Chapter 7
After Alex's first round of questioning, Brass went out looking for Heather's full name and her boyfriend. He decided to start at the last place they'd all been, Viva.
Brass found out from one of the bartenders, Jude, that Heather's last name was James and her boyfriend was Craig Waldron. They were regulars and Jude knew Craig well. He also knew that Heather was very territorial. He remembered the fight between Alex and Heather
"It was crazy," Jude told Brass. "That chick," Jude pointed to the picture of Alex. "She was just sitting her waiting on a drink and Craig comes up and starts hitting on her. Then Heather comes over and is pissed that Craig is hitting on another woman."
Brass nodded. "What happened next?"
"So, Heather starts yelling at Craig and the other chick just ignores them both. I walked down to finish the chick's drink and when I come back, Heather grabs it and throws it on her."
"And what did the other woman do?" Brass asked, noting that Jude's story matched Alex's so far.
"She left," Jude replied.
"Where did she go?" Brass questioned.
"I didn't see," he responded. "But I didn't see her again. Heather and Craig stayed another hour or so and then left."
"Do you know where I can find Craig?" Brass asked.
Jude proceeded to give Brass Craig's address. After a few more questions, Brass determined Jude didn't have anything else to add. Brass thanked him and left to track down Craig.
About half an hour later Brass was at the address Jude had given him. He knocked twice and waited for an answer.
A few moments later the door opened and a man with spiked bleach blonde hair answered. "Yeah?"
"Are you Craig Waldron?" Brass asked the gentleman.
"That's me," Craig answered nonchalant.
"I'm Jim Brass with the LVPD," he showed Craig his badge. "I'd like to ask you a few questions. May I come in?"
"What's this about?" Craig asked.
"It's about your girlfriend, Heather James," Brass informed him.
"Well, if that bitch has gotten herself into more trouble, she can rot in a cell for all I care," Craig responded.
"It would really be better if we took this inside," Brass tried to get Craig to let him in.
Craig could see the seriousness in Brass's face. "Fine," he motioned Brass inside.
"So, are you saying you haven't seen Heather recently?" Brass asked.
"I haven't seen her in about a week," Craig told Brass.
"Would that be the night you two went to Viva together?" Brass tried to get clarification.
Craig nodded. "What happened? Did she and that other girl get into a fight or something outside the club? Because if so, I didn't see anything. They were friendly when I left."
Brass raised an eyebrow. "So you ran into the other woman outside the club?"
Craig nodded again. Brass handed him a photo line up with six pictures. "Is she pictured there?"
Craig pointed to Alex. "That's her. Lex, Lexa, Alex?" He paused for a moment, thinking. "Lexa, that's what she said. But she looked a little different."
"Different how?" Brass asked. He scribbled a note about her name.
"Well, I don't know how to describe it. Older, maybe? It was probably just the alcohol," Craig responded.
"So what happened outside the club?" Brass inquired.
"Well, as we were walking to the car, that woman came up to us. Only, like I said before, she looked a little different and was wearing different clothes. Since it had been a while since our altercation in the club, which I'm assuming you know about," he paused and Brass nodded. Then he continued, "I figured the clothes change was natural. Anyway, Lexa comes up to us and starts talking, trying to get us to come to another club. I'm beat, Heather's game. Heather leaves with that woman and I leave alone."
"And it didn't worry you that you haven't seen Heather since?" Brass asked, a little perplexed.
"Nope," Craig responded. "You see, sometime later that night I get a call from Heather chewing me out over my answering machine and breaking up with me."
"That didn't bother you?" Brass asked.
"Heather is hot, but there's no love lost. We were both just waiting for something better to come along," Craig explained.
"Do you have any reason to believe anything else happened between Heather and Lexa?" Brass questioned.
"Naw," Craig responded. "Lexa was cool in the club after Heather dumped the drink on her."
Brass asked Craig a few more questions, then handed him a card and told him to call if her remembered anything else. He thanked him for his time and left.
As he walked down the hall, he shook his head. Things were not looking good for Alex.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Catherine sat at her desk, with reports and folders in front of her. She sifted through the tox reports, Brass's notes, DNA, and Alex's interview among other things. She was trying to reconcile in her own mind the weight of the information in front of her—information she couldn't deny.
Alex had had an altercation with one victim the night she disappeared and was the last person seen with the victim that night. Both victims were drugged with Diazepam; Alex had a prescription for Valium. Both were sliced open with a small, sharp instrument; Alex had a surgical kit with many scalpels. Both had their hearts removed; Alex knew human anatomy. And she couldn't forget, hairs that matched Alex's DNA had been found at both scenes.
She knew, if it were any other person, she'd be pleased with the evidence. But Alex, she just couldn't believe, even with all the evidence, could do it. She also knew, however, that it was not her place to assign guilt or innocence—only to process the evidence.
She heavy-heartedly picked up the phone and dialed.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
After another few phone calls and hours of questioning, Alex had had enough. She'd answered the same question it seemed like 10 times. She'd been up since early that morning and it was now late in the evening. She was tired and wanted to go home. She was here willingly, so she decided to leave.
"I've had it," Alex told Sofia. "You know where to find me if you have any new questions." She stood up to leave.
"Alright," Sofia replied. "We appreciate your cooperation." Sofia stood as well.
Alex walked out of the room and into the hall. She stopped to stretch for a brief moment. In that moment, Sofia's cell phone rang.
As Alex started to walk down the hall, Sofia came out of the interview room. "Hold on a second, Alex."
Alex paused and turned to look at Sofia. "What now?"
Sofia removed the cuffs from her belt. "You have the right to remain silent."
Alex's jaw dropped and her eyes grew wide. She was being arrested. She couldn't believe it.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Nick sat at the terminal, his leg shaking incessantly. He was still agitated from what he had heard and what he had done. He had been going into the break room when the exchange between Alex and Greg became audible. He stopped and stood just outside the door, listening, even though he knew he shouldn't.
He stood there, clenching his jaw. He couldn't believe what a jerk Greg was being. Granted, Alex omitting her past was a big deal. But to believe she was capable of murder, now that was a crime.
When he heard the conversation ending, he quickly walked away and out of sight. When he was sure Alex had gone, he went into the break room to confront Greg.
"What was that?" Nick demanded.
"What was what?" Greg replied, acting as if he didn't know to what Nick was referring.
"How could you be so mean to Alex?" Nick clarified.
"You were listening?" Greg was incredulous.
"This isn't about me, it's about Alex," Nick tried to shift the focus back to her.
"It's none of your damn business," Greg slammed his hands on the table and stood up.
"It is my business," Nick replied. "She's my friend and I care a great deal for her. She needs support right now."
"Yeah, I know all about your caring for her," Greg retorted.
A worried look passed over Nick's face. He wasn't sure if Alex had told Greg about the kiss. "Like I said, it's not about me."
"Oh, give the act up," Greg replied. "I know you've just been waiting for me to fuck up so you can come in and be her hero."
Nick let a little sigh of relief slip. He doesn't know, Nick thought. "I want her to be happy," Nick told Greg. "And she is happy because of you. Or at least she was."
Anger flashed through Greg's eyes. "You don't know a damn thing about my relationship with Alex."
"Maybe not," Nick conceded. "But I do know that by letting Alex walk out of here the way she did, you've just lost the best thing in your life."
Greg wanted to refute the statement Nick had just made, but deep down, he knew he'd never find anyone like Alex again. Her flaws are what made her beautiful. He had nothing left to say. He gave Nick one last angry look and the left.
As soon as Greg walked out the door, Nick mentally kicked himself. He knew Greg was right. He had been hoping Greg would screw up and Alex would turn to him for comfort. But now that it was actually happening, Nick didn't feel so good about it. Still, Alex deserved better than the way Greg was treating her.