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2021-08-14 01:25:09Sitting in the police station, Steve got a phone call from one of the investigators on the scene. He had been going through the papers and receipts found in the hotel room. The man kept meticulous records-no one could deny that. His receipts were ordered by date into separate folders for mileage and gas, credit cards, dinners for business, dinners for pleasure, baby clothes, doctor's visits, telephone, and cellular bills, internet, and hotspot fees, plus hotel room charges and extras. Listening to the other officer explain why he called he found that there was a storage facility that Mr. Sessions used might have some property there. Asking with curiosity, “Why is it that the storage facility is that much of interest?” of the officer on the phone Steve was given this response, “Because of his family being left at the hotel with no means of support. So, get on out there. “Shaking his head and muttering to himself who’s the detective here?
Since Steve ha
Yasmine JamesonHi. Thanks, Charlotte for being my editor. I had to post this as I was holding it. For those who are reading up to date-I hope, you like the book. Please feel free to comment on it and let me know what works and what doesn't.
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Murder in the Alley Chapter Eight-Red Herring
After he left, Steve went back to the precinct and sat down at his desk. His partner was out on sick leave. Thinking to himself Steve couldn’t believe it- that man was sick all the time with the newborn baby. They kept swapping the cold. But he was a single dad. So, Steve cut him some slack. Hell of a way to start a new life- lost his wife in childbirth but gained a strapping baby boy. He didn’t like anybody but his Daddy, since his mother died in childbirth. Leaning back, he went over what he had mentally to do in his head and decided to tackle two items first. Picking up the telephone, he called Leisia. Drumming his pen on the desktop he waited impatiently for her to pick up the phone and reflexively checked his watch. Then he breathed a sigh of relief, Reyna would be deep in her slumber for her nap. Still waiting and getting impatient, he started to paw through his notes until he hit on the one, he had written prio
Murder in the Alley Chapter Nine-Warrant for Search and Seizure-Delivered
Getting to his desk early the next morning, Steve spied the note he had left on his desk about SunTrust Bank. It said: Newly opened account and not much in it but a pending transfer for ten million dollars. Call on that later. Looking at his watch he knew the bank president and decided to catch him before he went to work. Rifling through the papers on his desk he found his telephone and dialed the number for Michael James Kilpatrick, President of SunTrust Bank. On his fifth ring, a growly voice said, “This had better be important.” And he said,“Yes, Dad it is. How come you aren’t up to getting ready to go to work?” And his father answered,“Don’t you listen to your voice mail messages or read your email? I am stepping down from my everyday duties to spend time at home and transitioning into retirement. What can I do for you, son?”Hearing his son’s chair rolling up to the desk and some rustling o
Murder in the Alley Chapter Ten-Follow up but first dinner
Feeling that he had enough information now to form a picture he decided to sit down and go through all the information but not before going over the SunTrust Bank information he had recently gotten from his father. Going over his notes, he tried to figure out why he would need an attorney with him to open the account unless it indeed was a trust set up for his children. His father suggested more than one. He needed to find that information. But for that, he had to go back over the autopsy from the M.E. Sandy. Steve decided to call in the troops for an all-nighter with take-out and friendly conversation so he could make heads or tails of what was happening now. When he reached Leisia and Nikki they were all in for the all-nighter. Then he reached out to Marisol and Abdul and to his surprise Abdul accepted and said he would bring his two women with him with champagne. He just got the deal he wanted from his former group Dreaming. So, he wanted to celebrate. They all arranged to meet a
Murder in the Alley Chapter Eleven-Investigatory Follow-up
With the girls fed and dozing, off their parents and friends ate their food while watching an old rerun of their favorite sitcom, “Friends.” Following dinner, the card table was set up and all the boxes brought from the station to go through were set on it. Gesturing towards the three boxes, “It looks easy, but it isn’t guys. Plus, this is not half of it. I need these boxes gone through tonight so that tomorrow in my meeting with the chief I can explain where we are at in the investigation into the murder in the alley of Mr. Sessions. So please pick a box, divvy it up and let us get to work.” Says Steve. Rolling up his sleeves, Mike went to the first box and quickly slid the contents on their side to see what the titles of the folders were. Deciding that he would take the thickest, he picked out three folders and left the rest for someone else. Next was Marisol and Abdul. The two looked at boxes two and three deciding to take box two and split it
Murder in the Alley Chapter Twelve-Filemaggedon
Steve walked back inside the apartment and saw everyone hardback at work. He stifled a laugh and asked if anyone wanted to stop for the evening he would understand. No one said a word and so he asked the question louder. Finally, they all looked up and told him in unison, “No.” Smiling he muttered thanks and went back to his seat on the sofa. Asking Leisia how her reading was going all he got now was a hmmph! Shaking his head, he just smiled and sat back down.Leisia checked the time of death on the police report. It said 5:00 p.m. Looking for corresponding repair reports or anything prior to that time on that date in the list of files she had as well as other police reports filed from 3:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. the day of the murder. As she started glancing at each sheet she passed, Leisia started noticing the date was getting closer to the date of the crime. Light repair. Call to pick up disorderly persons. Call to
Murder in the Alley Chapter Thirteen-Filemaggedon Part Deux
Debating whether to answer her the answer was taken out of Mike’s hands when Staff Sergeant called out Nikki? She got up to walk away and then suddenly turned to him and asked him, “I know I have no right to ask this, but could you wait here for me until I get back? I really have no family to call anymore and I don’t have any money for bail. Could you please wait for me? What is your name?” and smiling he responded, “I’m Officer Mike Rodriguez. I will wait for you here Ms. Nikki Lincoln”. Smiling through her tears she said in a whisper “Thanks.” Shaking his head to clear it he saw she was making inroads into the sticky white rice he put on her plate contrary to everyone else’s opinion. She was devouring it. Memory fading backward, Mike remembered his response. “I’m off duty. Didn’t you notice my shield when I sat down? I’m one of the detectives. Don’t worry.
Murder in the Alley Chapter Fourteen-Deader Than a Doornail
Finally, full of eating the six went back to looking at the files. Zeroing in on files regarding his career was the now move. They wanted to see where he went to work, who he paid money too and where he traveled in his daily day. This was to set up his timeline on the date of the murder. Nothing seemed to pan out. All the files were gone through with nothing of interest turning up except for the few pieces that Mike and Steve talked about. In between the girls fed the babies and the new-mom-to-be. They also went to get coffee from the all-night window at Dunkin Donuts.All in all, what interested them the most by the end of the night was helpful. Now to go to the hospital where Mr. Sessions might have worked. It was a possibility that he was at Michellinberg General Hospital, so he was about to call the girls and see if they wanted to join him and Mike. As he was about to pick up the telephone there was a commotion a
Murder in the Alley Chapter Fifteen-Queen of Hearts
After waiting at the courthouse for two hours, Steve met up with Marisol’s friend Lucienna, an attorney for the state. She was always good to help the police in a pinch and any friend of Marisol’s was a friend of hers. Today when he met up with her, he quickly explained to Lucienna what his problem was and asked if she could assist. “As it turns out,” she says to Mike, “I am free and can help you out. Plus, I have a pregnant friend at the hospital I can go visit after I am done helping you out. So, what did the nature of the note on the record suggest?” Shaking his head not sure how to respond he thought about his response.Saying to her, “I was thinking if it was a note from the legal department, her suggesting bringing you meant that, he was involved in either a fight or a legal battle with or against the hospital. Possibly both. I would much rather be able to have access to all the records
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- Murder in the Alley
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Closing In
Finally, they got the killer of the Lodger. It was in the evidence and in the footage surrounding the convenience store. No one could find a reason for the murder. No robbery, no fight and no immediate phone call that caused him to do something rash before the murder. His wife stated that he was gone on business a lot. So, nothing stood out.Steve found it after Leisia showed him a receipt. It was the day of the murder. But not at the usual place. He actually had just bought food at the restaurant that Marisol breastfed her baby on the date the body was found in the alley. It was enough for two. He had planned to go to his wife.So, Steven and another officer went back to the restaurant to speak to the owner. He said they had an employee let go that day. He was let go for stealing guests’ personal and banking information. He had apparently been running a scam using their credit cards that he got from when they paid their bill. But as far as he knew the guy hadn&r
- Murder in the Alley
Chapter Twenty-Seven Mind-bending Run Down
Only one person stood out besides Noorhan, the owner of the Shell/7Eleven Gas Convenience store stop. Only one not Indian owned, The Lodger always went to that Shell for gas, food and to stock up on junk food. None of the other stores had seen him. All his receipts were from that store. The owner never knew where he came from either. Just that one time he came in and was distracted, upset. But he didn’t remember what the cause was. However, he was kind enough to let them look through the old footage of security for the week of the murder. The police also had that and now Leisia and Steve were looking through it. Since the two weren’t at the police station, Steve was more relaxed both in dress and in manner. Laughing to himself, he couldn’t believe what they thought of him at the station, considering he was the more relaxed of the two. At least he thought so. When needed he would wear a tie, but it was not his idea of comfortability. Not only could he wear sweatpants and swea
- Murder in the Alley
Chapter Twenty-Six Clue 4 Me
Leisia said “notice everything is set in fours. Four days on three days off. Four days on the computer, phones, running down any lead. Three days outside surveillance.” She shows receipts for the corresponding dates. Leisia gets a paper and records down the date and time on the paper. She says to Steve, “Hey look. If we follow those, trace his steps then maybe we find the killer.”Steve laughs and said, “I knew I dated you for a reason. You see what we have been looking at for weeks. We had thought the same thing, but our captain told us to look at it from a different angle until we had to. Without robbery or a motive, he was going to rule it a murder that was an opportunity. And then put it in the unsolved box.” Stopping he indicated the box of reports and investigations they were also going through.“Don’t let him, Steve. There is an answer here. I feel it.” Says Leisia. The two continued looking but t
- Murder in the Alley
Chapter Twenty-five: Helping Her Man
Rushing into the exam room she caught her daughter who upon seeing her mother forgot she was trying to get down off the table. She caught her just in time. Scolding her now happy and teary daughter she said to her in soft tones that mommy was right there. And why did she feel the need to get off the table? Does not she know bot mommy and daddy would be devastated if something happened to her? Her daughter just smiled a watery smile and settled into her mom’s arms. Turning around the doctor started to laugh. “I didn’t hear her this time. I think she caught on to the fact I was listening to her get off the table.” He spoke. “Now, let us all get to the exam. Please fill out this questionnaire for me. I will wait.” And he left the room to allow her time to do so. When he returned both were sitting quietly waiting. Reyna put her pacifier in her mouth. Reading it over he said good. Pulling up his computer screen he asked her a few more questions and then explained to
- Murder in the Alley
Chapter Twenty-Four- Another Dead End
Talking to the family was his least favorite part of being a cop. He would much rather do something other than talk to the family. But it is his job.Sitting at the office will not help. So, he went to talk to Leisia about the case and he fed Reyna. He took his file home with him. At midnight he had to go back to the precinct. He had a night shift. Leisia got asked by Steve, “Are you going to the precinct?”She responded, “Not really planning on it. Unless you want me to?”Steve said, “No. Well, come then with coffee at seven in the morning. Oh, and breakfast. I can eat with you and Reyna.”“No Steve. I have plans with Reyna. We are doing a doctor’s visit, aren’t we?” Reyna passed gas and smiled. A toothless grin. “So, I say goodbye until later.” After Steve left, Reyna got fussy. So, she laid her down to sleep and knocked out herself right after.Leisia starts to dream a
- Murder in the Alley
Chapter Twenty-Three Baby why don’t you sleep?
Abdul and Marisol were watching television when the telephone call came. Ring, ring went the telephone. After several rings, Marisol got to the telephone and answered,“Hello. Who is this?”The unknown voice on the telephone said, “Is this the residence of Marisol?”Hesitating because the caller didn’t say her last night, she finally responded realizing he wasn’t going to give her the last name by saying, “Yes this is she. May I ask who is calling?”The unknown caller responded, “Who it is doesn’t matter. What I say does matter. Do not go looking too deep into the death by the restaurant downtown. You will be hurt and so will your friends and loved ones. Do not go looking any further.” Then the phone hung up.Looking shaken she walked back to where Abdul was. Sitting down rubbing her arms, she then wrapped them around him and held very tight.
- Murder in the Alley
Chapter Twenty-two Dinner dates
Mike got to the hotel before Steve did. He didn’t drive home. He just wanted to get Nikki to pick her up and take her to his home. Since the cleaning lady’s day was the date of their actual sleep in as their dates were called, he had a beautifully clean house with a gourmet cooked meal designed to last him two to three days. With a pregnant Nikki, it should last one day and a half. Driving up into the parking lot he parked and jumped out excited to see Nikki and feel their baby bump. But when he got to the front desk, his pregnant girlfriend was absent. Deciding to wait for her, he picked up a new magazine from behind the counter from her stash and sat on the ugly hotel chair to wait. After half an hour passed, he got concerned. Checking his watch, he knew quitting time for her was about an hour away. Sighing he went to knock on her door and heard someone retching inside. Shouldering the door open he looked ar
- Murder in the Alley
Chapter Twenty-One-Murder on my Mind
Wait. The Lodger moved into the hotel after he left the residency at the hospital. No one saw the wife or the son. They had a house in the suburb. Checking out the house, Steve finds it's still in the family. The house itself was an imposing structure. Three stories tall with three entrances. None of the entrances shaped exactly the same. Steve finally recognized it as one of the homes featured in Homes and Gardens Magazine. The issue was dedicated to beautiful houses made by famous architects. The Sessions house fit the bill. As he drove up, he noticed the two gargoyle dogs guarding the entrance. He cracked a smile as he drove through. But his partner didn’t even blink. He thought she, Amy, was scared out of her wits. Sparing a glance for her as they waited at the entrance after using the knocker that looked suspiciously like tits and ass (note to self-Leisia and him haven’t had sex in a while. Time to find a babysitter.) Not wan
- Murder in the Alley
Chapter Twenty-Back to the scene of the crime with Mommy on my mind
After returning to the station the two sat in morose silence sipping the nasty station coffee, they got on the way into their desk. Sipping his coffee Mike finally just said under his breath, “Dammit!” Standing up and quickly walking away he went to the front of the station to have a smoke. Startled at his friend’s and coworker’s abrupt departure, Steve looked up and watched with concern as Mike’s legs ate up the distance to the front door. Then he slammed it on his way out to have his smoke. Something was bothering him even he knew that. Mike only went to smoke when he was bothered by a problem.Yep, they had a problem- because when he came back in- he quickly said to Steve, “don’t ask.”Shrugging then Steve said, “All right, I won’t ask. But can we go over what we were told at lunch in light of what we know?”“Aaagh. All right. Here is my pro
