Chapter 8- Questioning Hailey Simon

Back in the precinct Hailey Simon waited patiently in one of the dimly lit interrogation rooms. She was seated in one of the uncomfortable, cold metal chairs behind the equally cold metal table. Being in the room didn't really seem to affect Hailey, the only expression she wore on her face was of utter boredom. At that moment the door to the hall opened and Danny and Flack walked in. Out of hearing that two detectives would be interviewing the suspect there were two identical metal chairs positioned across from Hailey. Taking their seats Danny placed a nilla folder on the table that contained different pictures from the case. Not wasting any time Flack said,

"Hailey Simon, I'm detective Don Flack we talked on the phone."

Pointing to Danny Flack said, "This is detective Messer."

Nodding to both of them Hailey asked,

"What's this all about?"

Leaning on the table Flack replied,

"Miss Simon you're a model for the New York Modeling Agency, correct?"

Seeing her nod in response Flack continued, "According to the sign in sheets that we acquired from Jonathan Coleman, you were part of the photo shoot that took place two days ago. Now do you know a fellow model named Chelsea Harris?"

Hearing the victim's name Hailey looked up as she said,

"Yeah I know Chelsea; we joined the agency at the same time. We were good friends."

With a serious look on his face Danny asked,

"Did you know that Chelsea and Jerry Michaels had been going out?"

Giving a slight nod Hailey said, "Yeah Chelsea told me about it but she told me that they had broken up last week."

Knowing this Danny immediately asked, "Did you by any chance see the two of them go somewhere together?"

Hailey looked down at the metal table as she thought about what Danny had asked; looking up at them she said,

"Right after the shoot was over I saw Mr. Michaels and Chelsea leave the set holding hands. I didn't think anything about it; I just figured that they had just gotten back together."

Nodding this time Flack asked, "Did you see Chelsea anymore after the shoot?"

Hailey shook her no as she said,

"No I was in the dressing room area changing after the shoot and then I stayed there on the coach reading. I never saw her come in to get her clothes or any of her other belongings."

Glancing down at his note pad Flack asked, "Your car was parked in the parking deck, correct? What time did you sign out and leave the agency?"

Nodding her head Hailey replied, "Yeah I always park in the parking deck. After reading for a little while I went and signed the sign out sheet and left around 9:10."

Leaning closer to Hailey Flack asked, "When you were walking to your car in the parking deck did you see anything that may have been going on? Something may be involving Chelsea?"

Glancing nervously from her hands on the table to Flack Hailey hesitated before she said,

"…I …uh…I saw Chelsea having sex with some other guy in a car parked near mine."

This being what he wanted to hear Danny asked, "Did you go and tell anyone of what you had seen, or did you just get in your car and leave?"

Her face becoming a little pale Hailey said, "I went and told Mr. Michaels what I had seen Chelsea doing. I figured if they had gotten back together than he should know."

Flack quickly asked, "How did Mr. Michaels respond when he heard of what you had seen?"

Nervousness beginning to cover her face, Hailey said, "When I told him what I had seen he started to get really mad. At that point I left, I didn't want to see what he would do next I left his office, got in my car and went home."

Standing up Flack said, "Thank you Miss Simon if we have any more questions we will be in touch."

Nodding to the door a uniformed officer who was standing outside came in and escorted Hailey Simon out of the room.

When the room was clear except for Danny and Flack, Lindsay and Hawkes joined them from behind the double plated viewing glass. Having heard every word that had been said Lindsay said,

"From what Hailey said of Michaels's angry reaction to the news, I think we need to bring him in for more questioning."

Nodding at the Flack added, "We should also get a warrant to search Michaels's office as well."

Hawkes then stepped in and said, "What about his apartment or condo? He may have taken the weapon he used to kill Chelsea Harris home with him instead of hiding it in his office. He may have also taken Chelsea's missing necklace and hidden it in his home. It couldn't hurt to try."

Pointing at Hawkes Flack replied, "Good point, Sheldon. I'll put in for a warrant for Michaels's apartment as well."

This said Lindsay piped in, "To do all those things we'll have to split up." Lindsay pointed to Flack, "You and Danny can stay here and interview Michaels, Hawkes and I can take two of the uniformed cops that are on duty and go search Michaels's office and then his apartment if I we don't find anything."

Thinking over what Lindsay had suggested Flack said, "We'll get the warrants first and search the two places and then we will question Michaels."

As Lindsay nodded at the changes of the plan Danny cut in and said, "Since we'll be searching the two places first and we'll still need to split up then Flack and I can search the office while you two search the apartment."

The rest of them nodded at Danny's added suggestion, especially Lindsay who grinned at how Danny had used her idea of splitting up into pairs for the searches. Plan decided Flack said,

"Alright I will get the warrants and call you guys when we are ready to go."

That said everyone exited the interrogation room right behind Flack.