Feels Like a Stretch
Previously: The investigators are summoned to an unorthodox meeting.
7:38 PM - Monday, November 3, 2014
Nob Hill, San Francisco
“So what if it does?” Jeannie asked, glancing between her father and Mark. “How would finding this on a background check help with what happened to Alexa Thomas?” No one answered. “This shows the family dynamic at the Hartmans, sure, but — “ Jeannie’s brow wrinkled, “is Tripp Hartman our suspect? Or Jim Hartman, for that matter?”
“I’m with Jeannie.” Paco said from the bookshelves. “I’m not really seeing the relevance here. I know I’m not an experienced investigator, but this feels like a stretch: Alexa had a photo of Jim Hartman physically threatening her friend, so he drugs her and breaks her ribs and she drowns in a shallow pool of water?”
“It’s probable cause,” Mark tossed, “the photo is motive. That photo could ruin him and his family — this case file,” Mark paused at the desk, turning the file and flipping it open, “this file, it just gives us context to his dirty little secret. I asked the Dean at Xavier for the disciplinary files on all of the Hartman sons, but they haven’t come in yet. I’m sure if we see something in there we can work backwards.”
“You won’t find anything in there.” Ed said, silencing everyone. “You won’t find anything more than a small locker room scuffle, very “boys will be boys”. I promise you.” Jeannie looked at her father who blinked in agreement. Jeannie felt her stomach churn; there was more to all of this she was sure, but did not at all like where it was heading.
“Brother Driscoll was the Dean at the time.” Jeannie looked at Ed who nodded once. “And he, and likely the board, brokered the Hartman’s donation to the school in lieu of having it on Nathan’s record.” Ed’s face gave up nothing, but he didn’t disagree. “It doesn’t even make sense. There were a dozen witnesses, the boys in the locker room, the gym teacher, the trainer, the security guard — that’s an awful lot of people to keep quiet. Plus, it went to trial. There’s a record.”
“A sealed record.” Mark interjected.
“And apparently he never went back to school.” Paco added. “He — it, the whole incident just disappeared. Probably rumors here and there, but that all goes away too when the kid involved doesn’t come back again.” Jeannie huffed, her fury swelling inside of her.
“Well that’s absolutely true. That’s exactly how any problem at Xavier Prep gets solved: kid goes elsewhere and the parents build a building.” She wanted to break something. “And let me guess, the Captain knows about this too?” She looked to Ed, who tilted his head at her. “Of course he does. He reacted yesterday when we mentioned Tripp Hartman’s name.” Jeannie shook her head and tried to breathe slowly. “And now there’s a new Dean at Xavier, so not even Brother Driscoll is around any more.”
“Oh he’s around,” Ed said, “he lives at the Jesuit Residence. But I doubt he’d want to rehash things.” Jeannie pursed her lips and inhaled sharply.
“The new Dean said Tripp had some anger issues, some violence?” Mark looked between Ed and the judge, “anything that went as far as this case?”
“No. Nothing that I know of.” Ed answered. The judge gave his nod to agree.
“Still, I’m not sure there’s anything we can do with this information.” Mark said, “even if I pull a background check, it would be a reach. We haven’t even honed our suspect list, and other than supplying vodka and GHB at the party, we only have a photo. It’s not enough. Besides,” Mark flipped the file shut, “I’d hate to rehash this case just for the sake of ours.”
“I agree.” Jeannie said, mouth in a tight line. “Nate Hartman and Mike O’Connell have moved on with their lives and have worked to find fulfillment, it sounds like.”
“That’s what I think.” Mark added. “If Nate has cut ties with his family, the last thing he wants is to be pulled into this fray, and without a legit reason?” He shook his head. “No. I — I don’t feel right about that. I mean, I appreciate knowing this, believe me,” he looked at Ed and the judge, “and it does shed a light, but it’s deep background, and wholly circumstantial here.”
The judge began tapping on his iPad, and tilted it toward Jeannie.
“He says, “We thought you needed to know.”” This made Jeannie sigh.
“Dad, I know you mean well, I know you both do,” she looked to Ed, “but you know the law better than any of us, and you know this is way out of bounds. We have to follow our evidence, and like Mark said, this is just background. Insightful, but we can’t really use it. And, I feel like this only happened because I’m on this case, which no one could have expected. I — I just,” Jeannie paused, unsure of what to say. “It seems like you’re giving some special insight here because of me, and I don’t know what to feel about that except that it feels wrong. I’m only saying this in front of Paco and Mark so they know it too. They trust me, and I trust them, but this feels very…icky.”
“Well,” Ed began, “that’s not entirely true, Jean. I’m responsible for Ryan Dominguez, and he’s right in the thick of this case with these people who will chew him up and leave him in the dust if given the chance. I don’t want that to happen to him. And frankly, no one could have known you’d be put on this case.” The judge nodded slightly and typed.
“He says, “It’s a small town.”” Jeannie gave her father a wry smile.
“It is. Especially with these families and these schools.” Ed agreed.
Jeannie walked Paco and Mark out to the hallway, unsure of what to say.
“Okay, Paco, can you follow up with Amanda on evidence in the morning and see if she has any kind of an ETA? We need it to firm up the timeline of the party. With that, Jeannie, see if we can get that hotline or email set up, and start spreading it at the schools.” Jeannie gulped and nodded. “Please get to Academy tomorrow first thing and then let’s both go over to Xavier tomorrow to chat with those other kids, okay?” She nodded again, still feeling embarrassed about the entire evening.
“Yes, yes, sure.”
“Try and get an email address we can use to access the chat room and anything else about Alexa - talk to teachers, a guidance counselor…see what comes up.”
“I’m going to talk to my friend at the DOJ and see what we can do about a search warrant for the Hartman house. I’m still not sure we have enough. Other than the Costco receipt, we don’t have much more than hearsay about the booze and drugs.”
“Feels like this whole case is hearsay.” Paco shrugged.
“You’re not wrong.” Mark agreed. “So far we don’t have much that’s concrete. Hopefully Amanda is close, and Raj too. I’m going to get on the phones — maybe someone else received those videos Ryan mentioned. Jeannie?” Jeannie knew she was unusually quiet, but she was so mixed up about what had just happened in her father’s office she didn’t know what to think. “Jeannie. Look at me, it’s fine. I know it must feel odd — actually, I don’t know how it feels.” Mark’s face softened. “I know you’re in a unique position altogether, personally and professionally. But we have a case and this doesn’t change it.” Jeannie blinked, taking a deep breath.
“I know. I know. Um…it’s just, I just don’t like that it happened.” She set her chin and nodded at him. “Th-thank you, both…I know this must have been strange for you too. I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for.” Paco smiled at her. “It’s kind of cool, cloak-and-dagger. I’m into it. Maybe I shouldn’t be, but I am.”
“Yeah, no apologies.” Mark said. “Everyone get some rest and let’s come out swinging in the morning. Day four.”
“Day four.” Paco said nodding.
“Day four.” Jeannie whispered ushering them through the door. She gave them a half smile as the elevator opened and shut the big door. She didn’t want to talk to Ed or her father — she wasn’t ready to talk to anyone except maybe Chris, but she couldn’t even tell him about it because of the legal implications. Huffing a sigh, she turned from the door and went to the kitchen and poured herself a rye neat.