[Interrogation Room, One Police Plaza, 9:15 p.m.]
Briscoe and Green arrived - only to see that Lt. Van Buren was chatting with a gray-haired gentleman. "Who's the suit?" Briscoe remarked to his partner.
"Detectives, this is Mr. Goldstein, ... Mr. Luthor's attorney," Van Buren stated, then closed the door behind her.
Lex shook the attorney's hand. "Richard, I wasn't expecting you here."
"The concierge was kind enough to inform your headquarters in Metropolis," Goldstein replied, "Your father thought it was your best interest to have legal representation ..."
Lex muttered under his breath.
"Something, wrong, Mr. Luthor?" Green inquired.
"Nothing," Lex answered, "Just ... some unresolved family issues. Now, detectives, you had some questions for me?"
"This Park Avenue condo that your corporation leases," Briscoe began, "Who has access to the condo. Only Luthor Corp. employees?"
"Yes," Lex replied, "We provide the condo as a courtesy to members of our team. We do a lot of business in the Big Apple: construction, financial services, partnerships ... it just seemed practical to us."
"And Ms. Saunders?" Green continued. "She would be the only one authorized to have the access key?"
"When Ms. Saunders arrived here in September to work on the plaza project," Lex added, "our New York office would have assigned her the condo for however long she might need it."
"I'm guessing that the head office would hold onto the master key?" Briscoe continued.
Lex began to answer, but his attorney whispered something in his ear. "I don't see the problem," Lex whispered, but the attorney seemed insistent.
"Lex Luthor is not directly responsible for the affairs of Luthor Corp. - Wall Street," Goldstein stated, "Now, unless you have relevant questions for Mr. Luthor ..."
"We'd like the contact information for those associates who met with your client from 6 p.m to 7 p.m." Briscoe announced, "-if you don't mind."
The attorney placed two sheets of paper on the table. "The names and addresses of management and mission-critical staff of Luthor Corp. - Wall Street. I'd suggest that you start with the V.P. of Operations, Dan Gonzalves. As for the FedEx package ..."
"It was found at the crime scene and is part of our investigation," Green stated. The attorney smiled, then led Lex towards the door.
"I'd suggest that your client enjoy his stay in the Big Apple," Briscoe hollered as Lex and his attorney left, "we'll be checking up on his whereabouts this evening."
Green examined the contact list. "There are, like, 20 to 30 names here! All work numbers."
Van Buren sighed. "Pay the Wall Street suits a visit during your breakfast. Right now, you can find out more about who's gone where at that Park Ave. condo."
"If that's the case, I hope my Visa Gold card arrived in the mail," Briscoe joked. So much for catching the Knicks game on the tube, he grumbled to himself.
[Versailles Luxury Condominiums, Park Avenue, Management Office, 10:20 p.m.]
"You wanted to see me?" Condo concierge Andre Sinclair inquired.
"You told us earlier that Luthor Corp. holds a short-term lease on suite 3015?" Green reviewed his notes.
"Yes," Sinclair replied. "When Giuliani approved the plaza development a few years ago, many members of Luthor Corp.'s global team stayed here to work on the project."
"And how long do they usually stay here?" Green continued.
Sinclair pulled out a log. "Depends. If they're here for a meeting, maybe just the weekend. If they're more involved in the project ... weeks, even months."
"The crime scene boys say there were no signs of forced entry," Briscoe interrupted, "and no stolen items. Did Ms. Saunders have any visitors that week?"
The concierge pulled out another log. "All visitors must sign in at the front desk. Let's see ... she didn't have many visitors ... the occasional working lunch, that sort of thing."
"We'll need the names of those visitors for our investigation," Briscoe stated.
"Uhh, I've signed a confidentiality agreement," Sinclair gulped, "I'm not allowed to violate the privacy requests of our guests."
"You're also 'not allowed' to block an on-going murder investigation," Briscoe growled, "Ever heard of obstruction of justice!"
Sinclair quickly handed over the log. "You'll smooth this over with my boss?"
Briscoe nodded. "Oh sure, we'll let your boss know how much of a good, law- abiding citizen you really are." He rolled his eyes at Green. "Let's get outta here, Ed. I doubt twice-divorced shmoes like myself fit their target demographics."
[Smallville, Clark's 'Fortress of Solitude', 10:05 p.m. CST]
Clark gazed into his telescope. He knew that -- somewhere in space - lay the answers to his questions. His roots.
The phone rang. "Clark Kent."
"Turn on CNN. Now!" It was Chloe.
Clark switched on the remote. "... Chelsea Saunders, a marketing executive with petrochemical giant Luthor Corp., was found dead under what police describe as 'suspicious' circumstances. NYPD reports confirm that they are treating the death as a homicide ..."
"You said Lex was in the Big Apple?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah, since the beginning of the week," Clark replied, "he was supposed to return to Metropolis tonight."
"Hmm ..." Chloe muttered. "Look, I'll call you later. G'night!" Chloe skimmed through yesterday's Daily Planet: 'LUTHOR TO OPEN NEW ROMAN EXHIBIT IN MUSEUM'
Lex wouldn't miss an opportunity to bask in the self-congratulatory glow of a museum opening, she thought. One that would cast the Luthor family in a more favourable light. She began a search on the Internet ...
Search terms: luthor new york murder
"Let's see what comes up ..." All the New York dailies and TV stations had news about the 'Park Avenue slaying'. The tabloids will have a field day with this one, she remarked.
At the Kent farm, Clark called the Metropolis Museum.
"Yes, I'd like to speak to Lex Luthor. Tell him it's his friend, Clark Kent."
"I'm sorry," the desk clerk apologized, "but Mr. Luthor cancelled his appearance at the museum today."
Clark scratched his head. Lex is still in New York? Probably to contain the fallout of this alleged murder, he thought. He can't be involved.
Not in a murder.
Briscoe and Green arrived - only to see that Lt. Van Buren was chatting with a gray-haired gentleman. "Who's the suit?" Briscoe remarked to his partner.
"Detectives, this is Mr. Goldstein, ... Mr. Luthor's attorney," Van Buren stated, then closed the door behind her.
Lex shook the attorney's hand. "Richard, I wasn't expecting you here."
"The concierge was kind enough to inform your headquarters in Metropolis," Goldstein replied, "Your father thought it was your best interest to have legal representation ..."
Lex muttered under his breath.
"Something, wrong, Mr. Luthor?" Green inquired.
"Nothing," Lex answered, "Just ... some unresolved family issues. Now, detectives, you had some questions for me?"
"This Park Avenue condo that your corporation leases," Briscoe began, "Who has access to the condo. Only Luthor Corp. employees?"
"Yes," Lex replied, "We provide the condo as a courtesy to members of our team. We do a lot of business in the Big Apple: construction, financial services, partnerships ... it just seemed practical to us."
"And Ms. Saunders?" Green continued. "She would be the only one authorized to have the access key?"
"When Ms. Saunders arrived here in September to work on the plaza project," Lex added, "our New York office would have assigned her the condo for however long she might need it."
"I'm guessing that the head office would hold onto the master key?" Briscoe continued.
Lex began to answer, but his attorney whispered something in his ear. "I don't see the problem," Lex whispered, but the attorney seemed insistent.
"Lex Luthor is not directly responsible for the affairs of Luthor Corp. - Wall Street," Goldstein stated, "Now, unless you have relevant questions for Mr. Luthor ..."
"We'd like the contact information for those associates who met with your client from 6 p.m to 7 p.m." Briscoe announced, "-if you don't mind."
The attorney placed two sheets of paper on the table. "The names and addresses of management and mission-critical staff of Luthor Corp. - Wall Street. I'd suggest that you start with the V.P. of Operations, Dan Gonzalves. As for the FedEx package ..."
"It was found at the crime scene and is part of our investigation," Green stated. The attorney smiled, then led Lex towards the door.
"I'd suggest that your client enjoy his stay in the Big Apple," Briscoe hollered as Lex and his attorney left, "we'll be checking up on his whereabouts this evening."
Green examined the contact list. "There are, like, 20 to 30 names here! All work numbers."
Van Buren sighed. "Pay the Wall Street suits a visit during your breakfast. Right now, you can find out more about who's gone where at that Park Ave. condo."
"If that's the case, I hope my Visa Gold card arrived in the mail," Briscoe joked. So much for catching the Knicks game on the tube, he grumbled to himself.
[Versailles Luxury Condominiums, Park Avenue, Management Office, 10:20 p.m.]
"You wanted to see me?" Condo concierge Andre Sinclair inquired.
"You told us earlier that Luthor Corp. holds a short-term lease on suite 3015?" Green reviewed his notes.
"Yes," Sinclair replied. "When Giuliani approved the plaza development a few years ago, many members of Luthor Corp.'s global team stayed here to work on the project."
"And how long do they usually stay here?" Green continued.
Sinclair pulled out a log. "Depends. If they're here for a meeting, maybe just the weekend. If they're more involved in the project ... weeks, even months."
"The crime scene boys say there were no signs of forced entry," Briscoe interrupted, "and no stolen items. Did Ms. Saunders have any visitors that week?"
The concierge pulled out another log. "All visitors must sign in at the front desk. Let's see ... she didn't have many visitors ... the occasional working lunch, that sort of thing."
"We'll need the names of those visitors for our investigation," Briscoe stated.
"Uhh, I've signed a confidentiality agreement," Sinclair gulped, "I'm not allowed to violate the privacy requests of our guests."
"You're also 'not allowed' to block an on-going murder investigation," Briscoe growled, "Ever heard of obstruction of justice!"
Sinclair quickly handed over the log. "You'll smooth this over with my boss?"
Briscoe nodded. "Oh sure, we'll let your boss know how much of a good, law- abiding citizen you really are." He rolled his eyes at Green. "Let's get outta here, Ed. I doubt twice-divorced shmoes like myself fit their target demographics."
[Smallville, Clark's 'Fortress of Solitude', 10:05 p.m. CST]
Clark gazed into his telescope. He knew that -- somewhere in space - lay the answers to his questions. His roots.
The phone rang. "Clark Kent."
"Turn on CNN. Now!" It was Chloe.
Clark switched on the remote. "... Chelsea Saunders, a marketing executive with petrochemical giant Luthor Corp., was found dead under what police describe as 'suspicious' circumstances. NYPD reports confirm that they are treating the death as a homicide ..."
"You said Lex was in the Big Apple?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah, since the beginning of the week," Clark replied, "he was supposed to return to Metropolis tonight."
"Hmm ..." Chloe muttered. "Look, I'll call you later. G'night!" Chloe skimmed through yesterday's Daily Planet: 'LUTHOR TO OPEN NEW ROMAN EXHIBIT IN MUSEUM'
Lex wouldn't miss an opportunity to bask in the self-congratulatory glow of a museum opening, she thought. One that would cast the Luthor family in a more favourable light. She began a search on the Internet ...
Search terms: luthor new york murder
"Let's see what comes up ..." All the New York dailies and TV stations had news about the 'Park Avenue slaying'. The tabloids will have a field day with this one, she remarked.
At the Kent farm, Clark called the Metropolis Museum.
"Yes, I'd like to speak to Lex Luthor. Tell him it's his friend, Clark Kent."
"I'm sorry," the desk clerk apologized, "but Mr. Luthor cancelled his appearance at the museum today."
Clark scratched his head. Lex is still in New York? Probably to contain the fallout of this alleged murder, he thought. He can't be involved.
Not in a murder.