Testing the waters

Friday 19th May 08:12

"OK, sorted" Brown closed the manila folder as he and Steve sat in the station, "I'll start on his showbiz colleagues, and his charity work. You concentrate on the family and the business angle".

"He may have been a great giver but looking at that pad yesterday he didn't leave himself poverty stricken in the process" Steve agreed "Apparently the safe held ten grand".

As Brown straightened his tie Steve noticed a freshly ironed pale blue shirt beneath the dark blue suit, and a clean-shaven face to go with it. Smoothing his hair down with the palm of his hand Brown muttered something about being off to a studio across town and keeping each other informed.

"Fine" Steve joked "you go and rub shoulders with the beautiful people, I'll deal with the weeping widow. Oh and Rod, if you aren't back by morning I'll tell the captain you got a better offer. With Simmons out of the picture the media needs another idol to worship".

Friday 19th May 09:36

Steve parked across the street from Simmons house on East Marine Road and brushed his way through the smattering of reporters who were still camped outside the gates. A skinny brunette from some minor entertainment station waved a microphone in his face, gabbling questions and repeating rumours in the process. Steve forced a smile "No comment", the woman undeterred continued grinning insanely. Too many teeth for one mouth Steve thought to himself as a uniformed officer buzzed him inside.

He bounded up the sweeping steps leading to the main entrance and ducked under the yellow tape. Two forensic officers in white coveralls passed him in the hallway, he muttered to them and they signalled towards a doorway to the right. Steve disappeared inside then returned a short while later crossing to the open lounge door.

He knocked and a calm, pleasant voice called "come in". Steve entered the lounge room closing the door behind himself; the lights were on and drapes covered all three sets of huge ceiling to floor French windows. He noticed the spring of the carpet beneath his feet, it had a cream and mauve pattern and about six inched of pile by the feel of things. The end of the room he had entered into was sparse, the walls lined with shallow shelves filled with videotapes. The other end focused around an elaborate fireplace and a huge glass coffee table seated on a Chinese rug. There were two sofas and a pair of chairs arranged around them as well as a chaise-long by the bottom window. A small table with a lamp and telephone sat alone in the corner. Glancing around Steve noticed family photos and achievement plaques intermingled on the walls, and the mantle piece proudly displayed awards flanked by photos of two children.

Corrine Simmons hovered by the fireplace, she was about 5' 10", a slender figure dressed in a knee length black skirt and black blouse; Steve knew from the file that she was 41 years old. Her hair was shiny and blond, swept back tightly from her face, coiled perfectly and gripped in place by some invisible force. Her make-up, if she was wearing any, was subtle Steve thought, together with the simple chain around her neck and the two rings on her wedding finger she was nothing like the woman he'd imagined. Married to somebody as important and famous, not to mention rich as Max Simmons, he'd expected a silicon enhanced show-wife, all hair and teeth like the reporter outside.

She smiled weakly and extended a hand towards Steve "You must be Steve, sorry Detective Sloan" she corrected herself.

"Either is fine" he assured her, thrown slightly by her use of his Christian name. "May I start by saying how sorry I am about your husband Mrs Simmons,"

"Corrine, please"

Steve smiled "Corrine, I appreciate this is a difficult time for you and your family, I'll try to take as little of your time as possible. I've just spoken again to your housekeeper."

"Alyson, was she helpful?" Corrine asked politely. Steve nodded.

"Just a formality" he clarified and Corrine smiled.

"Of course, she's been with us for almost five years now, Max and she got on famously" a frown crept across her face. "Yes" she continued solemnly, "Alyson liked Max, just like everyone else did."

Steve heard the door behind him struggle to brush open across the thick carpet.

Corrine signalled over Steve's shoulder "Come in Mark". Steve didn't bother to turn around. Though it was a common enough name he was somehow sure of the presence behind him. "I called your father earlier" she began to explain. Steve tried to look nonchalant but his expression only managed to land somewhere between exasperation and submission. "We met at a charity gala for the children's ward last year" she continued. Mark stood shoulder to shoulder with his son now, smiling across at him as if to say he had no choice but to be here. "Your father and I spoke briefly here yesterday,"

"When I was here in my role as police consultant" Mark clarified quickly for his son.

"Yes, and he told me you were assigned to the case. I remembered from the gala that Mark had a son in the police department, he's very proud of you and rightly so" Corrine continued as Steve began to blush. "I hope you don't mind my calling your father…."

"Not at all" Steve smiled. He could always rely on his father to go above and beyond the call of duty in his role of police consultant; hanging around at the crime scene, waiting for a 'chance' meeting with an old acquaintance. Good to see he could still snoop, no, assist, as well as ever.

Corrine signalled for Steve and Mark to take a seat on the sofa and eased herself into one of the chairs by the fireside. "Did you find the bathroom alright?" she asked and Mark blushed slightly.

"Got a little lost" he admitted "but I found it, or should I say I found a bathroom, passed another two on the way back".

Snooping again Steve thought with a strange pang of pride. He took a notepad from his pocket and began gently. "Mrs Simmons" he paused "Corrine, your husband was a well know figure, well liked too" Corrine smiled "but could you think of anybody" she began shaking her head slowly but Steve continued "anybody who had a grudge against him, felt he'd wronged them in some way. While it seems like robbery was the probable motive we have to look at all possibilities. Did your husband ever mention any enemies, any threats against him?" She didn't reply to the question directly but addressed Mark.

"You met him at the gala, that was the real Max, not a show, not good PR or acting skills. That was him, the way he always was. His charity work was his passion, it's the reason he gave up acting and why he's had less and less interest in SKE". Her voice began to break. Still looking at Mark she pressed on; "People, the press, they always want the 'real story', some sleaze, it's a sign of the times I'm afraid, nobody is willing to believe that beautiful people exist anymore" she shot an accusatory glance at Steve. "Oh sure, make up and designer labels, those beautiful people are all over the magazines but beautiful souls, I guess they don't sell tabloids. They're always looking, were always looking" she corrected herself "for a chink in his armour". She beamed "You can't find what isn't there".

"Is there anything you can think of?" Steve asked

"Jealousy" she shrugged "Somebody jealous of what he had, or robbery as you said. I'm sorry, that's all I can think of. It may be hard for you Detective, with your line of work I guess you don't meet people like Max; all I can do is assure you that Max never did anything to make an enemy. I know you're sitting there thinking I'm gushing about him in my grief, but really, ask anyone, he was unique".

Steve tapped the pen on the blank notepad. "Do you think I'd be able to speak to the children now? Steve asked politely."

"I'm sorry" Corrine shook her head "I really don't think they are up to it yet. Maybe tomorrow?" she suggested.

The phone in the corner tinkled delicately, Corrine answered, paused and covered the mouthpiece "It's Max's mother, is there anything else?"

Steve shook his head, "no, thank you," and with that Mark and Steve bounced across the carpet to the door closing it behind them.

Friday 19th May 13:55

"Mark filled me in about your meeting with Corrine" Amanda smiled as Steve entered the path lab "how did it go with the business partners?"

"He was a nice guy" he delivered the statement in robotic fashion, "oh, and did anybody mention, Max was a really nice guy"?

"What'd his partners at SKE say about him selling up?" she asked innocently.

Steve's eyes brightened "Selling up?" Amanda knew by the tone of his voice that this was the first Steve had heard of it.

"Thought so" she admitted smugly "I was talking to a guy who is rather interested in the case 'cause he has an interest in SKE, he likes to stay ahead of the game and he loves celebrity gossip".

"Go on" Steve urged.

"According to the financial and tinsel town grapevines, Simmons wanted to sell his share in the business"

"He's an equal partner with two guys named Craig Emerson and Michael Kent" Steve said.

Amanda nodded "Simmons liked to be hands on, the company was getting too big, he was feeling like a stuffed shirt. Other rumours are that he wanted to devote all his time to charity work"

"That ties with something the wife said, something about it becoming his main focus or passion, I don't remember the exact words".

"OK" she folded her arms across her body "then it gets sketchy, speculation. Something about an agreement as to which partner would gain control if Simmons did sell, potential financial problems with the big name gone. It's not much unless you think it's worth digging into" her tone turned apologetic.

"Amanda it's great, I promise" he gave her a quick hug and glanced at his watch "if you see dad, tell him I may not be home for dinner, see you later", and with that he left.

Friday 19th May 14:42

Steve flashed his best smile at the receptionist in the SKE lobby. She chatted into a headset as her fingers danced across the keyboard and the switchboard behind her flashed furiously.

"Honey, I told you, we have nothing to do with casting. I know. Ya, ya, oh darling tell me about it, been waiting for my big break for twelve years." A slight pause "No! Oh my god how did he get a part in a show like that? Really?" She stopped typing now and gazed at the far wall in astonishment "well they say it's who you know, does her husband have any idea?" Steve coughed but it did nothing to attract the woman's attention. "And you got them both for forty bucks?", he waved his badge in front of her face. "Hold on honey" she covered the mouth piece with her hand "impressive prop, but we don't do casting" she tutted and resumed her conversation "So like I say, poor Mr Simmons".

Steve braced his hands on his hips, purposefully hooking his jacket back to reveal his holster.

"I'll call you back honey" she gabbled, disconnecting the call. She smiled up nervously from the desk "please tell me you're a real police officer and not a real hacked off wanna be TV cop".

"Detective Sloan" he responded sternly "I was here earlier to see Mr Kent and Mr Emerson. On that occasion I was greeted by a pleasant and highly efficient young lady." He smiled broadly again.

"Oh, that would have been Jen" the receptionist grinned without a hint of embarrassment "she is a very good worker." She smiled at Steve again but failed to ask what he wanted.

"Do I have to wait until Jen gets back to see Mr Kent and Mr Emerson??" he asked sarcastically.

"Oh not at all!" she replied, the insinuation going way over her head. "Jen isn't back until Tuesday anyhow, I'll let them you're here" she made the calls. "Mr Kent will be free in a moment, you won't mention…?"

Steve rolled his eyes then focused as Michael Kent strode down the corridor to greet him.

"This way, please" he gestured with an open arm. Steve entered the spacious office and took a as Kent began "Didn't expect to see you again so soon Detective, do you have more information about Max's death?"

"Not really, there were just a couple more questions which came to mind."

"Well, Craig and I gave you a pretty thorough account of how we came to be in business together. Max was our golden goose, our 'one in a million'. Craig and I never made it past TV ad's, Max was the one who hit the big time. "

"Then you and Mr Emerson set up your first production company" Steve clarified, and Kent nodded. "And when Max slowed down with the acting he joined you?"

"Not exactly, Craig and I sold the first company at a tidy profit, but we were small fish. Then we all came together, paired our experience with Max's high profile. Three musketeers and one new company. Success". He grinned for a brief moment then his face dropped, as if remembering why Steve was sitting there.

"You each owned an equal share?" Steve asked coolly

"Thought we told you this before Detective" a voice from behind him answered.

Steve looked around as Craig Emerson walked briskly into the office and stood next to Kent's desk.

"Just clarifying" Steve responded as politely as he could.

"Yes, we were equal partners" Kent confirmed.

"And now?"

Kent looked up at Emerson sheepishly "Max's share goes to Corrine I presume".

Steve pretended to ponder the statement for a minute then asked "If Corrine doesn't want to be part of the company, or if Max had decided to sell, then what?"

Kent fidgeted in his chair, glancing up at Emerson again "Well, it's rather simple. We have an agreement for such a scenario, it states that Craig and I as remaining partners would have first refusal"

"Going to the highest bidder?" Steve asked

"No" Emerson jumped in defensively "we started the company as equals, Mike and I would each be offered half the shares at a fixed price, it's something we agreed on at the start and re-hashed a couple of years back".

"And if, hypothetically speaking, one or both of you didn't want to buy the shares or couldn't afford to, then what?"

A small chuckled escaped Emerson, a nervous laugh Steve thought. Kent continued, "If one of us didn't want to buy, the opportunity would fall to the other. If neither of us were interested, the shares would be split, priced at market value and put on general sale".

Steve nodded slowly "OK, that's all for now" he stood deliberately slowly and made his way to the door.

"Has Corrine mentioned anything to you about selling?" Kent asked, trying to sound casual in his questioning.

"Not yet" Steve replied, smirking to himself as he turned to leave.