Secret Radio Murders - Chapter 6

Desk Sergeant Patrick Moran looked up at the sound of the doors swinging in. The weary frown that settled on his young face after seven hours of responding to the City’s problems lifted and he grinned. He watched Detective Sergeant Joseph Farley step lively through the officer’s gate at the side of the metal detector into the hallowed housing of the 61st precinct. “You working for a promotion?” he asked.1

“Time waits for no one,” Joe answered. He picked up the next shift’s duty roster and scanned it. “When Hamlin and Hayes report in send them to my office. In the meantime call up any suicides of young women in the last three months.”2

“In all five boroughs?”3

“We’ll start there. Send their files through to my office. As soon as the clock strikes seven, call Detective Benson at the 66th and patch him through to me.”4

Twenty-five-year-old Moran watched the receding backside of the middle-aged officer and silently mouthed, “Screw it.” There was no out loud complaint as he attacked his keyboard. He thought, ‘Not even sixty minutes left and Farley’s got to put him to work. Just ‘cause the bastard has no life—he assumes nobody else does.’ 5

A few minutes later Joe was at his desk, sipping coffee and starting to read the statements he’d called up from the Blaine File:6

[It had been Beverly Oleander’s birthday and though she and Michelle Blaine were not really close any more, they had lunch on their birthdays. It was unlike Michelle not to have called or written if she couldn’t make it. 7

Desk Sergeant: When did you talk to her last?8

Beverly: A week ago Monday, she called me to confirm the date. When she didn’t show yesterday I called a couple of times and got no answer. So I took this morning off and went to her place. Something just didn’t seem right so I’m calling the police.] 9

A squad car had been sent to check on Ms. Michelle Blaine. The two patrolmen had been unable to gain access to the apartment.10

Meanwhile Detective Benson of the 66th had called Michelle’s work place and discovered she hadn’t shown up nor called in. This was completely unlike their conscientious employee.11

The order went out, ‘Open the door.’ 12

Detective Sergeant Joe Farley had no problem sitting at his desk and conjuring up the scenario that took place in Michelle’s apartment when her body was found. Years of experience made him an expert. 13

The patrolmen rousted the Apartment Manger from his bed and together they entered Michelle’s domicile. 14

They entered the small front room. There was nothing in disarray—rather it was meticulously clean and neat. 15

“Nothing wrong here, Miss Baine must have taken off for a few days.”16

“Think you’re right,” one patrolman answered the apartment manger. He could see the fellow was nervous about invading a rental property. “Brad,” he said to his partner. “You check the bedroom. I’ll give the kitchen and bath the once over. We’ll be out of here in five, Mr. Atkins.”17

Brad moved quickly down the small hall. “Nothing! Bed’s still made.” He called back just as the other patrolman stepped across the threshold of the kitchen.18

The door on the cheap clock swung open at the sound of a single gong, but the little plastic bird didn’t come out. No one noticed.19

The officer cursed. “Son of a bitch!” and knelt down carefully to test the beat in the artery of Michelle’s neck. “Call in a 169.” He called to his partner. “She’s dead. Looks like suicide.” 20

Everything certainly points to suicide, Joe Farley thought as he finished the M.E.’s report.21

He let the phone buzz a couple of times before he picked up. "Detective Farley," he said into the receiver.22

"Hi Joe, Benson here. What can I do for you?"23

"You handled the investigation of Michelle Baine's death? Were there any unusual circumstances?"24

"Baine…No," Benson answered. "Suicide, plain and simple. Everything seemed straight up. Was there something we missed?"25

"Probably not. Would you mind walking me through the scene this afternoon?"26

"Something's got your curiosity going. Want to tell me what you've got?"27

"Nothing really," answered Farley. "Just a feeling."28

"Ah. I've heard about your hunches. Would 2:00 pm work for you?"29

"That will be great. I'll meet you at her apartment."30

Joe disconnected and returned to his computer. In three months in the five boroughs there had been ten women’s deaths ruled as suicides. Eight were young women who had apparently overdosed, four from cocaine, one from a common type of sleeping pill and three listed as substance unknown. 31

Joe dialed the medical examiner's office and a bright cheerful voice answered, "Janet Marshall, M.E.’s office. May I help you?"32

"Hi Janet, there have been three suicides recently in which the cause has been listed as substance unknown. Would it be possible for you to retest evidence samples and see if we might be able to identify the drugs? Or see how many were the same drug?"33

"I can't make you any promises, but we can try. What are their case numbers?"34

Joe gave her the case numbers, thanked her, and rang off as his door rattled slightly from a rap.35

Detectives Hamlin and Hayes walked up to Joe's desk. Hamlin held a can of Dr. Pepper in his hand. "You wanted to see us?" asked Hamlin almost too casually. Hamlin was young for a detective and Joe felt that he didn't show appropriate respect for his position yet.36

That caused a bite to enter Joe’s voice. "I have some work for you. I want you to go to the Crisis Center and get a list of callers for the last six months. Then compile a list for me of those who actually committed suicide. I also want a comparison made up and referenced with the callers who were referred by KJAB to the Crisis Line."37

"Not enough murders in the city, and you want us to look into suicides?" Hamlin sounded incredulous.38

Joe stared him to silence.  Hayes said, "Never mind him, Sarge. Is there anything else?" 39

"No, that should do it for now."40

Detective Hamlin dared no more than a mumble under his breath his as they left.41

At 2:00 pm Farley and Benson met at Michelle Baine's apartment. "It's going to be another hot one," said Benson.42

"It's all the concrete and asphalt," remarked Farley. "It just traps the heat."43

After the police had released the apartment, believing Michelle's death to be a suicide, the apartment was returned to the care of the manager. Farley hoped that her things had not been disturbed.44

"I'm going to have to move her things into storage if someone doesn't show up to claim them soon," said the manager.45

"We've notified next of kin," said Benson. "They are coming in from Maine. They should be in touch with you."46

"So, nothing's been touched since the body was discovered?" asked Farley. 47

"No, honestly I don't look forward to it and the rent was paid to the end of the month."48

"Well, let us in, if you would," said Benson. "We want another look around."49

"Sure thing."50

The manager opened the door and left.51

"She was found lying on the floor by the dinette table,” began Benson as he motioned towards the chalked image on the floor. "The unlabeled prescription bottle which contained the drug was next to her on the floor. It had only her fingerprints."52

Wearing latex gloves, the two detectives moved carefully around the apartment. "Nothing appears out of order or missing," offered Benson. “There were no signs of a struggle or that anyone else was here.”53

"She was extremely neat," observed Joe.54

In the kitchen on the counter was a cup holder. There were two empty spaces. The cup she had been drinking from had broken when she fell and had been bagged and removed for evidence.55

Joe opened each of the two cupboard doors. In one, with bowls, plates, and drinking glasses, was a lone cup. He bagged it to take back to the station to be printed.56

"You think that cup has some significance?" asked Benson.57

"It just seems out of place. Michelle didn’t put things out of place."58

They continued the search. In the hall closet they located three neatly packed boxes labeled ‘Hal’ in magic marker. Inside one they found a few movies, DVDs, some CDs, a laptop. One held only a heavy jean jacket and another some men’s clothing.59

“Odds and ends,” Joe said. “Must belong to an ex. Did you check out her romantic interests?”60

“Naturally. She had a boyfriend living here for a few months. Guess he wasn’t the friendly type, neighbors say he must have moved out—they hadn’t seen him in weeks. None of them knew his name.”61

“Hal…I‘d say,” Joe made a mental note to find out more about him. 62

The cheap little clock on the wall sang twice, Joe glanced at it. The door opened but nothing came out. Joe stepped over to it. There was an empty arm that slid back in as the door closed.63

Farley and Benson returned to their respective precincts. Joe dropped the cup off at forensics. 64

A few hours later when Joe was deep in his hunt for Hal, Forensics called to say that there were absolutely no prints on the cup. That seemed especially odd to Joe.