Bigger By the Second
Previously: The team speculate on who was missing from the Inspiration Point party.
3:45 PM - Monday, November 3, 2014
US Park Police Office, Ft Winfield Scott, The Presidio
Back at the office, the three descended from the Park Police SUV, followed by a bounding Fergus who was only beginning to tire after their walk along West Pacific from Inspiration Point.
“It’s too bad he’s a sighthound and not a scent hound,” Jeannie offered. “I’m sure Fergus would have found something.” The huge dog trotted next to them, looking up at Jeannie happily.
“We found enough.” Mark said, “I’m glad we took the time to look. Pac - send a team out there again and see if they uncover anything more.”
“Sure thing.” Paco disappeared in the street-level door to Amanda’s lab while the rest went up the outside stairs. Amanda was still bent over the butterfly table when Paco knocked on the door jamb. A light hip-hop beat was playing from somewhere in the lab, but he couldn’t place it. Amanda looked up at him, and again he could tell her focus had been broken. “Hi - we found a few things on the trail, so I’ll leave them with you. Nothing urgent, but could be.” Amanda nodded.
“Sure. Just leave them in the Inbox there on the desk. They’re all labelled?”
“Yup. And we have photos too.” Amanda nodded again and went back to the butterflies. “Did you happen to take a look at the condom?”
“Yeah, I mean, it’s from a guy, if that’s your question. I won’t know who until we have DNA to compare.”
“Sure, sure I know.” Paco nodded. He felt nervous and wasn’t sure why. “I - I guess, I mean, are you doing okay? I know it’s a lot. Can I get you some help?” Amanda stood up and looked at him, giving him a slight smile.
“I’d love it, but is that likely?” She sighed a little, her shoulders drooping beneath her lab coat. “Doug is doing a thorough search of the trails again to see what he can find by way of whatever caused the blunt-force trauma, so he’s around. Between the two of us, I’m sure we’ll get it done.”
“Okay, well, I’ll see if I can get you at least another pair of hands from somewhere. I have a feeling we may need it — we all need some help right now. This case is getting bigger by the second.”
“Yeah.” She said softly, blinking at him.
“Okay, I’ll leave you to it. Thanks, Amanda.” She nodded and went back to her butterflies.
Paco emerged in the upstairs hallway just as he saw Jeannie’s friend Ed, the probation officer, enter with Ryan Dominguez, who looked pale and thin. Ryan wore a large gray hooded sweatshirt over dark, ripped jeans that tapered to a skinny finish at the calves. A pair of black converse high tops completed the look. Paco was amazed that boys actually wore jeans like that, but he remembered his own days in high school when the low rider trend was in and his Grandma kept telling him and his cousins to pull up their pants. Once again, he felt his age. He approached Ed and Ryan and welcomed them. He noticed the dark circles under Ryan’s eyes, and could practically smell the fear coming off of him.
“Let me show you to our meeting room.” He said, leading them down the hall. With the conference room now their workspace, Paco thought they’d have to use the little meeting room for things like this. It was a smaller conference room, meant for just 5 or 6 people, but on the other side of the building so it got the morning light. At this hour, it was showing the golden afternoon sun reflected off of the white buildings opposite, but it was fading fast. Paco left the pair and went back to find Jeannie and Mark.
“Hey guys, Ryan’s here with Ed. I put them in the little meeting room down the hall.”
“Okay good.” Mark said, typing in his computer. “Raj, will you go down there and do a quick run on his phone, and we’ll be in when you’re done? Bring the release form.” Raj got up and grabbed his hard drive and left.
“How does he look?” Jeannie asked quietly.
“Scared. Really scared.”
“Good.” She said. Her green eyes were steely.
“By the way - do you know if the Captain can get us some help? I hate to ask, but I know the lab could use another set of hands, and Raj — ?” Mark looked up at him.
“I’m going to get someone to help Raj, but I’m just clearing it.”
“I’ll try,” Jeannie began, “but I think they’re going to set us up with the tip line, so that might be all we get. I’m not sure the lab has anyone they can spare, but I’ll see what I can do.”
“Okay thanks. I know how it is, and I don’t want you calling in favors, either of you.”
“It’s not favors, Paco,” Mark said quietly, “you’re right to ask — we need it.” Jeannie nodded in agreement.
“We’ll have to see what we can get.”
A few minutes later, Raj came back with the data from Ryan’s phone secured on his hard drive.
“Take a quick look and see if he ever received a text back from Alexa on Friday, okay?” Mark said, moving to stand behind Raj as he hooked the drive up to his laptop. Raj began typing and scanning a few things as Mark’s eyes followed across the screen.
“Nothing. He did text her a little before ten to say he was home, but nothing back from her.”
“So, lie number one.” Jeannie said, folding her arms across her chest. Paco felt sorry for Ryan — he could tell Jeannie was ready for a fight.
The three went down to the meeting room and assembled on the opposite side of the table from Ryan and Ed. Jeannie greeted the older man fondly, and then settled herself directly across from Ryan, studying him.
“May I see your phone Ryan?” Mark asked. Ryan pushed it across the table to him. “Can you unlock it for me, please?” Ryan entered the code and the home screen blossomed open. Mark swiped once and then clicked on the Uber app to open it and navigated to the ride history. He tilted the screen to Jeannie who just met his eyes with a look of annoyance. Mark clicked the phone shut, but kept it on their side of the table. “Ryan, do you know what the term “pleading the fifth” means?” Mark asked him gently.
“Um - um, it’s something about not talking against yourself? Is - is that it?” The boy stammered.
“Yes, effectively, that’s what it means.” Mark leaned back a little and considered him. “Do you know what happens in a Federal case when someone pleads the fifth?” Ryan shook his head, eyes wary. “Usually, it means the Feds will offer that person immunity so that they’ll give up their evidence. But, there’s one caveat to the immunity deal: the person has to to tell the absolute truth. If a witness were to lie, especially under an immunity deal, they would be committing perjury, which might mean they go to jail for a lot longer than if they had simply given up their evidence in court. Do you know what perjury is?” Ryan looked terrified.
“It’s when you lie in court.”
“Yes, or on a deposition - both require you to swear an oath to tell the truth. On the other hand, when you’re just talking like we are right now, and you’re not under oath, but if something were to be a lie, we’d simply call it a false statement.” Mark leveled him a look. “A false statement isn’t such a big deal, unless the statement influences the matter at issue, that is, it influences the case materially.” Another long look where Ryan could barely meet his gaze. “Do you know what the penalty is for a false statement to a federal investigation, Ryan?” The boy was trembling now, but he shook his head. “It has a maximum penalty of five years.” Another long moment of silence.
“There’s also the matter of lying to police officer when you’re on probation.” Jeannie began, her low voice breaking the quiet. Ryan’s wide eyes swung to her. “That’s a misdemeanor, as I’m sure Ed will explain to you, and even though you’re a minor, it could result in six months in county jail, plus a $1000 fine. It would be a shame if that were to happen so close to the end of your probationary period.” Jeannie raised an eyebrow at Ryan who said nothing, but seemed to shrink into his huge hoodie. “So, Ryan, with all of that in mind, I’m going to ask you again: how did you get home from Tripp Hartman’s house on Friday night.”
Can’t wait to hear this!