[Something Wicked] They spent the evening eating pizza, drinking a few beers and discussing the case, what both learned during the day and what they should do on the next day. There was Vivian and Katie’s appartments to visit, a meetng with Vivian’s momother, the dark picture of the killer, learning more about Carly Masters and a guy named Patrick and the car…where it was headed.
After a few hours, there was nothing more to discuss, they were just going in circles, so Derek brought her to his lap and kissed her deeply. They started in the living room what finished much later in the bedroom, leaving them exhausted, relaxed, content and then soundly sleeping..at least on Derek’s part.
Morning came and much like the day before, they had coffee and breakfast, took a shower, maybe together this time and then after Izzy had told him what she wanted him to do, Derek left, asking her if se wanted to see him tonight or if hse wanted him to update her but leave her alone.
He wanted to come back, but it was ok if she wanted some space. After a lingering touch on one of her hip, no kissing of course, he left for the day, allowing Izzy to set her own agenda.
[Izzy Montoya] His touch lingers on her hip, and she reaches down and lays her hand against his, briefly, as he pulls away and leaves. She tells him that they can meet back here for updates, and leaves ‘after’ to be decided then.
What she doesn’t do, is think about it, or allow herself to spend any time in wondering just why he has such an effect on her, why she lets him come back more than any other… because, to do that, would be to confront her demons. To do that, would have her wasting a day sitting in front of her dresser, the half that he’s never seen her open, as well as eying boxes in the closet. It would have her drinking. A lot. And thinking. Too much.
So, instead, she turns back to the Murder Board, and studies it carefully for a while. Then, she straps on […her weapons…] slips on her jacket and shoes, grabs her keys and heads out to the first of many stops for the day.
Vivian’s apartment, first.
[Something Wicked] He had smiled crookedly when she had put her hand on his. He had ntoiced that little by little she was different with him. He doesn’t want ot think too much about it but he had a feeling he was a little different with her as well. Then he had been on his way.
Izzy drove to Vivian’s appartment. She was allowed in and she found well decorated, spacious apprtment. It was mostly tidy but it was clear cops have been there previously and had searched it through and through. In the report, they had found nothing special, not even in the young woman’s diary, whose last entry was a few years ago. They had found prints of various people, all related to Vivian’s except one, a plumber. Reccords showed tat one had come 4 days before her death, on a service call. The man had been interrogated but it was deemed that he had nothing to do with it.
So there she was, alone in a dead woman’s appartment.
[Izzy Montoya] She looks around the apartment, taking in the decoration, the spaciousness, how tidy it was. She had read the report of the plumber, but put him on a interview list again, as well. She’s revisiting every scrap of evidence, every bit of work already done. She was told to solve it.
She will.
She sighs, softly. And moves about the apartment a blue latex glove on one hand in case she touches anything. She furrows her brow, slightly, thumbing through the file to see if she had a computer, a palm, a smart phone, anything of that sort. As well as who paid for the apartment – its very lush and nice for a student.
And, despite the fact it’s been too long – she gives a listen, to see if anyone else has been here searching, talking, etc….
[Off chance someone revisited the victim’s apartment? Echoes!]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 (Failure at target 7) Re-rolls: 1
[Izzy Montoya] [Kaseeno you WHORE.]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 9 (Success x 2 at target 8)
[Something Wicked] Izzy take a look around. Compute, phone, anything that could have any info on it was at the station. Not hers, Precinct 2, where the case file came from. Nothing else seem out of order. So she decided to try something else.
She concentrate and it’s hard. Images don’t come easilly but after some time and really hard focus, they do. She see cops, looknig around, doing the same as she did, taking some stuff to bring to the station and specalists. She see Vivian’s parents coming once, taking a few things here and there: pictures, a necklace, a photo album.
Beside that nothing. The landlord hasn’t been allowed in the appartment yet, but from the reports, she knew that soon enough, the appartment will be emptied and then rented again. Such was the way in the good old US of A. No rentable space will be wasted. Too bad if you died.
[Izzy Montoya] She furrows her brow, makes a note to requisition the evidence and reports from Precinct 2. In fact, she pulls out her phone and makes that call to her superior officer. “Sarge?” He hates that. “Why haven’t I been given the evidence files yet? Get that shit to me, pronto, will ya?” And she hangs up on his growl, with a bemused smirk on her face.
One last look around, searching for anything at all that suggests there might be something… more.
[simple perception – small details spec. Did they miss ANYTHING?]
And then, she goes to talk to the Landlord.
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 1, 3, 5, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 (Success x 4 at target 6) [WP] Re-rolls: 1
[Something Wicked] Her superior had answered, grunted when she called him Sarge and was growling somethign when she hung up. Might have been a sure or a fuck you, hard to tell. Thing was, she knew it would be done. She took one long, good last look at the appartment and find nothing more. She had a feeling that if there had been, she would’ve have found it.
She made her way to the landlord’s house. Her name was Francine Decker, 50 yrs old woman who was earning enough money from the buildings she owned that she had no other official source of income. She answered her door when Izzy rang the bell. After introductions, the heavyset woman asked her “What can I do for you detective?”
[Izzy Montoya] She runs her fingers through her hair and sighs, before she lets herself out of the apartment and makes her way to interview Ms. Decker. The introductions made, she takes out her notebook, and nods.
“I won’t take much of your time, I know you’ve made a statement already, but I’d like to hear it directly from you. What can you tell me about Vivian Connors? Anything you can think of, to the smallest detail, from if she paid her rent on time, to what kind of tennant she was. It could be important. ”
[Something Wicked] The woman looked at her “I told everything I knew already detective. Vivian was a nice young woman. I never had a complain against her, nor has any other tennants. She paid her rent on time, didn’t make too much noise, almsot never had large group of people in the appartment and she kept it clean and in a good state. Wish all of my buildings had people like her. That’s all I can think of, detective”
She shrug slightly. She had been through that already and even though she wanted to help, she couldn’t find anytihng more to say about this poor young woman.
[Izzy Montoya] She nods, slightly. “Did she pay her rent herself? Who called the plumber that was at her apartment a few days before she was taken?”
[Something Wicked] She shrug again “I think her parents paid part of it. They co signed it when I rented it to her. I’m not sure. I always had the rent on time so I never asked. As for the plumber, she called him. She was pretty self sufficient. She told me her kitchen sink was leaking and had contacted a plumber. I offered to come by, check it out and if it was justified, I’d pay the bill. She did things like that. Usually I handle minor repairs through friends of mine. Vivian often called a pro. She didn’t like to wait to contact me, then me contact my fried and then he goes to the appartment. She liked things done right away. But most of the time she had paid the bill herself, so..I didn’t care much
[Izzy Montoya] “Thank you, Ms. Decker. You’ve been very helpful.” She nods, slightly, and starts to closer her notebook, then, as if it’s an afterthought. “Has anyone else contacted you about the apartment? Asked to see it, or anything like that?”
And once she has her answer, she thanks her again, then heads to her car – time to pick up the box of Katie’s things.
[Something Wicked] She shook her head “No no one. I’ll put ads out as soon as i get hte ok from the cops and family. It’s a nice appartment and the month is ending soon. I’d like new people in for july you know.” Then with a last thank you Izzy left the woman.
She drove to Katie’s appartment building, a lot less luxurious place. It was a 6 appartment building, three stories high, in wich the landlord, Jack Rivers, 43, about 6′, used to be in shape but now had the start of belly, lived in. He greeted Izzy, showing her the box in which all of Katie’s belonging were in and then offered her to show the appartment Katie lived in months before, as the pretty big detective had asked him to do the day before.
The appartment was a very ordinary one bedroom, small, in which only those who can’t afford better would live in. It wasn’t filthy too much, thoguh it was less tidy and clean than Vivian’s, but it lacked space. The landlord told her that Katie had been an ok tennant. She was rarely late on her rent, at worst 5 days once in a while. She had managed to throw a few small parties there, annoying a few neighbords. He also thought she was into drugs and maybe was also an escort as quite a few people were seen coming in and out of her place.
[Izzy Montoya] She takes the box, and then follows the landlord to the apartment. She takes in what he tells her, hearing it all, though she’s sure a bit of it is hearsay or pure conjecture because of what Katie did for a living. she set the box on a table as she looks about the apartment.
“Anyone else ask to see the apartment? Katie have any friends, family, that wanted her things?” Then she digs out a still of the man who took Vivian from her notebook. It’s dark, and not very clear, but she takes a chance and asks anyway. “I know you can’t see much, but anyone like this coming in and out of the place?”
[Something Wicked] He tilt his head “Well people asked about it when i put an ad for it. Some came knocking on her door the first few days she went missing. Probably some friends or..well anyway. As for her things, no one has contacted me for them.”
He took a look at the picture “I don’t know, could be. I mean, she knew a few fit looking men. He could be one of them. She was a beautiful woman, so she tended to have those model type guys hanging around.”He shrugged once more “She had all types of people hanging around to be honest. So yeah, could be one of them”
[Izzy Montoya] She nods, slightly and takes the picture back. “Thank you for your help, Mr. Rivers. If you think of anything else, please give me a call.”
She offers her card, and then takes the box of Katie’s things and heads back to her car, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel while she thinks. Then, she’s putting the car into gear, and heading into traffic.
One more stop. It’s time to meet Vivian’s Mama..
[Something Wicked] She drove once more to the Connors resident. She was greeted by the same maid who led her to the living room. It was spacious, expesively furnished with a giant screen tv, comfortable leather couches, a bar, acabinet with nice glasses, some looked crystal, all in all, a very elegant place.
Shortly after, Vivian’s mother Rachel Connorscame into view. Izzy could recognize her from the echoe earlier. Shewas an average woman, with lnog blond hair, probably dyed now so the grey doesn’t show. She was still good looking for her age, a woman who took care of herself. She looked a little older than she probably had been before her daughter’sdeath. Grief had added a few years to her and she looked tired.
“You wanted to talk to me detective?”She ask, not introducing herself. Both women knew who the other was from Izzy’s phone call two days ago. “Have you found something new?”
[Izzy Montoya] She doesn’t smile. Izzy isn’t one to do so normally, and she doesn’t fake it now. She is, however, sincere when she apologizes for inturrupting Rachel’s day. “I’m sorry for your loss, Ms. connors. I don’t have much new to report, I’m still going through the previous investigations so that I can make sure nothing was missed, and do my best to find out who did this to your daughter.” She exudes confidence, Izzy. Not so much that she will succeed, but that she will do everything in her power, till her very last breath, to ensure this case is solved and some peace is brought to her family.
“I wanted to touch base with you, see if there was anything else you could tell me about Vivian, and the night she was taken.” She pulls out the photo, dark and not really clear. “Does this picture resemble anyone you might know?”
[Something Wicked] She nodded at Izzy’s words and moved to sit close so she can take the picture “I don’t know what has been told to you about my daughter. She was a beautiful, smart, sweet youg woman. She was a star athlete, she had many friends, a few very good ones. She never harmed anyone willingly. I don’t know what to say about the night she was taken. I was here, for me and my husband, it has been an evening like any others. Nothing psecial..until wel earned that it was that night she had been taken”
Her voice shake slightly as she fights tears. Her hands tremble as she look at the picture. “Can’t say I recognize him. With a built like that, he could be a football player, or another athlete from the university. Or maybe a guy attending the gym Vivian was gonig to a few times a week. I don’t know”
She shook her head slightly, handing back the picture to her.
[Izzy Montoya] She nods, slightly. “Can you tell me where the gym is located? I’ll pass this around there, too.”
Then, softly. “Mrs. Connor, can you think of anyone who’d want to harm you or your husband by taking your daughter? Is there anything at all you can think of as to why this might happen?”
Her voice is soft, persuasive, doing everything she can to inspire confidence, and trust.
[Something Wicked] The woman gives Izzy the name and adress of the gym: Gold Gym situated in Lakeview, not too far from Vivian’s appartment. About 10 minutes by car.
“And i think my husband answered that question already. It’s the same answer. I can’t think of anyone who could od that to us. My husband is a good business man. He’s hard but not ruthless or mena. He does his job, that’s it. I don’t think anyone would want to hurt him by using Vivian.”
[Izzy Montoya] She nods, slightly, and reaches to touch the woman’s hand, before she takes the picture back and stands. “Thank you so much for your time, Ms. Connors. If you think of anything, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call, day or night.”
And, she takes her leave again – this time, to head to the Gym and circulate the picture, see if there’s any bites at all….
[Something Wicked] The woman offers a small smile and let Izzy go.
The Gold gym was a big, upscale gym, with the lastest equipment, open 24 hours and offered special programs with fitness instructors and dietitians. She is greeted by a fit young woman in her mid 20’s who look at the pic with a slight smile “I’m sorry detective, but it could be any of the guys spending time here, at least half of them. But ask around, hopefully someone will recognize him”
Many of the men there are more than eager to help Izzy with..anything she wants. There were quite a few of them that were good looking, really fit, even 2 or 3 that were bigger than Derek. None recognized the man for sure, a few were saying it looked like the guy next of them, which of course made the guy more than a little uncomfortable.
She didn’t get a definate name for the picture, but she did get quite a few offer for the evening and late night.
[Izzy Montoya] She got about what she expected – it’s not much of a clear picture, after all – and she smirked and possibly even considered some of the offers. But in the end, she shakes her head, reminds them she’s working, and if they want to see her handcuffs, it’ll have to be another time. She did take note of the guy next to them, and the way it made him uncomfortable, but without a clear picture, there was no way to be sure.
“did any of you know Vivian Connors?” she asked of everyone, and then, once she’d gleaned what information she could – including the uncomfortable guy’s name and number and promise for a beer “sometime” much to the shock of his buddies, she again took her leave.
This time, home, to go through Katie’s things.
[Something Wicked] Many knew Vivian. They all said she was a pretty nice girl, one of them said she was really hot. The staff knew her as well and no one had any problems with her. All of them were sad that she had been killed. The uncomfortable guy’s name was Josh Matthews, about 23 yrs old, blond, very fit. He was slightly suspiscious about why she wanted his number but he gave it to her. Of course, the promise of beer with her made him the source of many jest once the shock was over.
Once she got home, she had time to look at Katie’s things. They weren’t exceptional. Cheap jewelry that looked more expensive than it was, clothing, most of them very tight and sexy, no books, a few gossip magazines, no journal, no phone, all taken during the first investigation. All in all, nothing extremely useful.
Derek called in the afternoon “Hey, how’s your sexy ass doing?” he ask, a grin could be pictured on his face. “Seriously, how’s the investigation going? For my part, I found out that Carly was considered the sweetest girl by her friends and family, that no one understood why she was taken or why I was asking questions years later. No one seem to know who this Patrick was, except this woman who’s working in a nice restaurant close to the university. It seem like Carly was going there often enough before her death, for late night dinners with a man. At first the woman thought I was him for a second when I showed the staff a picture of Carly.
I hadn’t found anything about her or him and had decided on a hunch to look around the university for places she could have been hanging and I was lucky enough to find that place. After talknig to her, I found out that he was slightly older than Carly back then and now would be around his late 20’s early 30’s. She doesn’t know much more except that they came to eat back then and seemed in love”
[Izzy Montoya] She smirks when he asks about her ass. “It’s lonely – but since I got the number of a body builder today, it might not be for long.” That’ll teach him. Maybe. Probably not.
She listens to what he found out, and nods. “Waiting for them to get off their asses and requisition the evidence for Katie and Vivian for me, so I can go through it. Met with mom – seems on the up and up as much as Dad, but well.” She’s very well aware she might not trust the dad simpy because he’s male. She lets it slide. “Saw both apartments, not really much more to go on. Mom and dad took some of Vivian’s things, I have what’s left of Katies here at the apartment.”
A beat.
“What’s for dinner?”
[Izzy Montoya] [pause!]