Maria: I didn't know you handle criminal cases now. Victoria: I don't, this is just a favor for a friend. If it goes to court, someone else will take over. Maria: I see somebody's very clever. Sending a civil case lawyer, who will have more neutral relations with the police. Victoria: Could be, but I'm here, because the kid's mother is a friend of mine. Maria: So, what can I do for you? You said it's about the vandals the officers arrested last night. Victoria: They're not vandals. It was just a bachelor party that got a bit out of hand. None of the guys has a criminal record, and we'd like to keep it that way, if possible. Maria: They did a lot of damage. You better have something good to offer. Victoria: The guys will pay for all the damages, and one of them has some information that should interest you. He says he can help you find the guy in that sketch that's been on the news lately.
Maria: Why hasn't he come forward with the information earlier? Victoria: He hasn't been withholding any information. He heard something last night while they were partying, and he can give you the real name of that person. Maria: And now you want the charges dropped in exchange for the information? Victoria: Yes. I could use the other leverage - I'm sure you've checked who these guys are - but I think this is more honest. Maria: Well, they didn't hurt anybody or cause any danger, it was only property damage, so I guess it's possible. I'll have a word with the DA and I'll let you know. Victoria: Thank you.
Steve: Here you are. A shake and a bag of chocolate chip cookies. Claudia: Thanks. Steve: Are you sure you don't want proper food? Claudia: Quite sure. Proper food comes at dinner time. Colleen is a wonderful cook, and there's always something nice in the fridge. Steve: You mean leftovers? Claudia: We're rarely at home at the same time, so it's either in the fridge or freezer. I don't mind microwaved homecooked food. It's still a lot better than any takeaway stuff. Steve: And she doesn't mind doing the cooking? Claudia: Me, Belle and Dana pay for the food stuffs and Colleen pays her share by cooking. She's trying to save money, so it works for her. Works for us too.
Steve: You know, I've been thinking... Claudia: About what? Steve: What if we can't see this thing trough? What if the Captain decides to give the case back to the original investigators? Claudia: She won't. We're progressing and besides, this is your first case. Steve: What's that got to do with it? Claudia: She wouldn't take away your first case, unless you screw up royally, but you won't. She has only ever done it once, and that guy was way out of line. Steve: What happened? Claudia: He hit a witness. Not a suspect, but an actual witness. I admit the witness was reluctant to talk, because she was scared of her boyfriend and I think still in love with him too, but there are no excuses, you just don't treat witnesses like that. I told him to let me handle the interview, but he was so full of that macho BS that he refused to see the point. Steve: So, where's that detective now? Claudia: Got transferred, screwed up some more and got kicked out. The last I heard he was trying to get back to the military, but even they wouldn't take him, because they thought he was too dangerous. Can you imagine that? Steve: How did he get to be a detective in the first place? Didn't anybody notice anything before that? Claudia: He wasn't that bad to begin with, he just sort of snapped. Maybe it was the stress. Becoming a detective was the only thing that mattered to him, and I think he was finding it harder than he had thought.
Maria: Did you have time to take a look at the case? Moira: Sure. Not much of a case. Property damage isn't very high on our list of priorities. Nothing that money can't fix, and these people have it. Maria: Does that mean the answer is yes? Moira: Sure. It's not worth the trouble, considering who his father is. Maria: Victoria said this is the more honest way of dealing with this. Moira: It's always nice to hear about a lawyer who knows something about honesty. - Are you sure you want to include them all in the deal? That one guy was very rude to the female officer. Maria: We'll let it go this time. I expect we'll encounter him again in the future. That kind just can't keep out of trouble. I wonder why the others let him hang around. Moira: Yes, there is a certain disparity. All the others seem to actually have a future.
Trinity: So what is this about? Maria: Those vandals you and your partner arrested. Trinity: Let me guess, you're letting them go. Maria: The DA has agreed to a deal, which includes dropping all charges. Trinity: I knew it! I recognized that kid. Maria: It's not quite that straight-forward. Trinity: The hell it isn't! His father's a judge, so he and his friends get a free pass. Maria: They have promised to pay for everything, and one of them has information that will help to solve a lot more serious crime. Trinity: Yeah, sure. What is it? Shoplifting? Maria: Keep in mind who you're talking to. Trinity: Sorry, ma'am. I know it's none of my business... Maria: It's a murder. The old one. We need all the info we can get.
Maria: I know you're thinking of the rude one. Unfortunately, it's a package deal. This time. Trinity: This time? Maria: I'm sure you know just as well as I do that we haven't heard the last of him. There will be no deals for him in the future. - I'm sure you understand that I didn't need to tell you any of this, but I wanted you to know how it is before it becomes common knowledge. Trinity: Thank you. Maria: You're a good officer, and you would be even better, if you worked on that attitude problem. You need to get used to the fact that we make deals even with some very obnoxious people. Trinity: Yes, ma'am. I will do my best. Maria: Good. And as we already know that he hates female officers even more than male officers, there's no need to be too polite the next time. Just keep it within reasonable limits. I don't like my officers getting charged for police brutality. Trinity: Yes, ma'am.
Victoria: Hi, Claudia, nice to see you again. And your colleague is...? Claudia: This is Steve, he's new. Steve, this is Victoria. Normally she handles civil cases, so we don't get to see her very often. Steve: Nice to meet you, Victoria. Victoria: And this is Mo. He's got a story for you. Claudia: Glad to have you here, Mo. I really mean it, because we definitely want to hear what you've got to say about our elusive Mr. Olsen. Steve: Please sit down and let's begin.
Steve: So, what do you know about the guy in that sketch? Victoria: Mo, just tell them everything you told me. Mo: Well, I talked with these two guys who seemed to know him really well. They were a bit drunk, we all were, but I don't think they were making it up. There was a poster with that sketch on the wall at the bar, and they pointed at it and laughed, like it was an inside joke or something. So, I asked what's so funny, and they said it's funny that you guys don't even know who you're looking for. They called the guy Dennis. They said that Dennis left town and that they wouldn't leave a hot redhead like his girlfriend behind. Claudia: Did the redhead have a name? Mo: Winnie or Winona or something like that, they couldn't remember for sure. They said "with a body like that, who cares about the name?"
Steve: Did they know where he went? Mo: They didn't say. Claudia: Did they say anything else about him? Mo: No... or maybe... it didn't make any sense. They said something like "where does he think he's going to find a better zoo," but I have no idea what that meant. They were getting quite drunk at that point. Victoria: All right, we have now kept our part of the deal. Satisfied? Steve: Yes. Although, one thing... Mo, do you have any idea how to find these guys? Mo: One was called Jim, and the other one was Walter, I think. The place was Blue Diamond. That's all I can tell. I've never seen them before. We were there just because Tony is a member and could invite us.
Mo: Is that it? There will be no charges now? Steve: No charges. You were lucky this time. Try to keep the next bachelor party less destructive. Mo: We will. Although, I don't know about Stan, but we've talked about it and he's not going to be invited to any of our parties anymore. My parents will pay for the damages this time, but father said you should learn from your mistakes and if you don't, you belong to jail. Claudia: And your mistake was inviting Stan? Mo: Yeah. He's always expecting us to bail him out of trouble. It was fine as long as it was just trouble with the principal and such, but this was too much. I can't have a criminal record, I'm applying to the best law school in the country.
Steve: Claudia, what's with Victoria's... uh, her legs and hand...? Claudia: Don't worry, you're not the first one to freak out. It was some sort of industrial accident. Intimidating, isn't she? Steve: You could say that. Claudia: Actually, she's quite nice, when she's not working. Steve: You said she handles civil cases. What kind? Divorces, financial stuff...? Claudia: Those and also some really strange cases. Have you heard about the Robot Girl? Steve: She's involved in that case? Claudia: She's the Robot Girl's lawyer. Good thing too, that law needs to be tested, and she's just the person to do it. Steve: Yeah, it's a strange law. I mean, as long as you have the same memories and personality, what does it matter how large portion of your body is artificial? Claudia: Just think about what will happen, when it becomes possible to transplant just the brain and keep the person alive, sane and basically what they were before. I'd love to see the debacle over that one.
Trinity: Claudia... Claudia: Hi, Trinity! Have you met Steve? He's the new detective. Steve, this is Trinity. She's one of the officers who arrested Mo and his friends. Steve: Nice to meet you, Trinity. Claudia: Can we help you with something? Trinity: You're investigating that murder, the old one. Gustav said you just interviewed that guy DA made a deal with. Did he tell anything useful? Claudia: Mo? Yes, it was potentially very useful. Now we have a name and maybe a couple of people who know our suspect. Why do you want to know? Trinity: I was wondering if the deal was worth it. Claudia: It was. And by the way, they're ditching the jerk. Too much of a liability. So next time, he'll be on his own or in a company better suited for someone like him. Trinity: Interesting. - I need to go now. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
Steve: You know, I think there are too many scary ladies around today. Claudia: This time, you're actually right. Trinity is scary. It takes some time to get used to it. Steve: I'm just glad we're on the same side. What was that about next time? Claudia: Next time Trinity arrests him. There will be a next time, you know, he's that sort. I actually feel a bit sorry for him, but then again, that's what you get for insulting female officers. Steve: What? Claudia: A world of hurt. Steve: Oh. - Okay, back to business, we need to start tracking Dennis' friends. What kind of a place is Blue Diamond? Claudia: It's a private club. Members and their guests only, which is great for us, because there will be a paper trail. They just won't give the information voluntarily. Steve: Do we have enough to get a warrant? Claudia: I'll let you in on a secret. Mo's father is a judge. I doubt he can sign a warrant for us in this case, but he's got friends. I'll talk with the Captain. Steve: Is that... you know, legal? Claudia: Nothing wrong with the Captain having a discussion about Mo's case with his father, is there?
Ginny: Good evening. May I see your cards, please? Steve: Sure, would a badge do? Ginny: Oh! How can I help you? Steve: We have a warrant for your membership records. Ginny: May I see it? Steve: Of course.
Ginny: I guess I have no choice. Would it be enough for you to check the information here? I wouldn't like to hand out any copies. Claudia: That will be fine. We are looking for two men. Their names are Jim and Walter. We need some contact information. What do you register about your members? Ginny: Name and phone number. We check the ID during registration, so the names should be real ones. Of course, sometimes a fake ID may pass unnoticed... Claudia: I understand. Do you register visits or just initial info? Ginny: Not the visits, we feel that would be too intrusive. Steve: How about guests of your members? Ginny: We check the ID and record the date of the visit and the host. Steve: All right, let's start with last Thursday's records then. If they're not there, they're both members and we need to check the entire list.
Ginny: Walter and Jim you said? It looks like Jim is a member, and his guest that night was Walter. Steve: Let me see. Claudia: I trust you will not mention anyone about our visit. Ginny: Of course not. We don't want to worry our members with things like this. This is a perfectly respectable club, but our members do not want their membership to become public information. Claudia: It won't. We are only interested in these two men, and we will not tell them how we found them. Ginny: Thank you.
Steve: You were so polite. Any special reason? Claudia: No need to antagonize people for nothing. She was very professional, so I just reciprocated. Steve: Is that all? Claudia: Okay, I know someone who works here. This really is a respectable place. We can save the intimidation to those who deserve it. Steve: I guess you're right. - So, what's next? Do we go and see Jim and Walter? Claudia: I think we can start with phone calls. It always makes them feel less threatened, so something might slip. If that doesn't work, we'll bring them in. Steve: You take Jim, I'll take Walter. We'll call at the same time, so the first one won't have time to warn the other. Claudia: Good idea.
Claudia: How did it go? Jim was surprised, but I think he wasn't lying too much. He said Dennis left town and he hasn't heard from him since that. Oh, and he wasn't sure that girlfriend really was a girlfriend. He only saw her once with Dennis, at some bar. Steve: Walter said pretty much the same, except he was fairly sure she was Dennis' girlfriend and her name was Winona. Also, the description matches. Did you ask about the zoo? Walter had no idea what Jim meant with that. Claudia: Apparently Dennis is interested in exotic reptiles, and the zoo outside the city has one of the best exhibits in the country. Steve: I thought it would be something useful. Claudia: I think it's time to have a little chat with Winona. That should be useful.
Some time later: Winona: Have you got some new information? Is that why you wanted to see me? Claudia: We have found out a great deal, but first we'd like to hear more about Mr. Olsen. Winona: There isn't much I can tell. I only met him a couple of times. Claudia: Really? I thought he was your boyfriend. Dennis, wasn't it? His real name, I mean. Winona: What? Who... Claudia: We have witnesses, who say you knew him as Dennis and you were his girlfriend. Why did you lie to us? Winona: I, uh... who told you that? Steve: Sorry, we ask the questions here. The next one that comes to mind naturally is, did you kill Dennis after you two had killed Warren? Winona: What? No! No, we didn't... I haven't... Claudia: Why don't you want us to find Dennis? Winona: I, um... I... I think I want a lawyer.
Claudia: All right, you can go now. Get yourself a lawyer and have them contact us to arrange a proper interview. And don't leave the city. Steve: It would also be very helpful for your case, if you could dig out Dennis from his hiding place. Alive, if you want to convince us you didn't kill him. Claudia: Although, if he's dead, it would be nice of you to tell us where you buried him. We will find him anyway sooner or later, dead or alive, but it would save a lot of time and trouble.
Steve: That didn't go very well. Claudia: Too bad we have nothing against her. We can't arrest her just for lying about Dennis. Steve: You know, her panic was almost believable. Claudia: But was it the panic of an innocent person or the panic of getting caught? Whatever it is, we should know more in a few hours. I talked with Gustav earlier and asked him to follow her when she leaves. Panic makes people do stupid things. Stupid for them, good for us. Steve: Do you think we could get a warrant for some phone records? I'm thinking of Jim, Walter and Winona. One of them could be in contact with Dennis, and the recent developments should give them reason to talk with him. Claudia: Assuming he's alive, but yes, it's a good idea, and we should have enough for a warrant. At least for Winona. It's clear she's mixed in this somehow. It's just a question of what she knows or has done.