Chapter Four – Another Suspect, Another Murder
Mark sat on the deck reading through the file that Steve had brought home on the two murders. Amanda had received the reports on the Jewell case and had confirmed that the message on the mirror had been written in the victim's blood. The hair in his eyelash was synthetic. The one thing that he found puzzling was the needle mark they had found on the victim's neck, no foreign substance had been found in the blood work. As he continued to read through the file he reached Clifford Jewell's personal information. He paused his reading as he heard the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs and Steve appeared with a folder under his arm.
"Hey, Dad, found anything?"
"No, nothing, is that the file on Brent Coleman?"
"Yes, I picked it up from Amanda on the way home."
"Any information on his lady visitor?" Mark asked.
"No, I went and notified his parents and asked if they knew if he had been seeing anyone, and they said no and suggested I talk with his brother Jamey. I went by his place earlier and no one was home."
When Steve received no response he looked across the table to find his father intently staring at two pieces of paper, one from each folder. He instantly knew that Mark had found something.
"What is it, Dad?"
"Both of the victims went to Ray's Gym. They had membership cards in their wallet. They are on Amanda's inventory of personal belongings."
"I would find it hard to believe that it's a coincidence. I'll stop by there after I check out Jamey Coleman's place again."
………………..
Steve knocked on the door of Jamey Coleman's apartment, and after a brief delay the door was opened by a petite 'well muscled' young woman in Daisy Duke short's and a mid-drift baring shirt.
"I'm, Lieutenant Steve Sloan, with the LAPD, is Jamey Coleman here?"
The woman eyed him up and down before responding in a raspy smoker's voice. "I'm Jamey Coleman, what can I do for you?"
"There must be some mistake," Steve stuttered. "I'm looking for the brother of Brent Coleman."
"One and the same," replied Jamey Coleman.
Steve took a closer look at the individual in front of him. On closer inspection he could see the masculine shape of the features that the make-up could not hide, he also noticed the beginnings of a 5:00 shadow. The next thought that crossed his mind was that Jamey Coleman resembled the woman Mrs. Cavanaugh had seen leaving Brent Coleman's apartment.
"Cat got you tongue, Lieutenant? You can't tell me you live in LA and you've never seen a trans-sexual. Now what brings a big, bad, buff cop like yourself to my door? It's too early for Christmas, and I don't have a birthday for a couple of months so you couldn't be a present."
Steve felt a warm flush spread up his face. "Have you spoken with your parents?"
"Not for about 7 years, would you care to come in, Lieutenant?" Jamey asked.
Steve sighed as he moved into the apartment and shut the door behind him. Great, now I get to break the news to him. "Mr. Coleman, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Your brother was found dead last night."
"Really," was the cold response.
"Yes, really, I can tell you're broken up about it," Steve replied. "You weren't by any chance at your brother's last night were you?"
"Yes, I was there but he was already dead," was the blunt response.
"You didn't think that maybe you should have stuck around?" Steve asked in amazement.
"Look, I went around the corner and called the cops, I had plans last night, and I knew that if I called from there I would never be able to keep them."
"Why did you go visit him?" Steve asked.
"I needed money, he had some, it was as simple as that," was the terse response.
"Do you have a job?" Steve inquired.
"Yes, I'm an emergency room nurse at Memorial Hospital, what does that have to do with anything?"
"Just routine questions, prior to last night when was the last time you saw your brother?"
"About three weeks ago, we had a moment at Vinnie's Bar."
"What do you mean you had a moment?" Steve asked.
"When we were younger we used to hang out there with our friends, Brent still did, but I hadn't been back in years. I became persona non grata when I made my lifestyle change. One of our mutual friends, Michael Martin, was there. I had always thought he was kinda cute, Brent didn't appreciate me asking him out. We had a little disagreement. It cost me a couple of teeth and a black eye, it's amazing what you can hide with makeup," he responded as he gently touched the injured eye.
"So, I guess it would be fair to say you weren't getting along?"
Jamey giggled. "Yes, that would be a fair statement."
"Is that your hair or do you wear a wig?" Steve asked.
"I wish my real hair would look like this, I wear wigs, why?"
Steve contemplated the man in front of him. He had access to needles, he wore a wig, his feet were small, he had been in his brother's apartment, but where was the connection to Clifford Jewell? It was enough to take him to the precinct for more in depth interrogation. His decision made Steve proceeded.
"Mr. Coleman, I'd like you to come down to the precinct with me for some further questions."
"Only if you promise to use your cuffs," Jamey responded with a sly smile.
Once again Steve felt the warm flush spread up his face. "Mr. Coleman, cuffs won't be necessary I just think it would be better if we continued this discussion at the precinct.
"Whatever you say, Lieutenant," Jamey purred. "Just let me grab my bag."
As Jamey Coleman sauntered back into the room Steve's cell phone rang. 'Sloan, Oh, hi, Dad, no, I'm at his brother's apartment. Have you found something?" Steve wrinkled his brow as his father relayed the information he had uncovered. "Well, that's a surprise, when did she take it out?" Steve listened intently to Mark's response. "Ok, thanks, Dad, I'm heading to the precinct with Jamey Coleman, after I finish up there I'll swing by and get you and we'll go visit Cathy Jewell." Steve ended his phone call and snapped the phone shut. He looked up to find Jamey Coleman leaning against the wall with a smile on his face.
"Did you find a suspect other than me?" he asked.
Ignoring the question Steve opened the door and motioned Jamey Coleman out of the room.
………………..
Steve was exhausted. The interview with Jamey Coleman had totally drained him. It had been a game of cat and mouse and Steve was pretty sure he had been the mouse. He and his father had just pulled up in front of Cathy Jewell's. Mark had discovered that she had taken a million dollar life insurance policy out on her brother 6 months ago. Further investigation had shown that she was deeply in debt and was on the verge of bankruptcy. Her boyfriend worked for a pharmaceutical company and there was apparently bad blood between her and Clifford over Gwen Sterling. Her brother had blamed her interference for things going badly in the relationship. He had two valid suspects who didn't know each other for two similar homicides. He sighed heavily before exiting the car and joining his father on the sidewalk. They entered the building and made their way to Cathy Jewell's apartment. As Steve moved to knock on the door, it was abruptly jerked open. On instinct one hand moved towards his gun, while the other shoved Mark away from the door. Thus, when Cathy Jewell looked up she was greeted with Steve's gun in her face. She let out a high pitched shriek and fainted, landing with a small thump on the floor.
Steve heard his father chuckle behind him. "You know, Son, that's not the most polite way to greet someone, let's get her off the floor."
Steve knelt down, and slid his arms under her knees and shoulders and after righting himself carried her to the same couch he had laid her on when she passed out the first time. He accepted the damp washcloth that Mark had retrieved from the bathroom and rested it on her forehead. As her eyes opened the haziness was quickly replaced by a blazing fury and Steve flinched as the wet washcloth struck him in the face.
"How dare you come to my home and draw a gun on me," she snapped.
Steve held up his hand to try and stop her. "Ms Jewell, I'm really……,"
"You're really what? Incompetent? Reckless? Insane?"
"Ms Jewell, excuse us please. It was just a matter of bad timing. Please let me introduce myself, I'm Doctor Mark Sloan, I'm a consultant with the police department on murder investigations. I am looking into the death of your brother."
The soothing, calm tone had the intended affect. Cathy Jewell's eyes stopped blazing fury as she regarded the two men in front of her and a bubble of laughter escaped her. She then started laughing hysterically.
Steve raised startled and concerned eyes towards his father. "Dad?"
"It's ok, Son, it's just nerves, move over here out of the way and let me talk with her."
Steve practically leapt from his position on the table and allowed his father to take his place. "Ms Jewell, I need you to try and calm down, listen to my voice and take slow deep breaths. Can you do that for me?"
She nodded her head slightly and hiccupped as she drew in a deep breath. Mark continued his slow soothing monologue until her laughter ceased and her breathing became more regular and she moved into a sitting position on the couch.
"Feeling better?" Mark inquired.
"Yes, yes thank you I am, Lieutenant, I'm really sorry, I know I must have startled you, and that's why you reacted the way you did," she stated with a tremulous smile.
"It's alright, Ms Jewell, I'm sorry as well, I'm afraid my instincts kicked in and I overreacted."
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"I had some more questions for you," Steve replied.
"Oh, what kind of questions?"
"Mainly about the life insurance policy you took out on your brother 6 months ago," Steve responded.
"I see. How did you find out about that?"
Steve shared a smile with his father. "My father is a tenacious investigator, he can find out most anything."
"So, now you think I killed my brother?"
"No, I didn't say that, I just need you to explain the circumstances behind your purchase of the policy."
"You have to admit its a little odd, Ms Jewell," Mark added.
Cathy Jewell sighed deeply and clasped her hands together tightly in her lap. "I didn't want to do it. Cliff was the one who initiated it. He actually paid the first premium," she explained as she lifted her head her eyes glistened with tears.
"Why?" was Mark's simple question.
"Our father died in his 40's from a genetic heart defect. Cliff was sure the same was going to happen to him, he wanted to make sure I was taken care of," she sobbed.
"Ms Jewell, did he see a doctor?" Mark asked.
"I suppose he did, he never really said," she answered.
"Ms Jewell, I saw his autopsy report, your brother's heart was perfectly healthy," Mark explained.
Her mouth formed the word No, but no sound came out.
Mark reached out a hand and placed it on her arm and squeezed reassuringly. She smiled her gratitude.
"Ms Jewell, did you and your brother have words over Gwen Sterling?" Steve asked.
"Yes, we did, I knew she was completely wrong for him. I approached him about it, and she overheard and things went down hill from there. She became extremely violent and he was forced to take out the restraining order on her. At first he blamed me, but finally he realized that it would have happened anyway," she responded with a shrug. "I didn't kill my brother, Lieutenant Sloan, he was the only family I had; I'm all alone now."
Steve looked to Mark who nodded his agreement. "That's all for now, Ms Jewell, thank you for your time, and again I'm sorry I scared you earlier," Steve explained.
"It's alright, Lieutenant," she responded as she walked them to the door. "Doctor Sloan, it was a pleasure meeting you."
"Likewise, Ms Jewell, I'm sorry we interrupted you from going out earlier," Mark responded.
"Don't worry about it, have a good evening," she replied.
………………..
As they settled into the car Steve looked expectantly at his father. "Well?"
Mark smiled. "I don't think she's our murderer."
"Yeah, I know, that leaves me with my migraine inducing suspect Jamey Coleman," Steve responded with a smile.
As Mark started to respond Steve's phone rang. "Sloan, where? Ok, I'll be there in about 30 minutes." He closed his phone and looked at his father. "I guess we just provided Cathy Jewell with an alibi for the third murder."