4

Their clients arrived just as they were wrapping up some background on the radio station the two worked for. Unfortunately the FCC had secured the threatening call and they couldn't access it at all. They had uncovered that the station was falling into hard financial times. Apparently revenues were down from a lack of advertising sales and the manager/owner was taking on more and more loans to cover the interest on loans he took early on when he acquired it.

Roy spoke up at one point and said, "Well, maybe the romance between the two was intended to gain listeners and since that didn't work, some intrigue was meant to spice things up."

Matt looked up and said soberly, "Well, that's a pretty cold blooded thought, to harass and threaten two people just for a ratings boost. However, this is the entertainment industry we're talking about. How do we know its not all fake?"

C.J. looked over at her husband and said, "I guess we'll know more when they get here."

At that point the elevator dinged and the two stood there kissing for several seconds while C.J., Matt, Roy, and Chris who had looked up from her desk sort of watched. They were clearly wrapped up in one another and C.J. whispered to Matt, "I'm thinking maybe the romance part of this story isn't fake."

Matt nodded and then cleared his throat to get their attention. They stopped and held hands as they walked out into the penthouse. He walked down to greet them, "You must be Laci Summers and Blaze Jackson. I'm Matt Houston..." he turned and pointed to C.J. and Roy and said, "the beautiful young woman there is my lovely wife C.J. Parsons-Houston and that's my Uncle Roy..." He then motioned to Chris and said, "Chris here is my administrative secretary. If we are out on the case, she will be who you will talk to."

They shook hands and Matt led them into the penthouse and asked them to have a seat on the couch. Then he asked them exactly what was going on.

Laci spoke up as the two sat on the couch with Blaze's arm around her, "Well, about two weeks ago we started getting phone calls. The first one came when we were on air. We have a contest going to drum up more listeners and were giving away these Holiday for a Day packages, you know free trips on the ferry around the bay or a day at a 5 star hotel or spa or even a night on a cruise ship. Well, this guy was the 10th caller so we put him on to congratulate him." She took a deep breath and then looked at Blaze.

Blaze took over, seeing her react to reliving the moment, "He told us that we were making a mistake and that our wedding of the year could turn out to be the tragedy of the year. He said he would hate to have to hear on the news the night of our wedding how we were both slain in our hotel room. According to our tech guy the voice didn't sound strange until he put him on air. Then it was like it was electronically modified." He tightened his grip on Laci.

Matt spoke up, "Well, we are going to find out who this was and make sure the only thing you two have to worry about that day is not fainting at the altar, alright?" He patted Blaze's shoulder.

C.J. spoke up, "Do either of you have anyone you can think of that would want to stop the wedding? An old boyfriend or girlfriend who is having trouble accepting your upcoming marriage?"

Blaze spoke up, "She does, Laci's ex husband Nick Peterson. The guy's a real piece of work." Matt noticed Blaze's hand clench in a fist and wondered if he was even aware of it.

Laci spoke up, "I married Nick when I got out of college, but we had it annulled not long after. It was a stupid decision on my part. We went to Vegas and...well...I got drunk. Next thing I know I wake up in bed and he's telling me we're married now and I had better get my act together." She took a deep breath and said looking at C.J., "I told him where he could take his attitude and he hit me...in the face...so I left him there. I got him drunk the next afternoon, went down to the courthouse and explained everything to a judge who said he'd heard this story 5 times already today and annulled it. I took his car and got out. He's never been happy about it and I don't really care, but he's kept his distance for the most part."

Blaze then looked at her and asked, "What do you mean for the most part? Has he come around lately?" Again his fist was clenching even harder than before.

Laci looked down and then back up at Matt and Blaze and said, "Well, he sort of called last week to ask me how I could get married to someone when we were still married. I guess he didn't think I was serious when I told him I had it annulled."

C.J. interjected, "Well, I can look into that for you. I'm a lawyer and I have some contacts in Nevada so it shouldn't even take that long." She got up and Matt watched her go into her office.

Roy spoke up, "Well, let me ask you, how have the threats affected your ratings?"

Blaze seemed to tense up but Laci answered, "They've gone up but only slightly. We've tried our best to keep it under wraps. Why?"

Blaze answered, "He wants to know if we have a reason for doing this. Wants to know if we have a motive to threaten ourselves." He was already a little on edge from talking about the ex husband.

Matt interjected, "We aren't asking necessarily if you have a motive, but are thinking more along the lines of the station manager/owner. Isn't the station facing some tough challenges right now?"

Blaze then seemed to calm down as he answered, "Yes, it is and Richard, Richard Romanes, isn't exactly a choir boy. I can't believe he'd actually do something like this though..." he seemed to be thinking for a moment and Matt and Roy waited for him to continue, "although he would have access to a voice altering machine and would know how to use it. He'd also have to, everyone down there knows the sound of his voice."

Matt and Roy both nodded their heads at each other and Roy asked, "We also read about that fellow you two replaced, Crazy John was I think his handle. Do you think he would do something like this?"

Laci spoke up, "Well, its definitely a possibility. We never really met him but we heard he basically drove the station into the ground with his give aways that were never approved and the public truth or dare stunts he would pull. He would also have the same knowledge of voice altering machines and the same need as everyone would know his voice."

Matt asked, "What about rival stations and/or personalities? Anyone else you can think of that might have a motive to try to sabotage your wedding or threaten you publicly?"

Blaze spoke up, "Well, there is Amanda Calemon. She is the station manager for the station I left. She wasn't real happy with me leaving and she was even more angry when we started taking listeners away from her audience."

Matt asked, "Would she have access to voice altering equipment and know how to use it?"

Blaze nodded his head. Laci spoke up then as she saw where this train of thought was going, "When Nick and I were in college we both took the same course on broadcast media. I don't know how much access he has to the equipment, but he would definitely know how to use it."

At that point C.J. came back in the room and said, "Well, I have good news and bad news. It appears Nick went back down to that same judge that you thought issued your annulment and got him to reverse his decision so technically you are still married. The good news is my friend in the Vital Statistics department at the Las Vegas branch can annul it with a couple of official requests. I drew up the legal paperwork and only need you to sign it before I fax it to her. It should all be processed today and the annulment should be official by the end of the week."

Laci and Blaze looked at each other and Laci, angry, spoke up, "You mean I'm still married to that loser!"

She got up and Blaze put his arms around her and said, "Its ok, she said she could get it taken care of today. Just sign those papers and we'll go get some lunch."

She nodded her head, signed the papers and the two left. That left C.J, Matt and Roy alone. C.J. asked, "So where do you want to start?"

Matt thought for a second and then said, "Why don't Uncle Roy and I head over to talk to Nick Peterson. What all did your friend tell you about him and getting the marriage annulled?"

C.J. answered, "Not much...she just said that the judge, Judge Marganis is the sentimental type that has more than once reversed an annulment decision. Let's see what Baby has to say about him." She clicked more buttons and his picture came up with a rap sheet. "Well, it appears he has been arrested multiple times for domestic disturbance, drunk and disorderly and even harassment in the last 7 years." Baby began printing out more information, almost furiously and C.J. tore off the printout right away, "Matt, Baby found that he also spent time in county lock up recently for beating his girlfriend, almost to death. Oh my...Baby got the medical records and he broke almost every bone in her body." She just closed her eyes and shook her head.

Matt gently pulled the printout out of her hand and rubbed her back. He read it over and was just as shocked when he said, "Take a look at this Uncle Roy...look at the description of the wound on her arm...that looks like something I learned in the military."

Roy looked it over and concurred, "You're right. There's a move where you can easily subdue an operative by grabbing their upper arm in just the right way to twist it behind them. It would appear our ex husband has some kind of military training."

C.J. clicked more buttons and found a record from the ROTC at the college he had attended. "Well, it looks like he got through some basic training but was then released. They cited emotional distress as the reason for his removal."

"What else does Baby have on him?" Matt asked.

C.J. clicked even more buttons and answered, "Our ex husband grew up here in L.A., has a clean record throughout elementary through high school, but started getting the attention of the authorities when he was in college. He started out ROTC and then changed his major to Media Studies when he was thrown out for that emotional distress. Since then he has been in and out of jail for violent behavior and doesn't appear able to hold down a job for long...huh, Matt, Baby found that he's currently working for Amanda Calemon at her radio station. Here's his address."

Matt told her, "She not only runs a rival station but Blaze thought she might be upset with his leaving her station which makes her a pretty good suspect along with the current manager they work for and that guy they replaced." He took the address and he and Roy looked at each other as they got up to go to the elevator. Matt told her, "You keep working with Baby to gather background on our other suspects there and we'll go talk to Mr. Peterman."

C.J. turned back and started pulling up the information. She got up after pulling up information on Richard Romanes and "Crazy" John Witman to get a cup of coffee. When she did, she heard the elevator ding and out stepped a woman C.J. recognized from before. She was holding a vase of roses to deliver and C.J. recognized her from the time she delivered a bomb for a hit man named Andre. The woman was none the wiser that time, but C.J. knew to be cautious.

Chris had started to take it when C.J. quickly walked down into the lobby. "Excuse me, but do you mind, before you leave, telling me exactly who sent those over? And maybe how much they tipped this time?"

The lady smiled and said, "Ms. Parsons, they didn't tip as well this time and they are my flowers. That horrible incident before taught me not to deliver anything I don't prepare myself." She got back in the elevator and waved.

Chris handed her the card and said, "They're for you."

C.J. took the card and saw that it was indeed addressed to her but her eyes widened when she read who the flowers were from...Roy Turner.

She tried to hide her shock from Chris who was smelling the roses as they sat on her desk. She said, "Matt sure is sweet. You want me to put these on your desk?"

C.J. had to think fast. She didn't really think Turner had planned to do anything more than bother her. He tried to scare her before and had, but it wasn't going to work this time. He was a coward as far as she was concerned, but she didn't want Matt to get in trouble for harassing him. She knew what Turner would do as the media hog he was. He would blow up whatever Matt told him to the press and probably argue that he felt threatened. Of course, Matt would threaten him. No, it would be best if he didn't know. She didn't really feel threatened, just uncomfortable. So she told Chris, "Actually, they aren't from Matt but an old...acquaintance...in fact why don't you keep them. I'm not really interested in reconnecting with this person anyway and you deserve them as much as anyone here."

Chris looked carefully at C.J. and asked, "Are you sure? This isn't a secret admirer again..."

C.J. knew what Chris was concerned about, that it was someone along the lines of Christian Dean. That was the man who had sent flower after flower trying to get her to go on a date with him. When she rejected him, he responded violently by killing her boyfriend, attacking Too Mean Malone who was protecting her and then invading her home. If Matt hadn't shown up when he did, well...she tried not to dwell on that too much. "No, trust me, this guy doesn't want to have a relationship with me. Its just more of a reminder that we've met."

Chris looked confused but then decided not to push it and made space on her desk for the bouquet.

C.J. went back and pulled up background information on Amanda Calemon. She gathered everything together in a file for Matt and Roy to look over when they got back. Then she made a phone call.

"Lt. Hoyt speaking," the grumpy detective answered.

C.J. took a deep breath, "Hi Hoyt, any chance I can come pick up my things yet?"

Hoyt put down his coffee and sat down telling her, "Sure thing. I'll tell Cummings to expedite it. We have a COD on Mays, electrocution. I'm sure you probably figured that out already, but there was something interesting Mack found."

That got C.J.'s attention, "What is it?"

Hoyt then told her, "Well, it appears she had chloroform in her system. Mack believes she was knocked out and then placed in the hot tub. No signs of a struggle really, and he did find melted rubber in one of her arm pits."

She swallowed hard and said, "You think she was knocked out and someone then put her in the hot tub, killing her?...Why?...Why would someone go to those extremes when she probably would have just stepped in and died instantly...I mean why knock her out first?"

Hoyt answered, "Well, according to Mack, he thinks its because of how she was placed in the pool. The initial point of entry was her her lower back and the burns are located there. He and Warren think that the body was posed, probably for us or whoever found her to hide the fact that the water was electrically charged. They think she would have balanced herself as she got in and there would have been burns left on her fingers we would have seen. We wouldn't have seen the burns on her back and there weren't any other indications that electricity was present."

She took a deep breath, "Except for my wedding bands sparking. Oh my god...Hoyt, someone was trying to kill more than just Ms. Mays."

He responded, "Yeah, that's what we think too. So we are listing this officially as a potential serial case." He took a deep breath, "Now what that means for you and Houston is to stay out of it..."

She started to interrupt, "But, Hoyt..."

He cut her off, "No buts, C.J. This is an official homicide investigation into a potential serial killer. Sandra Mays was not your client and you have no businesses interfering in the case. Its official police business, let us handle it."

She looked up and then said, "You know we could help. We have resources..."

Hoyt cut her off again but sounded more understanding this time, "I know you do and I know you want to find out why whoever did this, did this. But, C.J. this is one case that probably doesn't have any rhyme or reason to it. We have psychologists coming in to give us a profile...Look, I'm telling you all this so you will see that this isn't a case you want. I know you, C.J. Parsons-Houston and I know you want to advocate for the victim, but I don't think the end result of this case is going to be someone with a clear motive or anything to gain by committing this murder, other than his own delusional fantasy. Let us handle it and you concentrate on a case where you and Houston can do some good. Ok? And hey, just for good measure, I'll have your things sent over in a cruiser to the penthouse."

She thought about all he said after they said their goodbyes. What troubled her most was the fact that Hoyt was probably right. The killer murdered this woman for no reason other than the opportunity to do so. What began to nag at her was the fact that the case seemed to resemble to the Roy Turner case when it didn't appear there was a clear motive there either.

'No, C.J., no...there is no connection. You're just thinking about that case because he got paroled and sent you flowers.' she told herself. However, on the back of her neck, those tiny hairs began to prickle.