by Bob Moats
“Can you see if you can find out the source of the number?” I asked. Trapper took the paper, went to his car and called someone, then waited as I put the tapes in my car.
He came to me with a big smile on his face. “Number is listed as Roseville Police.”
*
Chapter Fifteen
“Crap!” I exclaimed. “This is getting deep. I can only think of one person on the Roseville police who would have anything to do with this case. Lincoln. Now, did he just think that Noreen would have a storage unit, or did he find out from someone?”
“Well, you’re the P.I., you’ll find out.” He laughed. “Let’s go back and watch some tapes.”
We got back to my office. I set up the VCR, and we popped in the surveillance tapes and ran through them until we saw a car pull up to the unit in question. I slowed the tape down, and we watched a guy wearing a hoodie get out of the car and then pull out bolt cutters and snip the lock. The guy must have known that the camera was watching as he kept his back to it. He went in, and about twenty minutes later he came out with a number of tapes and a file folder, all of which he put in his car. He then closed the unit door, replacing the lock. He swung into his car and drove off. I re-ran the tape back to the beginning of his arrival, hooked up my computer, and copied the segment onto a couple of DVDs. I put the surveillance tapes in a bag and set them by the door.
“I have no idea who that was, but I got the plate number off his car. I’ll run it and see who it’s registered to, but I’ll bet you a week’s pay it’s an unmarked Roseville police car,” Trapper offered.
We ran through the client tapes, and after about three full tapes, we decided we had enough watching the weirdness. I was getting the picture of what Noreen’s job entailed. The people in the videos weren’t anyone we could identify. We saw no important people. I wondered if Lincoln got to the good tapes before us. The tapes were dated so if he couldn’t find client names, he’d at least have known the tapes he wanted by the dates. I packed the tapes away back in the box.
Trapper said, “Want to go drop these off on Lincoln’s desk?”
“Are you serious?” I asked.
“I got nothing better to do than to protect your ass.” He grinned.
“OK, let’s go stir the viper pit up.”
We took the boxes out to Trapper’s car, and then we headed to the Roseville police headquarters. I took two boxes, Trapper took two, and we went in to the front desk. Trapper plopped his boxes on the counter, flashed his badge, and asked for Lincoln, saying we found some evidence in the Weston murder. I could see that Trapper hadn’t really changed since he worked Las Vegas police. He was still such a bad boy, he ate this stuff up. We were herded to a back squad room and into a small office where sat a man with a face so craggy he looked like a bulldog. He sported a close crew haircut and had a neck so thick it made his head look like it continued from his shoulders.
“Sergeant Lincoln, I’m Lieutenant Will Trapper, Clinton Township Police, and this is Jim Richards, private investigator, hired by Dave Weston to find his wife’s killer,” he intoned. “Jim came across some evidence while investigating that he thought you may need. I’m a good friend and just came along to help deliver these videos to you.”
Lincoln just sat and stared. “I know who the fuck you both are. I do my job.”
“Were you doing your job when the storage unit these tapes were stored in was broken into yesterday?” I asked bravely, only because Trapper was there.
“You got no proof I had anything to do with that,” he replied coolly.
I took a chance. I pulled my cell phone out and dialed the number on the paper given to me by the storage manager. I heard the number ringing in my cell, then Lincoln’s desk phone rang. He sat looking at it for a moment, then picked it up. I said hello, then hung up.
“That was the phone number on the caller I.D. given to me by the storage manager. A number that called yesterday inquiring about Noreen’s storage unit. How did you know she had one?”
“I do my job, as I said. I don’t have to answer to either of you. This is an open investigation that I’m conducting. Trapper, you’re out of your jurisdiction, and, Richards, you pull no weight here,” he snarled.
I dropped a DVD copy of the surveillance tape on his desk. “That’s a copy of the video of the suspect and his car used in the storage break-in. Plates are easy to see. You may want to check them out.” I was sure we all knew who they belonged to. I continued, “I’m not here to step on toes, I’m here to give you evidence for your murder case, just doing my civic duty. We brought you the tapes so they weren’t stolen from Noreen’s unlocked storage unit. There’s too many crooks around nowadays.”
“You’ll do better to just stay out of my way, Richards. Hate to see anything happen to you. Understand?” He sneered.
Trapper leaned over the desk and quietly said to Lincoln, “Jim here is my good friend, anything happens to him, so much as a finger cut, I’ll know who to look for. You understand, fat boy?”
Lincoln didn’t want to start a scene, knowing what we had on him from the storage center. He just made his bulldog face as Trapper and I walked out. A couple of the homicide squad cops yelled to Trapper, saying hello to him. He recognized most of them and stood doing some small talk, occasionally glancing back to Lincoln who sat still glaring at his desk.
One of the cops leaned over and said under his breath, “Take that asshole with you, please.” Trapper laughed and then introduced me, asking them to keep an eye out for me if I got in any trouble there. They all shook my hand and said they would. I gave them all my cards and said if they had any good cases they couldn’t handle, I was available. They all laughed.
We went out to Trapper’s car, and I just stared at him. “You’re a real terror, aren’t you? Captain Weber was right on with your crazy escapades from Vegas.”
“You really don’t know the half of it, and thankfully, neither did Weber.” He grinned.
We swung by the storage center and dropped off the surveillance tapes, thanking the manager. I gave him my card in case anyone else inquired about Noreen’s unit. I bought a new lock from his rack of storage equipment, and we went to put it on the unit. I would have to tell Dave about this later so he could decide what he wanted to do with it. Trapper dropped me off at my office. I thanked him for all the help. He said it was his pleasure, and he needed to go prove that he still worked in Clinton Township. He drove off, and I went into my office. Looking at the clock, it was just after 2 p.m., and I hadn’t heard anything from Buck. I wasn’t worried yet, but getting there.
I sat and took a breath, then made up a bill for Elma, hoping I could collect on it. After a half hour, I was getting a bit antsy about Buck so I called his cell. I got his voice mail. Damn, I hate that. I straightened out my desk and thought about calling Dave Weston to tell him about the storage. I picked up my desk phone and called his cell. It rang three times, and he answered.
“Dave, I found out Noreen had a storage unit rented under the name Noreen Black. I went there this morning with a cop friend of mine and found the unit was broken into. You haven’t mentioned to anyone else about having a storage unit in the past?”
He was quiet, hopefully thinking, and then said, “I think that ugly cop assigned to the case asked me all kinds of questions about Noreen’s activities, and I think he did ask if we had one. Maybe I told him what I told you, I guess.”
“That’s OK, it’s done now. I didn’t find anything in the storage worthwhile, but maybe the good stuff was already removed. I don’t know yet. I’ll keep you informed as things change,” I said and hung up.
I sat running through a few ideas I had on what to do next in regard to Noreen. I couldn’t get anything from Lincoln. That was a door now shut. I should ask Dave what places Noreen got her referrals from and go from that angle. They might point me in a direction to the right people. I also thought about staking out Noreen’s office to see if anyone else showed up looking for incriminating
videos.
I was about ready to call Buck when my phone rang. It was him. I had a bad feeling about answering, but did.
“Speak to me, Buck. Give me some good news,” I requested.
“Sorry, Jimmy, but the news is, Elma’s been arrested for murder.”
*
Chapter Sixteen
I was stunned. “Was it Ralph?” was all I could say.
“Hell, no. It should have been, but it was his Dominatrix that was killed,” he said.
Now I was confused, but asked Buck where he was. He said, “I’m at the Pontiac police station where they are holding her. I called that lawyer guy you worked for. He sent one of his associates out, and they’re working to get her out on bail. Good thing she has money, and luckily Ralph can’t get to it. She has it all in an account he has no access to.”
“Smart woman,” I said.
“Not smart enough to stay home,” Buck said.
“True. What happened?” I asked.
“I’m not really sure. The cops won’t let me talk to her. I see the lawyer coming now. I’ll call you back.” He hung up.
Damn, two dominatrix murders in less than a week. Was this a trend? I wondered. I sat back thinking about Elma and hoping this was going to be a simple case. Buck called back about ten minutes later and said they did a quick arraignment and got her off on a half million dollar bond. She took care of it, and Buck was taking her home. I said to sit on her, and I would be there after he gave me the directions to her house. He did. I closed up the office and headed out.
I drove out to Troy, found the house off Sixteen Mile Road, and drove in the drive. Buck’s mini-van was parked next to what I presumed was Elma’s car, a Cadillac CTS. I went to the front porch just as Buck opened the door. He wasn’t doing his usual smile. I patted him on the shoulder and asked where she was. He took me to her in the kitchen where she was sitting drinking coffee.
“Elma, what the hell did you do?” I asked.
I could see her eyes were red. She looked so sad, I went to her and gave her a hug. “I’m sorry. Can you talk about it?”
She nodded. “I made a mistake. I was just so pissed at Ralph, I wanted to really confront him and tell him what I thought.”
“OK, tell me what happened with the Dominatrix.”
“Around 1 a.m. I went to the motel where Ralph was staying, and when I got there I saw he was leaving. I followed him, and he went to Pontiac, to that club you said he belonged to. I thought that was great as I could catch him with his whore. He went in the front door. I went around the back and found a service entrance. I went in and found I was in a laundry where two women in grey uniforms were washing sheets. I snuck past them, peeked out a door to a hallway, and went out. I walked around. I guess everyone figured I was part of the place. No one stopped me. I looked in different doors and finally I found a room where I saw Ralph. He was yelling at the woman in leather. He was really mad and was screaming at her. I figured that was what they do till he grabbed her hair and pulled her to the ground. Then he pulled out a knife and stabbed her with it a couple of times. I screamed, and he saw me. He grabbed me and pulled me in. He pushed me on the woman, and I got blood all over me. Ralph took the knife, pushed it into my hand, and then ran to the door screaming that I came in and killed the woman he was with. The club security came rushing in and grabbed me and called the cops.”
She went silent for a bit. I didn’t push it. I looked at Buck, and he had the saddest face I’ve seen on him since I’ve known him. He felt bad for Elma something hard.
“Elma, how did you know Ralph was staying at that motel?” I asked.
“He called earlier in the day wanting some clothes. I asked him where he was, he told me, so I threw his clothes out on the lawn with Buck’s help. Sometime later he got his stuff, but quietly. We didn’t hear him,” she replied.
“Where’s Ralph now?” I asked.
Buck said, “I haven’t seen him since they took him into interrogation. His ass is mine if I find him.”
“OK, Elma, don’t do anything stupid now. You are to stay in the house and don’t leave it till you talk to the lawyers. I’ll talk to them, too, and see what we can do for you. Just sit tight here, OK?” She said she would. I walked with Buck to the front door and said I’d be back tomorrow to see what we could do, for now just keep both eyes on her. He agreed, and I went to my car.
It was just after 5 p.m., and I headed back to the house. I was wondering what greeting Penny would have for me. Would I be forced into some oriental meditations or kicking out the walls? I got there, and the front door didn’t open with her greeting me. I wondered what she was up to. I went in, and the house was quiet. I listened but heard nothing. I went out to the back porch and saw Penny in the yard, on a blanket sitting facing the lake. I quietly went out and came up to her, putting my hand on her shoulder. She gave a high pitched scream and grabbed my hand, twisting it around till I was on my knees and she was standing over me. I yelled, uncle, and she realized it was me and let up on her grip.
“What the hell was that?” I nearly cried from pain as I rolled on the ground. She tried to comfort me and apologized profusely.
“Sweetie, I didn’t hear you coming up. I was meditating, and when you touched my shoulder, I reacted the way I was taught today. To protect myself.”
“I’m happy you can do that without a gun,” I said. “That hurt.”
“It’s supposed to, or it wouldn’t be effective.”
“You’re a crazy woman.” I grimaced. “I’m in pain here,” I said holding my wrist.
“You’re such a baby. I hardly twisted your arm.”
“Hey, I’m a sixty year old male just at the peak of falling apart, and you want to disassemble me now,” I lamented.
She started laughing and rolled back on the blanket. I took advantage of the situation, jumping on her, and she asked what happened to my falling apart. I said I would hold together long enough to take advantage of her. And I did.
It was good her back yard was bordered by a number of trees and foliage or we might have been arrested. All we did was frighten the wildlife. We gathered ourselves up, went into the house, and plopped down on the couch, our favorite respite. Penny asked me about my day. I told her everything, and she just sucked air about Elma and Ralph.
“What are you going to do about that?” Penny asked.
“I have an idea, but I’m going to need Trapper’s help and his friend on the Pontiac Police. I’m going to call him tomorrow morning to get it started. Hopefully by afternoon we should be able to clear Elma.”
I was still rubbing my wrist, and she pulled it over and kissed it. I asked how her show went. She filled me in and wanted to demonstrate some holds she learned, but I refused to be thrust around. She said we could watch the TiVo copy of her show, so we did. I was impressed by the way Penny handled herself learning the protective moves the instructor was showing. She was pleased with herself, too.
“I’ll have to hire you out as bodyguard now,” I joked.
She popped up and went into the kitchen, saying she was making Chop Suey for dinner. I groaned and asked if this was going to be an Oriental night at home. She said she rented two Jackie Chan movies to watch. I just gritted my teeth and said, great.
Around 7:20 my phone rang. It was Trapper. “I just got a call from Mike Lawson, homicide lieutenant out in Pontiac. He said Elma was arrested for murder this morning.”
“How did he know to call you?” I asked.
“He talked to Buck when he came in to claim Elma, and Buck told him about you and your investigation into Ralph. Lawson remembered he had talked to a beat cop about the night they ran into you at the B&D club and you were throwing my name around. He is a good detective and can add two and two. He called me to see what I knew. I told him about Ralph’s shady past, and he filled me in on the events of the morning. You think Elma could have done it?”
“I have my doubts, and I have an idea that may get a confession out of Ralph if I ca
n get Lawson’s cooperation and yours,” I said.
He said anything to help. I said I would fill him in on it if we could get Lawson out there or on a conference call in the morning. Trapper said he would get Lawson to come there since Lawson owed Trapper a lunch. I said it worked for me. I hung up and sat gathering my thoughts on how to do my plan.
Ralph was so stupid, it might work.
*
Chapter Seventeen
I was up the next morning early, plotting my day and hoping Ralph was in good spirits. I called Trapper, and he said Lawson was agreeable to coming out. We could meet around 9 at Trapper’s precinct. I asked if he could have a wire and a recorder setup for me and gave him a quick explanation of what I had in mind. He said it was good, and he would have a rig ready for me. I said that worked for me, and I would be there.