnson slammed the door in our face.
"Mister Johnson sir." Elise began, "Captain Fern and Officer Rowlands sent me to speak with you about last night."
"I already gave my statement. And it's Sergeant. Johnson."
"Yes Sergeant. I know, but they wanted me to check up on the details. "
The door "What kind of an idiot do you think I am girl? I said nothing to the press and I'm not saying a damned thing to a bunch of kids no go home." Slam.
"As you will Sergeant but I really believe it would be better for you to tell me about last night than to have me tell the real police what you were really doing down that street last night." A pause "I don't think theft is part of the Protect and Serve motto of your fine establishment, however petty. and I'm certain relations with --"
Her voice was rising as she spoke, until the door was yanked open. "Fine, Fine just get in here and shut up."
We entered a small beige colored room the one large window, a series of high tech computers and cameras and a photo of a young-looking woman on a shelf and a door open to a back room with a small cot and mini fridge. Sergeant Johnson dropped his bulk into the only chair . "So what is it then?"
"We merely wish to confirm what you've already said in your statement. Now you were here last night?"
"No, I was in the clubhouse with everyone else in the place. The community was having one of their get togethers, it was a landlords birthday, a merger or something. Anyway the party was over at around 2 in the morning and since that's when my shift was on I was getting ready to go home. Before I did though, I figured I'd take one last look around. Most everybody on these first streets had been at the party you know, not that there's many here to begin with."
"Why's that?"
Sergeant Johnson gave Elise a sour look. "Because of the traffic from the street. These folks don't like to be near noise. " he continued "So I went driving up and around here and met up with Charlie, he was just getting off and heading for home, so we stopped and talked awhile. Now the clubhouse I mean is the big one, the at the other Vantage Pointe across the street. Most folks from this Pointe took their cars over and back so I came around to check in with the cameras, making sure nothing had happened since Charlie left and that's when I noticed on camera three here" he waved his hand vaguely " that the lights were on at that house. Nw this normally wouldn't be unsual but there ain't been any electricity one that house for a good few months now, and only the owner of this place has the keys. and she was still up at the party. So I went up there and you saw what I did. "
"And you're cameras? What did they see?"
"Cars coming in and out. Nothing more. "
"No one going in or out of the house. Nothing?"
"Look, little girl, I didn't see no one until that crowd started showing . Then there was only one guy. Pretty tall, dark haired. Wore a nice suit. But the dress jacket was undone and he wore something like a red an' white shirt under it."
"A red and white shirt? You're sure?"
"Yes."
"You're positive? it couldn't have been a white shirt with a red vest?"
"How in the hell should I know? It was late and I had a little more to worry about than some drunk fool."
"He was drunk?"
"Wasn't everybody? He'd obviously been at the party and uh...charmed one of our residents if you get me. Though how that happened I can't think. He had this habit of spitting every five minutes it seemed and--"
"Ah, thank you Sergeant I think that's all we need to know for now. We'll let you get back to whatever it is you think you're doing then."
"Wait a minute. What about what you were saying about--"
"The theft and the other thing? " Elise shrugged" What do I care I don't even know you. Just do us one more favor and open the gates so we could leave will you?"
She was back to her joyful self the moment we stepped out onto the sidewalk, next to an occasional rush of traffic.
"Did you get all that Lowell? Of course you did how could you not? And no doubt you see what is means?"
"I have no idea."
"You're kidding me?" She stopped and stared at me "You really don't know?"
"Not a bit. Just that this man Johnson described is the same as your murderer."
"Because he was the murderer Lowell."
"Well maybe..."
"No no, not maybe. Certainly."
"Let's say he was. Criminals don't always return to the scene of the crime."
"They do if they've left something behind. Like a little gold ring, in the shape of a snake eh?" I thought about that "If all else fails, that li'l ring's a good piece of bait."
"And another thing. That place looked pretty well lived in for a renter's home. "
"Sign out front said furniture is included in the renting."
"Yes but still..."
"The real owner probably bought some new junk for their "away from traffic" home and kept this here. It's impressive and easily replaceable."
I nodded, then stopped "Elise wait a minute."
"Yeah?"
I looked around "We came here in Kars' Ford. Which is all the way back inside. Just where are we going?"
"Home."
"And how far is home from here?"
"Only as few miles."
I sighed. A detective she may be, but Elise had a very skewed view of distance. A few miles could have been anywhere between one and ten. "And we're going to walk the whole way?"
"There's a bus stop a few steps from here. Don't worry 'bout the cash I can get it."
There was a bus stop a few blocks from where we had started out. It a good two hours to get us back home , one because of the nature of buses, two because we were kicked off the first one after Elise started arguing with the man next to her about the differences between animal euthanizing and the human Death Penalty. In between rides I asked her how she knew the meaning behind Katharizo and was treated to another of her shocked and confused looks.
"It's obvious isn't it? Where is that machine?"
"The bus schedule says not for another half an hour"
"Well it better be on time. There's a concert at the school tonight you know. Celebrating the spring or some such . "
"That's not until seven though . It's only 11:30 am. "
"Ah. Time for lunch then. A few more trips here and there to take care of some things and Ill be ready."
"What about the case?"
"It's coming together already, a few bits and pieces more is all we need. You coming ?"
I thought of the corpse of Michelle Connor. "Oh no. No umm...no thank you. This is my day off and I intend to stay inside and watch cartoons and court shows for the rest of the day."
She shrugged" Whatever."