Run It Back, Then
Previously: The team discovers evidence in Alexa Thomas’ bedroom and learn more about Pr3pSF.
2:16 PM - Monday, November 3, 2014
US Park Police Office, Ft Winfield Scott, The Presidio
“Okay, I know there hasn’t been much time, but any thoughts on the timeline?” Mark looked across at Jeannie who was peering closely at her computer screen. Jeannie glanced at him and huffed.
“I mean, I’ll know more when I can do more, but so far, other than Dash and Seb being drunk and out of it at Inspiration Point, and the question mark around how Ryan Dominguez got home from the party, the glaringly obvious is all about Tally Briggs.” Mark leaned back in his chair at this, eyebrows raised.
“How do you figure?”
“Simple, she told us she went with Alexa to Inspiration Point, but Carolina told us that she walked over there with Alexa just the two of them, and that they were about a block behind Seb and Dash. AND,” Jeannie continued, “Charlie told us when he got back to Tripp’s — after dropping off his DJ gear?” Mark nodded, “He said he found the house empty but for Tally and that he found it strange that she was there all alone.”
“She said she was charging her phone.” Paco contributed, sitting a chair over from Jeannie.
“Too bad we didn’t look at her battery life to see if that was true.” Jeannie tossed back at him.
“And Charlie said she fixed his Diet Coke which made him sick.” Mark offered quietly.
“Yeah, I was thinking about that too; Charlie said Tally knew he was sober, and on Antabuse.”
“Do you think she knows what Antabuse will do to someone if you give them booze?”
“I dunno man,” Paco shook his head, “that girl seemed pretty sharp, and scary.”
“She is the resident ice queen.” Jeannie smiled ruefully. “But, even if she did know AND spiked his drink on purpose, she’d always have plausible deniability: it had been a party, there were cups everywhere, she was a little tipsy, she didn’t think about it, she forgot he was on Antabuse, she forgot he was sober…her excuses are a mile long already. Anything we’d have against her is specious at best.”
“Specious.” Mark looked at her. “Sometimes you really talk like a lawyer.” Jeannie shrugged and looked back at her screen.
“Didn’t Tally say she was studying computer science?” Paco offered after a quiet moment. Jeannie looked at him and back at Mark, then they all looked at Raj, who finally raised his eyebrows at them.
“What, you’re suggesting some high school girl made a whole app with hacker-level security?” He giggled and shook his head. “I mean, the code is elegant and simple, sure, but not exactly easy.”
“Let’s not rule anything out.” Mark said. “She did say she was going to MIT.” Raj looked at him askance.
“That girl?”
“Why not? Why can’t a computer nerd be a pretty blonde girl?”
“Yeah, if Charlie is some kind of musical prodigy, one of these other kids could be a tech prodigy or something.” Paco pressed. “I mean, I didn’t even get my own computer until college, so I’m sure these kids are way ahead of everybody else in that department.”
“I’ll ask about the computer curriculum when I visit Academy.” Jeannie said softly.
“So how do we fill in the blanks on what happened at Inspiration Point? Are there cameras over there Pac?” Paco’s eyes grew big.
“No - not at all. Over at the golf club there’s some on the parking lot, so maybe we’d see some of the comings and goings, but it would be hard in the dark. Otherwise, there’s cameras down at the playground, but that’s it.”
“We’re going to need more statements.” Jeannie said. “We need more interviews, more kids who were there telling us what they saw.” She sighed. “We either ask the schools to do assemblies and take statements on site, or we do a tip line of some kind—”
“Or a press conference.” Mark looked at Jeannie and she seemed to melt a little.
“Do we really need to put the Thomases through that?” She asked quietly.
“Maybe we don’t have to.” Mark agreed, he didn’t like the idea of this going public either. “Maybe we try doing a tip line and see what comes. There may have to be a press conference at some point though, especially if we get a search warrant on the Hartman house.”
“I’ll ask the Captain if we can get some help with a tip line, and distribute the information at the schools. We also need to talk to the Parisi kids and Tyler Shea - all of whom attend Xavier. I’ll call the Dean tomorrow.”
“Don’t call. We’ll pay them a visit at the school tomorrow.” Mark said. “I don’t want anyone knowing we’re coming.” Jeannie nodded. “What do we do about Tally?”
“I think we wait and see what we can find out about Pr3pSF and see if there’s any other statements that tell us where she was…I mean, Carolina did say she saw Tally at the end of the night at Inspiration Point and they got an Uber together, but Alexa had already disappeared by then.”
“So, run it back, then. Everyone leaves for Inspiration Point around 9:45, same time as Charlie purportedly leaves to drop off Ryan and his DJ gear. He comes back around 10, maybe a little after, finds Tally alone and she spikes his drink. Then, she appears at Inspiration Point at around 11 to walk home with Carolina?” Mark raised his eyebrows again and looked between Paco and Jeannie. “That’s a lot of time where no one’s seen her at a big party. Where does this girl live, anyway?”
“3450 Washington - it’s a huge old mansion. And, a block away from Charlie Dagonet and maybe two blocks from Carolina Parker, who lives on Pacific.” Jeannie said, bringing up a map. “It’s wild how they all live so close.”
“Is there a way she could have gotten over to Inspiration Point from the Hartman’s without being seen?” Mark asked. Jeannie paused, considering.
“I mean, I suppose so. I’m sure Presidio Terrace has cameras on the gate to keep track of the comings and goings, but Tripp’s house is right on the wall. I’m assuming that if you went out through the garden you’d end up next to the golf club. Then it would be just a matter of staying unseen if you took an alternate trail.” Jeannie paused again, eyes glazed. “I - I mean, it’s certainly plausible.”
“The easiest way would be to go down West Pacific and circle back through the playground. That’s a long dark walk at night though.” Paco offered. “I’m not sure I buy it.”
“Hmmm.” Mark said, his fist covering his mouth. “Me neither, but maybe we check those routes and see what we can see.”
“Yeah, I’ll talk to Amanda. A lot of scavenger hunting going on.”
“I think we need some help.” Jeannie said, looking at Mark.
“We definitely need some help.” Raj tossed out.
“Okay, what time is Ryan coming in?”
“Ed’s going to have him here at 4.”
“Great, let’s go take a walk, map out some possibilities.”
Kind of can’t take the suspense!