“Were there ever any problems like overzealous fans? Any issues tonight?”
Tapper looked offended. “My place is first-class. We opened in this neighborhood because it’s going to boom just like downtown. We get professionals. No groupies. Coop never had trouble here.”
“What about women?” Lenora asked.
Tapper gave her a blank stare.
Lenora tried again. “Was he friendly with anyone special?
Tapper squinted at her. “You asking if he was fooling around?”
Lenora waited for Tapper to answer his own question.
“No way. He was crazy about Nancy. High school sweethearts. Two beautiful kids and another one on the way. Coop didn’t throw away his principles when he got that first million dollar paycheck.”
Lenora gave a knowing smile. “People change. So, did Cooper dance or talk to any ladies tonight?”
Tapper arched a brow. “We had a big crowd like we always do on Friday. I didn’t have my eyes on him every minute. I think he was with Dirk the whole evening. Sat right over there,” he pointed to a section behind the dance floor, “at Dirk’s favorite booth.”
“Dirk?” Lenora asked.
“Dirk McGill. He and Coop go way back to elementary school.” Tapper dropped his head. “Man, Dirk’s going to be sick.”
Ahern said, “I see you’ve got security cameras in here. How come you don’t have any in the parking lot?”
Tapper looked sheepish. “I was going to have cameras installed out there in a couple months.”
Ahern scowled. “We’ll need your tapes.”
The woman who’d served Cooper’s table said he’d spent the five hours he was at the club with McGill. He hadn’t danced with anyone. Had signed a few autographs and left with McGill shortly after one a.m.
After interviewing The Jazz Showcase staff, Lenora and Ahern went to the Alabama Street address Tapper had for McGill, but no one answered the door. Several calls got no answer to the cell phone number Tapper had given them. The trip being a bust, the detectives then did what every cop hates more than paperwork -met the superstar’s widow at the morgue.
Petite Nancy Cooper looked too fragile to be carrying her beach ball of a stomach around. A tall man with the same blond looks seemed glued to her side.
“Troy Chambers,” he said. “Nancy’s brother. Hope you don’t mind that I came with her.” He gave his sister’s shoulder a protective squeeze.
“Not at all,” Lenora said, glad he’d come. She knew what it was like to lose someone. You felt as if you’d been kicked in the gut. Nancy Cooper was going to need her brother.
Ahern held the door as they filed into the sterile room, and the ME led them to a table in the corner. He looked at Lenora for her signal to uncover the body.
“Ready?” Lenora asked gently touching Nancy Cooper’s arm.
Nancy Cooper nodded, and the medical examiner lifted the covering from Cooper’s face. No need to show his bullet-riddled chest.
Nancy Cooper’s breath caught. Her knees buckled. Lenora tightened her grip on Nancy’s arm to keep her from falling.
Nancy Cooper winced. She cradled her right arm.
“I’m so sorry,” Lenora said, backing away from Nancy Cooper.
Chambers sprang to his sister’s side. “Can I take her out now?” he asked, irritation in his voice.
“Of course,” Lenora said
Chambers gently guided Nancy Cooper from the room.
Ahern sighed. “Seems like a good time to head back to the station and do that preliminary report. Then maybe we can pay this McGill guy another visit.”
Lenora and Ahern finished their police report and reviewing Tapper’s security tapes as details of Cooper’s death were blasted on the morning TV newscasts. All of them used Miller’s sound bite, which would make him happy.
Lenora went to the ladies’ room to splash water on her face, fluff her natural hair. Maybe she’d get a chance to sneak home for a shower soon.
Ahern intercepted her as she was walking back to her desk. “We don’t need to search for McGill. The man has come to us. I put him in interview room No. 5.”
Lenora’s eyes widened. “How nice of him to save us another trip.”
Dirk McGill was a walking GQ spread. Expensive dark suit. Cole Hahn shoes. Clean shaven with dark hair cut close and neat. Miller, who sucked his teeth at Ahern’s Detective Colombo appearance, would approve.
McGill stood to shake her hand.
Not the usual reaction she got as a black, female detective. The year 2012 and she still had to fight for respect.
Made her BS antenna go up.
“I just got the terrible news from Bill. I figured you’d want to talk to me since I saw Coop last night,” McGill said. “He was like a brother. I want to make sure you catch the SOB who killed him.”
“So do we,” Ahern said. “Coffee?”
“Never touch that poison,” McGill said. He sat ramrod straight at the interview table. Lenora took a chair across from him with her Levenger note pad open. Ahern stood with his arms folded across his chest, rocking on his heels.
“Why did it take Tapper so long to catch up with you?” Lenora asked.
“Had my cell off for a little down time. I’d had a long day.”
“You two talk about anything in particular last night?” Ahern asked. He took a toothpick from the pocket of his tan wrinkled blazer and gnawed on it. “Anything in particular on his mind?”
“Excuse me?”
“Did he seem upset?”
McGill grinned. “Did you see that game?”
Ahern nodded. “Redeemed himself in the fourth quarter.”
“Then you can guess Coop was feeling pretty good,” McGill said, still grinning.
“He wasn’t worried about anything, as far as you know?” Lenora said.
“C’mon. What did he have to worry about? He had talent, money and was headed for a championship ring.”
Ahern shifted the toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other. “You didn’t say what you two talked about all those hours at the club.”
McGill smiled. “The playoffs. His game. His kids.” He hunched his shoulders. “The usual.”
“What time did you two leave?” Lenora asked.
McGill furrowed his brow. “Don’t remember the exact time. Little before or after one, maybe.”
“You didn’t stop to talk with anyone in the parking lot?”
“A couple of people spoke but that was all.”
“Where’d you leave him?” she asked.
He leaned forward a little. “Excuse me?”
“You leave him at his car, your car? I’m just trying to understand how and where he was when you left him.”
“He went to his car. I went to mine. We weren’t parked next to each other so I didn’t see if anyone came up to him or if he talked to someone else.”
“Hard to believe people weren’t camped out to catch a glimpse of the Titans’ superstar, especially after a win like that.”
McGill smiled. “That’s why he hung out at the Showcase. People treated him like he was a regular guy.”
“Then where’d you go for that down time?” Lenora asked, thinking about him not being home when they went to his townhouse.
McGill didn’t hesitate. “Spent the night with my girlfriend.”
“She have a name?”
“Veronica Barino. We were busy all night.” He gave Ahern a know-what-I-mean smile. Ahern didn’t return it.
“That’s why I didn’t hear about Coop until this morning.”
Lenora put her pen away. “OK, guess that’s all then. We appreciate you coming in, Mr. McGill. We assume you’ll be easier to reach if we have more questions.”
McGill smiled. “You bet. Whatever I can do to help, let me know. This shouldn’t have happened to him.”
After he left, Ahern said. “Down time my eye.”
“Um hum. Shall we find out who Mr. Smooth really is?”
The
background check on McGill revealed he was 28, like Cooper. Attended elementary and high school with the superstar but didn’t go to college. Had never been arrested. Didn’t own a gun, at least none was registered to him.
McGill bought his three-story town house a year ago and drove a black 2012 Mercedes CL550. Lenora knew the price tag for that car started at $114,000. McGill was living a pretty luxurious lifestyle for a man who had no visible income. As far as the detectives could tell, the well-dressed, high-living McGill had never had a job.
Lenora’s neatly made bed with the four rows of pillows called her like a bowl of Haagen Daaz caramel ice cream did when she was in a funk. It took all her energy to resist, shower, dress quickly and hop on I-465 to head out to Geist where she was meeting Ahern at the Coopers’ gated estate. Geist was the playground of the wealthy. Superstar athletes, CEO’s, even the governor had a home there.
Nancy Copper looked even more breakable, if that was possible.
“We’re hoping you can tell us something that will help us find your husband’s murderer, Mrs. Cooper,” Lenora said. They were in the leisure room of the stone mansion. Floor to ceiling windows brought the spectacular lake right into the room.
Nancy Cooper grimaced as she reached for a glass of water her housekeeper had placed on the table.
“Let me get it, Sis,” Chambers said, popping up from his perch on the edge of the white loveseat. He placed the glass in his sister’s hand. Nancy Cooper took a few sips and handed it back to him. Leaned back on the sofa cradling her arm to her side.
Lenora apparently couldn’t hide her curiosity because Nancy Cooper offered, “I let the kids talk me into going on a slide in the yard and I fell. I’m lucky it wasn’t that high, so I didn’t hurt the baby.”
Nancy Cooper dabbed at her puffy eyes with a tissue. “You asked who would want to hurt my husband. The stadium isn’t big enough to hold all the people who’re going to attend his memorial service because he was so loved. I just…don’t understand why anyone…” The words caught in her throat, and she struggled to hold back the tears.
Chambers popped up again. Plopped beside her patting her hand. “It’s okay, Sis.”
Nancy Cooper closed her eyes for a moment.
“Can you tell us who he was with last night? When you last spoke with him?”
Nancy Cooper shook her head. “He always went to the Showcase to celebrate with his friends. He was feeling so good about the game.”
“Was Dirk McGill one of them? What can you tell us about him?”
“Dirk? They’ve been friends since they were kids.”
Lenora said, “We can’t pinpoint what Mr. McGill does for a living.”
Nancy pursed her lips in thought. “Consulting, I think. Bryce always talked about Dirk’s clients. I’m pretty sure he has an investment in the Showcase.”
Lenora and Ahern exchanged glances.
A little detail Tapper hadn’t offered.
“Any problems with his teammates?”
Nancy shook her head. “Oh, no. They all got along well.”
“What about your husband’s foundation? Everything going all right there?”
She bobbed her head. “We’ve honored more requests than ever this year. Bryce was happy about that.” She clutched her arm.
Chambers put his hand on her shoulder. During the questioning, he’d been watching his sister like a guard dog. “Maybe you should lie down.”
Lenora got to her feet. “We have what we need for now. If you think of anything else that could help, please call me.” She put her card on the table.
Chambers stood too. “Stay put, Sis. I’ll walk the detectives out.”
When they reached the foyer, Chambers told them, “I hope I’m not out of line, but you asked about Bryce’s relationships with the other Titans.”
Lenora said, “If you have information that could help us catch his murderer you need to tell us.”
Chambers let out a huge sigh. “Jamie Simmons. He and Bryce got into it a few times.”
“The point guard?” Ahern said.
Chambers glanced toward the great room where they’d left his sister. As if checking to make sure she couldn’t hear him. “Nancy doesn’t know this, but they had to be separated at practice the day before the game.”
“You saw this?” Lenora asked.
“Yeah. Bryce had left home without his wallet. Nan asked me to drop it off.”
“Well, well,” Ahern said.
“Thanks,” Lenora said. “We’ll follow up on it.”
For the first time, Chambers gave a bit of a smile. “Hope it helps.”
Chamber’s information sent Lenora and Ahern downtown to the Titans Fieldhouse on Maryland Street. The city had cut the ribbon on what writers called a “sparkling venue in a sparkling city” in time for the season opening. It seemed to be the good luck charm. With Cooper’s hot hand, fans were convinced the Titans could go all the way.
Standing courtside, watching the team practice after this tragedy, Lenora had her doubts. She’d seen more energy at the senior facility where she volunteered.
“Commissioner wanted to postpone Sunday’s game, but the guys wouldn’t have it,” Coach Dan Humphrey said. “The way they’re looking out here I kinda wish we had. Jerry, stay in front of your man! He’s gonna get around you!”
He raked chunky fingers through chunky silver hair. “See what I mean? I hope they can get it together. Coop wouldn’t want his death to stop our title run.”
“That was some electric finish last night,” Ahern gushed. He had been giddy as a kid at the thought of meeting the legendary coach. Humphrey had a championship ring for every finger. The Titans lured him to Indy this season hoping he’d get them one, too.
So far, so good.
Humphrey’s smile was wistful. “Yeah, Coop pulled it out for us.” His expression turned sad. “You folks got to find out who did this.”
“Cooper’s money and jewelry were still on him, so robbery wasn’t the motive. You notice any changes in his personality or mood? Was he getting along with the rest of the team?”
Humphrey laughed. “Coop wasn’t your typical superstar— no Prima Donna who needed to be stroked all the time. Never a disagreement with a teammate. Always working to up his game. On time for practice. Just…”
“A little choir boy,” Lenora finished.
Oops. Had she said that out loud?
“We heard he and Jamie Simmons had words at practice before the game.”
Humphrey chuckled. “Ah, that was nothing. Nerves before the big game that’s all.”
“I don’t see Simmons here. Wouldn’t mind talking to him.”
“He hurt his knee and is at rehab having it worked on. I’ll let him know you want to talk to him. Armstrong! What the hell kind of pass was that?”
The guy he’d yelled at looked at him and shrugged his shoulders.
Humphrey shook his head. “Anything else you need because I really need to get back to this practice.”
“Yeah, a look in Cooper’s locker and at some point a few minutes with his teammates,” Ahern said.
They were combing through the locker when Lenora’s phone buzzed. It was Harper with the ballistics report. Cooper was shot five times at close range with a .22.
“Cooper was always relaxed when he was at the club. He could have easily let someone get close thinking they were a fan,” Ahern said when she told him what Harper had said. “Then, again, it could have been someone he was close to. Someone like McGill. How does a guy who doesn’t work drive a Mercedes and live where he lives?”
“He works. We just have to find out at what,” Lenora said. “I’m wondering what Cooper did to make Simmons punch him.”
Ahern stared at her. “You heard Humphrey. Wasn’t anything. I wouldn’t waste time chasing that.”
“Don’t pop a vessel,” Lenora said, chuckling. “I get it. You’re star struck. All I’m saying is that many shots to the heart say rage and personal.”
&
nbsp; Lenora’s cell phone vibrated again.
“Is this the detective who was at the Showcase?” a woman asked with a shaky voice when she answered.
“Yes. Who’s this?”
“Rhonda Blake.”
Lenora searched her memory bank. “From the Showcase?”
“McGill. He’s a bookie. A lowlife. He takes bets and uses the Showcase for his headquarters with Tapper’s blessing.” She took a deep breath after getting it out. Relieved.
“It’s okay. Bets? On horses?”
Ahern paused his locker search.
“Basketball games.”
“You’re sure about this?”
“Check Tapper’s safe in his office.”
“Why tell us this now?” Lenora asked.
“Let’s just say I don’t like getting dumped or canned. I got both today.”
Lenora smiled as she punched off the call. “We may have just learned how McGill pays his bills.”
Lenora and Ahern had no trouble getting Miller to back a warrant to search the Showcase. Tapper’s staff was setting up for the Saturday night crowd.
“Surprised you’re not closed out of respect for your famous patron,” Ahern said.
Tapper bristled. “Considered it since you haven’t given me my parking lot back. But I have a business to run. Coop would understand. How can I help you?”
Lenora smiled. “Gee, you’re not as friendly as you were last night. Something we said?”
Tapper glowered.
“Good thing we picked this up before we came.” Lenora held up the warrant. “It allows us to go through every nook, cranny and piece of paper in this place. But we’ll start with your safe.”
Tapper didn’t move. “My safe?”
Ahern stepped forward. “Is that a problem?”
“Now, look…” Tapper held up his hands in protest.
“We can have the officers we brought along do the honors, but I guarantee they won’t be as careful as you,” Ahern warned.
Tapper’s eyes darted around the club. Lenora could see him thinking through his options. Deciding he had no choice, he swore and led them to his office. He pushed aside a tall bookcase to reveal the safe.
Hoosier Hoops and Hijinks Page 16