Chapter Twenty-four
Kate learned that Cindy liked to run so the two began running together in the mornings. Kate had her own weapon back to replace her heavier civilian piece and that made the run better. Kate worked on helping Cindy to fit in. She introduced her to Megan.
Megan said, “When I said to pick someone young and hot I wasn’t talking from the other side of the buffet.”
Kate said, “I trust this woman to keep me alive.”
Kate thought this partner was a perfect one for her, she felt comfortable. There was no sexual tension and she could be herself around her. Kate invited her over to go over all of the evidence they had accumulated.
Cindy sat and went through the notes that Kate had scribbled on the inside of the evidence folder.
She said, “We have a victim strangled whose body was then left behind a hair salon.”
Cindy continued, “She is from a wealthy family and husband has an iron clad alibi. I could see from the photos her clothes and manicures showed that she was from a wealthy family. ”
Kate added, “In her personal effects at the gym there is a note that says meet me and a key to a safety deposit box we can’t get access to.”
Cindy asked, “Why can’t you get access to the safety deposit box?”
Kate said, “The judge won’t give us a warrant. We are going to try to look at her personal things to see if there are any clues there. That will be up to the judge of course.”
Cindy asked, “Have you asked any family members if they would give permission to open the safety deposit box?”
Kate replied, “We had suspicions about the husband early on but he has a solid alibi. I was afraid that if the family knew we wanted to look there and anyone was involved, they would just go and get rid of whatever was there.”
Cindy said, “What if we announce to the family that we need access to the safety deposit box. If they are involved they will try to delay that to give them time to clear it out, if they haven’t done that already, but while we wait, we can stake out the place where the deposit box is located and see if they show up.”
Kate replied, “That isn’t a bad idea and it might just work.”
Kate was impressed with Cindy so far and knew she made the right decision. She thought Megan would have preferred a sexy young single man, but that was more for personal reasons. She wanted to try the idea that Cindy had about staking out the deposit box place but she wanted to interview the other people on Linda's contact list.
Cindy said, “Who’s on this contact list?”
Kate said, “I am sure you heard about Walter Sims, he was the guy that attacked me and I thought he had planned that, but the more I look into it, maybe it was just a random coincidence. He was a clothing wholesaler, who brought clothes directly to the victim.”
Kate watched as Cindy made her own notes while she went through the list.
Kate said, “Brad Levy is another one we have talked to. He is a personal trainer and I questioned why someone who belonged to a gym needed a personal trainer and was informed he worked with her at home and also at the gym. The trainer was also a good friend to the husband which raised all kinds of red flags.”
Cindy said, “I am with you on that one, a lot of things don’t make any sense there.”
Kate said, the rest on the list I haven’t talked to yet, one owns a chain of jewelry stores and brought pieces to the wife and the other two were large contributors to Mrs. Miles’ Charity groups. Ralph Crandon is the jewelry guy and Paul Kashiski and James O’Neil are both big donors.”
Cindy asked, “Who do we talk to first?”
Kate said, “We talked to Brad the trainer right before Sean got shot so we didn’t make it to the other guys. The sister likes the jewelry guy, Ralph Crandon, probably more to do with the jewelry than him personally. I guess we can talk to him first and then get the two donors.”
Kate had set up a meeting with Mr. Crandon, who said he would be at the main jewelry store where he had an office. Kate and Cindy parked out front in the customer parking lot but as she told Cindy, “I couldn’t afford the box this stuff comes in.”
Cindy said something that stuck with her. She said, “Jewelry isn’t something women buy for themselves, it is what they entice men to buy for them.”
Kate replied, “My men's enticing days are pretty much gone at this point.”
Cindy replied, “Men have an attitude change when they find out you carry handcuffs.”
Kate didn’t respond but tried to think of something else. Her face had a little red appearance until they made it inside the jewelry store and asked to see Mr. Crandon. The young man behind the counter went to get his boss. He returned to escort Kate and Cindy to the back office.
Kate reached out and introduced herself and Cindy to the older man behind the desk. It appeared he had been working on repairing a jewelry piece. He looked up at the women and said, “This has something to do with the death of Mrs. Miles?”
Kate replied, “Yes, you were on her contact list and we just wanted to see how well you knew her.”
Mr. Crandon replied, “That is simple. I provided jewelry pieces for her. She bought many and as a good customer I allowed her to borrow some things for special events, like some of her fundraisers.”
Kate asked, “So she had good credit?”
Mr. Crandon replied, “Oh yes. Mr. Miles had informed me to let her have whatever she wanted and he would cover it. It ran from twenty to thirty thousand a month.”
Kate asked, “Did you ever see Mrs. Miles socially, outside of business?”
He replied, “I attended some of her charity galas, I had several customers who went to those and I wanted to keep them reminded of me.”
Kate thanked Mr. Crandon for his time. She didn’t see anything that made her want to continue asking questions. She and Cindy went back to the car.
Kate said, “I appreciate you holding back and allowing me to ask the questions.”
Cindy said, “Twenty to thirty grand a month, I bet she had some talents for hubby to agree to that.”
Kate replied, “She must have lost her touch since she wound up dead. Paul Kashiski is next on our list, do you want some lunch first?”
Cindy said, “I have heard some talk about The Squealing Pig and that you and Sean used to go there often.”
Kate replied, “We did go there a lot but more so after work. I was thinking of something quick so we can get to the next interview. Who told you about “The Pig”?”
Cindy said, “I will confess, I went to the hospital and talked to Sean. He seemed like a nice guy and couldn’t say enough nice things about you. Why did you mostly go after shift?”
Kate said, “We were usually in a hurry at lunch time but Sean was never in that big of a hurry to get home. He and Haley were having some tough times, because of his job mostly and I think they are doing better now.”
Cindy responded, “I know how it is, civilians just don’t understand the job, relationships just don’t work. It is a shame you have to get shot for things to improve. My marriage didn’t even last a year, so I decided to stay single but I am not opposed to bringing a guy home once in a while.”
Kate replied, “I understand that, although the closest thing I have come to bringing a guy home lately was a wet dream.”
Cindy replied, “I am impressed, you never had any “under cover” operations with Sean. He is pretty cute.”
Kate replied, “No, we got a little close once but I said I couldn’t do that to his wife and we kept it just business. Haley thinks we did though. My husband cheated on me and I just can’t do that to someone else.”
Cindy replied, “I understand. I just figure guys do it all the time and since I don’t want a relationship it makes perfect sense to me. A married guy doesn’t want a relationship either, they already have one. There is less chance of getting involved. I have started dating only married guys and never any on the force. I don’t want to get involved with anyone on the force. Let’s get something to eat.”
Kate noted to not allow Megan around Cindy alone.
Kate asked, “You don’t have any guilt feeling being with a guy you know has a wife waiting on him at home? I can tell you it isn’t fun being one of those wives.”
Cindy replied, “I don’t see it as a big deal. I am just borrowing them, I intend full well on giving them back. It is meaningless to me, we are just feeding a hunger and then we are on our way.”
Kate replied, “I just don’t agree. That couple vowed to be faithful to each other.”
Cindy said, “Exactly, they made the vow. I never made one. I don’t see it as my problem.”
Kate had just discovered what was wrong with Cindy. She knew there had to be something, she was so perfect in every other way. She hoped it wouldn’t affect their working relationship.