Chapter 6-Modeling Agency Interview

Standing outside the modeling agency Lindsay looked both up and down the street as she paced back and forth. As she turned around on the spot Lindsay saw Danny approaching walking down the street from a different street. Within hearing range Danny opened his hands and arms wide in a questioning gesture as he asked,

"What's the news of Mac and Stella that you were going to tell me?"

Unable to stop the smile that spread across her face Lindsay said,

"Mac and Stella have a baby girl. So Lucy will have a friend to play dress up with."

A shocked expression on his face Danny said, "She already had the baby. Man that was quick."

Quick to reply Lindsay said, "Extremely quick. Mac said that Stella delivered in the truck four blocks from the hospital."

Not able to think of anything to say Danny let out a low whistle. Shrugging Lindsay added, "Hey each woman has their own amount of hours that they've spent in labor. And each pregnancy has different lengths of time for labor."

A slight nod to what Lindsay said Danny turned to face the main entrance to the modeling agency. Nodding toward the doors Danny asked,

"What exactly are we doing here?"

With that question Lindsay filled Danny in on what Hawkes had found in the database. With Danny completely up to speed he and Lindsay made their way into the modeling agency. Walking to the receptionist who was seated behind the check in desk, Danny and Lindsay both showed their badges as Danny said,

"Detectives Danny and Lindsay Messer. We need to speak to the manager and the head photographer if you please."

Having stared wide eyed at their badges the receptionist help up her hand as she started dialing numbers on the phone upon her desk. After a few minutes she hung up the phone and stood up. Walking around the desk to where Lindsay and Danny stood the receptionist said,

"They will meet you both in Mr. Coleman's office. If you both will please follow me."

Motioning for her to lead the way Danny and Lindsay got in step behind her. Having walked down a long hallway the receptionist led them to a heavy wooden door at the end of the hall. With just a soft knock upon the door they all three heard someone form within the office answer,

"Come in"

Opening the door the receptionist stuck her head in and said, "Sir, the two detectives from the NYPD are here."

"Thank you Shannon, let them in. That will be all."

Opening the door completely the lady named Shannon stood aside to let Danny and Lindsay through, closing the door behind them. Inside the office there were already two men waiting. Once was wearing a business suit and was sitting behind a giant wooden desk; the other was wearing all black and was sitting in one of the three chairs in front of the desk. Seeing Danny and Lindsay at the door the two men turned to look at them. Having their attention both Danny and Lindsay flashed their badges as Danny made the introductions. The man behind the desk stood at hearing their names and extended his hand as he said,

"How do you do, detectives? I'm Jonathan Coleman. I am the agency director." Motioning to the man in the other chair who rose to his feet Coleman added, "This is the lead photographer Jerry Michaels." Inclining his head in a curt nod Mr. Michaels also extended his hand for Danny and Lindsay to shake.

Introductions having been made Mr. Coleman motioned for Danny and Lindsay to have a seat along with Mr. Michaels. Seated comfortably Mr. Coleman leaned in to Danny and Lindsay as he asked,

"So detectives my receptionist didn't give me much detail to the reason of your business here. So may I ask to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Rummaging through the bag that hung from her shoulder, Lindsay pulled out the autopsy photos of Chelsea Harris and placed them on the table for Mr. Coleman to see. As Mr. Coleman looked at the photos Lindsay also passed a copy of the photos to Mr. Michaels as she asked,

"Do either of you know this woman?"

Both of the men looked up from the photos with expressions of pure shock on their faces. Neither of them seemed to be able to talk for a few minutes, and then finally Mr. Coleman replied,

"Yes, that is Chelsea Harris. She has been a model for us for about two years now."

Shock still upon his face Mr. Michaels asked, "She's dead?"

With a calm expression upon his face Danny replied,

"Yes, she was found dead in a parking deck with her throat slit. She was also wearing a bathing suit as if she had just walked off a photo shoot."

As he said this Danny nodded to the pictures in their hands, both Mr. Coleman and Mr. Michaels turned to the photo of Chelsea Harris's swim suit. Looking up from the photo Mr. Michaels said,

"That was the swim suit that the models wore for the group photo shoot two days ago."

Tapping at Chelsea's photo on Mr. Coleman's desk Danny asked,

"Was she at the shoot?"

After thinking for a minute Michaels nodded and said, "I believe so. But there were many other models at the photo shoot that day as well. Every model is required to sign in on every shoot that they are in so that they can get paid. You can check the logs from two days ago if you'd like to see if Chelsea's name was on the list."

Nodding at the suggestion Danny looked to Mr. Coleman and asked,

"Is it possible for us to get a copy of those logs from two days ago?" Nodding quickly in agreement Mr. Coleman said,

"Of course I will get Shannon to make copies of them for you for when you leave."

With a semi sympathetic expression upon her face Lindsay looked to both men and asked,

"Can either of you think of any reason why someone would want to kill Chelsea?"

One at a time the two men shook their heads no. Understanding this Lindsay said,

"Alright, well we'll need to take DNA samples from the both of you. It's procedure."

Mr. Coleman agreed to this straight away, and after a little hesitation Michaels agreed as well. Having their agreement Lindsay left the office to get her kit from the truck to collect the DNA samples. While Lindsay was out of the office Danny said,

"We'll need to talk to the other models that were at the photo shoot two days ago. So we'll need their contact information as well."

With a quick nod Mr. Coleman said, "Of course. I can have Shannon put the ladies' phone numbers next to their names on the photo shoot sign in sheet. I can also have her give you a separate sheet that contains all of the model's names and numbers, even the ones that weren't at the photo shoot."

Nodding as he considered the idea Danny replied, "Thank you Mr. Coleman that would be great."

At that moment Lindsay walked back into the room with kit in hand. While Lindsay collected DNA from the two gentlemen Danny asked,

"Do either of you know if Chelsea had a boyfriend or anyone she was close to?"

Looking up at Danny as he got his cheek swabbed Mr. Michaels said, "I was her boyfriend, we broke up last week."

Raising his eyebrows at hearing this news Danny replied, "Well then we'll need to ask you a few questions then Mr. Michaels. If we could go somewhere more private, we could do it here or we could go to the precinct and do it there. Whichever you prefer."

Before Mr. Michaels could reply Lindsay who had just finished getting Mr. Coleman's sample said,

"I think we have asked all the questions that we needed to ask you Mr. Coleman. The three of us will go somewhere else to continue the interview so we can let you get back to work."

Receiving an OK from Mr. Coleman and a promise that he was get Shannon to make the copies that they needed Lindsay turned to Danny and Mr. Michaels whom rose from their chairs and exited the room with her. Out in the hall Mr. Michaels extended his arm down the hall as he said,

"My office is just a few doors down. We can do the interview there."

As they walked Danny asked, "You don't want your lawyer present?"

Shaking his head no Mr. Michaels replied, "No I don't need one. I have nothing to hide."

Stopping at a similar wooden door Mr. Michaels opened it and waved Danny and Lindsay in first. After closing the door Danny went straight to work by asking,

"So Jerry, you said that you and Chelsea had dated and had broken up just last week…"

Michaels nodded many times to show that Danny was correct. Seeing this Danny continued,

"Have you spent any intimate time with her the past few days?"

With a slightly surprised expression on his face Michaels replied,

"Why would you ask that?"

Stepping forward Lindsay replied, "We are asking you that question because we found traces of semen in Chelsea's bikini bottoms."

Heaving a sigh Michaels brushed his hand against his forehead as he said, "Yes Chelsea and I had sex together here in my office after the photo shoot."

With the smallest smile upon her face Lindsay said, "We appreciate your honesty Mr. Michaels."

Jumping back into the conversation Danny asked, "Did you see her at any other time after your little get together after the photo shoot?"

Shaking his head no Michaels replied, "No she left soon after and I haven't seen her since…"

Seeing the sadness in his eyes Lindsay was hesitant when she asked, "Mr. Michaels can you remember if Chelsea was wearing a necklace of some type, maybe gimp?"

Thinking very hard Michaels said, "Yeah I believe she was. Actually I believe she was wearing it in the photo shoot. It was part of the accessories." As he said this Mr. Michaels shuffled through some of his papers on his desk, finding the piece that he was looking for Michaels handed it to Lindsay. The paper turned out to be a proof of Chelsea Harris from the photo shoot. As Lindsay looked at the photo Michaels pointed to Chelsea's upper chest. There in the photo was their mystery missing necklace. Seeing this Lindsay looked up to Michaels and asked,

"Would it be alright if we took this proof with us?"

Looking back at his desk quickly Mr. Michaels nodded in response. Pulling out his card Danny handed it to Michaels and he said,

"If you have any questions or remember anything else please give us a call."

Seeing Mr. Michaels response Danny and Lindsay headed back to the front of the office to pick up the sign in sheet and phone number list that Mr. Coleman was giving them. Papers in hand they headed back to the Avalanche to make their way back to the lab.