CHAPTER THREE (WHEN IN DOUBT...)
"We can speak in here, Detective." Brass was ushered into a less austere room, lined with shelves of books. "I find these old chairs to be most comfortable." The man was in his late forties but held his age well. He had greying hair, but clear, intelligent eyes. He wore a simple blue shirt, open at the neck suggesting he preferred a casual look to what the estate would indicate, brown slacks and scuffed shoes.
"This is my sanctuary. My wife's tastes are impeccable." He smiled, having motioned Jim to a seat. "I hail from a small town outside Seattle. All this glitz and glitter leaves me a bit befuddled at times." He smiled to lessen the words. "It makes Alicia happy, so it is a small price to pay."
"You have a very nice home, sir." Brass observed the amenities.
"Will you join me in a .." The man had started to arise, then..settled. "Oh, you are on duty. How remiss of me." He shook his head woefully. "I usually have a scotch along about now, but.."
"Please..don't let me stop you."
"Yes, the place is nice, isn't it. The literary world has been good to me." He resumed the interrupted conversation. "But here I am rattling on about stuff and nonsense. You have come to discuss a most serious matter, have you not."
Jim fished his notebook from inside his jacket pocket, and the pen from his shirt. "This is just procedure. I won't take much of your time. It is just a theory we are working on at present."
"Whatever you need."
"It has come to our attention, unfortunately..that it may well be..your novels are being used as a prototype for a series of murders of young women." Brass began without preamble. "Anything you could tell us might help us discover who is doing this thing."
"My God.." The man turned sickly pale. "I could not live with myself if I thought..I...in some way, contributed to the death of another human being."
"You aren't responsible, sir..for another's actions." Jim hastily stated. "It's a sad fact, there are a lot of sick people in the world. You never know what might set a certain personality off. And as I said..our theory may be entirely wrong. We have to cover all bases."
"I am ..shocked." And he appeared to be so. "I am.." He seemed to search for the word. "Stunned. Stricken!" He arose, too nervous to remain seated.
"As the author, you would know your storyline far better than anyone else. Perhaps there is something we are missing. And..there are other factors, of course."
"Such as?" He stopped pacing, to ask the question.
"We ran the time line and the crimes began about a month before the release of your first novel."
"How is that possible? No one knew the details of the story but myself."
"You might be surprised. Are you certain, sir?" It was Brass' job to navigate through these waters. "Your publisher..his assistant..newly hired employees, say.." Brass shrugged. "How many see the actual finished product, really?"
"My publisher is a woman, as is her assistant. I assume you are searching for a male?"
"No over zealous fan mail? Someone that sticks out in your mind right off the bat?" Brass did not answer the question. "Your staff..how well do you know them?"
"I hire the 'fan' thing out." He walked, retrieving a card from his desk. "These people handle it for me. My staff has been with us since we moved here about a year and a half ago. Mostly older individuals. They are very loyal and most discrete."
Brass pocketed the card, having read it quickly. "Thank you..your wife's employer is based in Vegas, correct?" He had done his leg work.
"I teach at the University. I have a class schedule to maintain. Alicia is a publisher in her own right." He felt more comfortable with such subjects, clearly. "Worldwide, Incorporated, yes..it's offices are here."
"I imagine your students are quite impressed having a famous author for their instructor."
"Oh no." he chuckled. "Only a few select friends and colleagues are aware that I write let alone..am published. My students are blissfully ignorant of the fact, thankfully."
"I noted..no photo on the back cover of the novels." Brass nodded. "And, of course..the pseudonym."
"At first the publisher was dead set against my provision to remain anonymous but then she said it would lend an air of mystery to the author himself." It was sighed. "It means no interviews for me, which I would absolutely dread and of course..my life remains relatively my own."
"Well, I won't take up anymore of your time." Brass put his notebook away, clicking his pen shut. He offered his hand which was instantly taken. "Here's my card, sir. If you think of anything..even if it seems insignificant."
"Yes, of course." The man looked at the card, then at Brass. "This is most distressing, I can tell you." He shook his head. "Our wedding anniversary is this Friday. I won't be able to enjoy the festivities knowing some helpless woman is in danger because of.."
"We will get the guy. It's only a matter of time. Just go about your day as usual. Let us do what we do best." Jim smiled. "I'm sorry if this troubles you. I'll try not to bother you again."
"No, of course not..anything I can do..and I mean that sincerely. Please feel free to call upon me."
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"I want to see the Star Trek thingy!" Haley Meadows was excited, Brass could tell by her animated mannerisms. "Would that be cool or what??"
"People are being murdered!" Vincent Duvalier had other priorities this fine day. "I think that trumps Captain James T. Kirk, dumb ass."
"I like Spock." Dumb ass rolled her eyes expressively for such a stupid remark. "Except if Shatner is playing Denny Crane, of course."
"Go home. Get some sleep. You're going out tonight as usual and you better be bright and bushy tailed or at least coherent for a change. That's all I'm saying on the matter."
Jim Brass exchanged looks with Gil Grissom who he had invited to the meeting for an update on the 'Vampire' case.
"I haven't had a vacation in three years!" The girl presented her side of the issue in no uncertain terms. "All's I'm asking is one lousy night off."
"What about that three weeks in New York last year?" It was caustically reminded.
"Oh! You mean the three weeks you had me babysitting the teenager from Hell? Satan's Spawn?"
"She was a sweet kid..."
"She was the 'Demon Seed'.." Haley disagreed. "The little cretin wrecked her daddy's 'beamer' with me in it! I was in the hospital for weeks!"
"You were in over night and it was just a fender bender. Don't be so dramatic."
Grissom's scowl was increasing exponentially with each minute spent with these new..people, Brass noted with amusement.
"She totaled the car! I still have scars and all because YOUR old friend..the Governor..asked a little favor of you which you pawned off on ME!"
"Yeah..whatever." Vincent sighed heavily. "You can see the Vulcan after we close this case."
"I'm not sure?" Brass felt he should intervene at this point. "I think the 'ride' has been shut down. It's no longer here."
The news seem to devastate the woman. "...What???" She looked like she was going to cry.
"Yeah..pretty sure of those facts." He hated to be the bearer of bad tidings.
"But...I haven't seen it yet."
"Well, there you have it then." Duvalier took the news much better. "Moving on..."
"No..there's no 'moving on'...I want to see Spock! I was going to buy an outfit and dress up and everything!" Haley objected. "The blue one..the Science slash Medical one. I look good in blue! And now I can't do it and it's all your fault!"
"How is it my fault? I didn't close the damned thing down." Vincent wanted to know.
"I don't know..but it is. I could have come here a year ago but no...I was babysitting the reincarnation of Genghis Khan so I couldn't make it!" She turned on Brass. "Was it opened a year ago..I bet it was...it was, wasn't it! Tell the truth!"
"...Eh..maybe..I don't.." He sought assistance from Grissom who just scowled even more so.
"It could have..been, I guess. Sure..why not."
"There..you see? I missed it because of YOU!" She was adamant on the subject. "I hate you!"
"Get in line." Duvalier advised curtly. "Did you or did you not get anything out of Susie Wong last night?"
The woman plopped her ass down on a convenient desk top, folding her arms across her chest. "I'm not speaking to you!"
"Why not..I'm all ears..much as your Vulcan friend, I should imagine."
"I got that one." Grissom seemed proud of the fact.
Brass held his tongue.
"You just better not keep reminding me of him!" Haley fumed..loudly.
"Give me your report, damn it...and do it yesterday!"
"I don't want to tell you anything on account of ...you're an asshole!"
"..then tell...him." Duvalier knew how to get around the woman's moods.
Haley followed the man's pointed finger. She...settled, having locked eyes with...Jim Brass. "Oh."
"Yeah.." Duvalier crooned sympathetically. "How about that."
Haley smiled brightly at Brass.
"What's with you and the chicks?" Tom Harligan had sat quietly for once throughout the entire fiasco. He could simply no longer contain himself. "You got some secret cologne or something we other poor slobs don't know about that attracts em?"
Grissom glanced to the man in question, his own brows lifted in a similar state of inquiry.
"Discretion, lad." Carlos Rivera headed off any would be confrontation which might have ensued. "There is a time and place..neither of which..is now...or here."
Jim Brass felt Grissom's stare more than the others. He ignored them all.
"I'm getting grey hair just standing here waiting." Vincent Duvalier was not a patient man.
"You can't blame that on me..you were always old!" The woman disgusted.
"So..." Jim jumped in hastily. "Who is this Susie Wong woman, gang? .a person of interest?"
Haley was more than happy to be the center of Jim's attention. "The Chinese chick..we had a little girl session last night."
"Translation..she got her drunk." Tom knew that one.
Grissom finally...smiled. Brass knew it signified..the man was beginning to like these people.
"There's this John that all the girls are avoiding at all costs. He's a talker..and time is money but he pays..he always pays. No hassle there..he just freaks them out." Haley began. "He fits the bill..tall, six feet, about one eighty..weird eyes. That's what she said..weird." She stopped for breath.
Brass was taking it all down. "Talker?"
"He asks questions..personal ones..not about sexual things..about their lives." Haley explained.
"Get to the good stuff..this isn't Oprah." Vincent motioned with his hands to 'hurry it up'.
"Did you realize your initials are V.D.??" The woman smiled sweetly at her boss.
"Anything else?" Brass kept things on track.
Grissom had downed his head, grinning for the exchange, however.
"He loves wine. Very much into 'fancy'..the rooms are top quality..upscale." Haley continued with but one glare to the other man. Who flipped her off. She considered the source, moving on. "...he has a tat..right biceps, looks like a coat of arms or something similar. That's the closest she could come to details."
"He hasn't hurt any of them..nothing physical at all?" Grissom was interested now. Brass took heart. Things would begin to happen soon.
"He fondles a bit..he pays..they go."
"Do you know if Angel Faye had any contact with the guy?" Brass asked.
"She did." Haley nodded, " but it was a couple weeks ago, according to 'Susie'."
"Could she 'composite'?" Vincent wanted to know. "Susie?"
"She could..whether she will is another question."
"He's looking for something." Brass conferred with Grissom on his theory. "His..type? He's interviewing them."
"We need to find out what questions he asks." Grissom concurred. "It is important."
"Carlos..bring em in." Brass gave the 'go ahead.'
"You got it, Captain." The man moved off his comfortable perch by the coffee machine. "Come on...Geek Boy." He tugged his partner along on his way out the door.
"Now can I go see Star Trek?"
"It's NOT here!" Vincent exasperated.
"Oh..yeah." The depression descended yet again on the woman's pretty head.
Grissom drew in a cleansing breath, shaking his head minutely in response to Brass' shift of the eyes.
"We have roller coasters that hang off the sides of buildings." Grissom offered what he thought might be of interest to someone of Haley's age bracket.
"I'm not Cat Woman..just saying." She didn't seem to like that suggestion.
"White tigers?" Grissom tried again.
"No..I think they're gay." She seemed pretty sure of that fact.
"So what?"
"I don't want to see gay tigers, that's all..leave me alone!" She snapped, then turned her ire on Jim Brass. "Aren't you EVER going to ask me out on a date??"
Grissom was enjoying the moment more than he should but if his friend was, in any way..bothered by the question put to him, he did not let on.
"Subtle." Vincent nodded sagely. "Well? We're waiting here." He mentioned to Jim.
Brass thought about making light of the subject but.. "...breakfast?" He offered.
"I don't eat breakfast." Haley ..whined.
"You idiot." Duvalier shook his head in amazement. "Just say yes!"
Jim had been a little taken aback as well by the refusal.
"I got nothing." Grissom admitted when Jim checked to see how the man was taking the woman and her ways. "Circus Soleil?"
Haley made a 'no' face.
"Naked show girls?" Brass was never one to turn down a challenge.
"I'll go." Vincent offered.
"Ewww." Haley 'ewwed.' "OHH! Not YOU!" She hastily explained her 'ewww'. "Anything sexual with YOU is soooooo not ewwwww." She over-explained to Jim Brass.
Grissom rubbed his eyes, shaking his head minutely.
"Ooookay, then." Brass lifted his brows, determined to keep a tight rein on things. "Naked show girls it is. I'll see about tickets. As soon..as he gives you time off."
"Oh, like that's gonna happen." Haley fell back into her dark mood. "I'm going to crash. You guys really know how to rain on someone's parade. I have more fun on the streets!" She grumbled as she grabbed her purse, heading for the...streets.