11-03-2014, 10:05 AM
Ivan listened to Smiley's explanation. It was simple and to the point. Usually the more elaborate the story the higher the likelihood that it was made up. And sadly, it was all too realistic. "As a matter of fact, I would like to look at your phone Mr. Lindgren. Thank you for offering."
He took the phone went to the call log and saw that the call had indeed been made just a minute or two before Ivan had walked up. The alley they had been in connected to another street which would explain why he didn't see any of the men who'd actually done the killing.
If he was telling the truth. He handed the phone back after forwarding the screen to his cloud-notebook. The man had motive- the ring. But did he really? He was probably telling the truth that the girl was a street prostitute. Prostitution was regulated in the CCD to make sure both the pros and the johns had protections from crap like abusive pimps, drugs, underage workers, and robbery. Plus the state got a cut.
But that didn't prevent the more sordid and terrible kinds of prostitution from occurring, usually run by violent men. Their "merchandise" as they called it were usually made up of runaways- sadly, the younger the more popular- and drug addicts. And usually those groups overlapped.
So this girl was very likely one of the latter. The hospital working on her would likely confirm that. All that being the case, she probably would have given the ring to Smiley. He looked like he had money after all. And people that strung out usually did what they could to get a fix- including part with precious items. That put motive on shaky grounds.
And means? The man had been scanned as he walked into the interrogation room and no weapons could be seen. Course Ivan knew the man could fashion a knife out of air same as he could- but that was unfortunately not admissible yet. And it seemed such a messy way to kill, especially if your goal was simply to get the ring. A blow to the head with a club of air could do the trick.
Course, this guy could be a nut who liked watching girls suffer and bleed out and who also wanted the ring. There was that sicko out there butchering young girls after all. But Smiley had called the police. Even if Ivan had not been there he still only had maybe five minutes. That really didn't seem like something you'd do if you wanted to watch her die. Certainly it wasn't enough time.
Too many questions. And if he had them, any jury would too. "Alright Mr. Lindgren. I'll be back in a few minutes."
He stepped out to talk to the sergeant on duty, Dumas. "I gotta say that I don't think this is our guy. I'll run a background on him just in case, but his story seems to check out. How's the girl?"
Dumas scratched his beard. "Haven't heard anything."
Ivan sighed. He hoped that she lived. She had lost a lot of blood, but it also had been cold. The body's demands were lessened when the temperature dropped, as did heart rate. She might make it if they had gotten her help in time.
He called the hospital and found out the that girl was still alive but critical. In a few hours they'd know. Smiley better hope that she lived. Even with all the questions, this could be a problem for him. Shoulda worried more about the girl than that damn ring! If he had tried to help her from the beginning, there would be less of a chance that she might die. "Asshole,"
he swore under his breath. He decided to let him stew for a little bit. Maybe they'd hear something soon.
He took the phone went to the call log and saw that the call had indeed been made just a minute or two before Ivan had walked up. The alley they had been in connected to another street which would explain why he didn't see any of the men who'd actually done the killing.
If he was telling the truth. He handed the phone back after forwarding the screen to his cloud-notebook. The man had motive- the ring. But did he really? He was probably telling the truth that the girl was a street prostitute. Prostitution was regulated in the CCD to make sure both the pros and the johns had protections from crap like abusive pimps, drugs, underage workers, and robbery. Plus the state got a cut.
But that didn't prevent the more sordid and terrible kinds of prostitution from occurring, usually run by violent men. Their "merchandise" as they called it were usually made up of runaways- sadly, the younger the more popular- and drug addicts. And usually those groups overlapped.
So this girl was very likely one of the latter. The hospital working on her would likely confirm that. All that being the case, she probably would have given the ring to Smiley. He looked like he had money after all. And people that strung out usually did what they could to get a fix- including part with precious items. That put motive on shaky grounds.
And means? The man had been scanned as he walked into the interrogation room and no weapons could be seen. Course Ivan knew the man could fashion a knife out of air same as he could- but that was unfortunately not admissible yet. And it seemed such a messy way to kill, especially if your goal was simply to get the ring. A blow to the head with a club of air could do the trick.
Course, this guy could be a nut who liked watching girls suffer and bleed out and who also wanted the ring. There was that sicko out there butchering young girls after all. But Smiley had called the police. Even if Ivan had not been there he still only had maybe five minutes. That really didn't seem like something you'd do if you wanted to watch her die. Certainly it wasn't enough time.
Too many questions. And if he had them, any jury would too. "Alright Mr. Lindgren. I'll be back in a few minutes."
He stepped out to talk to the sergeant on duty, Dumas. "I gotta say that I don't think this is our guy. I'll run a background on him just in case, but his story seems to check out. How's the girl?"
Dumas scratched his beard. "Haven't heard anything."
Ivan sighed. He hoped that she lived. She had lost a lot of blood, but it also had been cold. The body's demands were lessened when the temperature dropped, as did heart rate. She might make it if they had gotten her help in time.
He called the hospital and found out the that girl was still alive but critical. In a few hours they'd know. Smiley better hope that she lived. Even with all the questions, this could be a problem for him. Shoulda worried more about the girl than that damn ring! If he had tried to help her from the beginning, there would be less of a chance that she might die. "Asshole,"
he swore under his breath. He decided to let him stew for a little bit. Maybe they'd hear something soon.