Log:Cleaning House at the CBPD

A List of Questions 2019/10/31 Night Marshal|Carpenter 13

The lobby of the police headquarters is grand in design and size, with a vaulting roof and a Romanesque series of columns against the walls. The floor is dark marble, emblazoned in the middle with a large mosaic of the CBPD logo depicting Lady Justice in front of a stylized sun. Coming from partially concealed fixtures in the walls, the lighting is relatively subdued. A large black elevated desk is positioned on the wall opposite the double-door entrance, the usual station of the on duty desk sergeant and other reception personnel. A pair of doors rest behind the main desk, leading into the first floor hallway of the department. Flanking the desk on the right is a bank of elevator doors, on the left a series of computerized informational kiosks and communication terminals. These displays and those behind the main desk glow softly. At most times of day or night, there are numerous CPBD police officers and support staff milling about the department hallways, on duty, or dealing with the regular influx of civilians seeking assistance or being processed after arrest.

Nothing like a job well done. Three solid players in the Triads arrested, and three lower ranking ones. The lists and evidence was collected, and Lu Yifeng's computer's been handed over as evidence to see if they can connect anything to the lists. Tamara's life, and Carpenter's, seem to be safe. For now. There's just a few more things needed to button up this case. And that's the crossed off names.

Between the two lists, there's three. One was Carpenter's earlier murder vic. The other two are a bit more concerning. One, because Carpenter knows they're both alive, and two, they're both part of the CBPD night shift.

Forensic Technician Kelli Moss is relatively new to the city and the department. He mostly deals with evidence analysis and testing. The other is Sergeant Eliot Silvestri.

Carpenter decides to start with Kelli. She might be a bit easier to deal with. He heads to Forensics to talk with her.

As Carpenter walks in, Kelli's sitting on a rolling stool, looking at bullet cases under a microscope. She's wearing nitrile gloves and checking for a match. She's the youngest on the forensic's team. She has brown frizzy hair tied back in a bun, wire-frame glasses, and a clean lab coat.

Carpenter smiles. "Excuse me. Miss Moss? Do you have a moment for a few questions? I'm Detective Jack Carpenter."

Kelli straightens up and blinks up owlishly at Carpenter. Those glass frames are thick and make her eyes look bigger than they actually are. "O-oh, hi. I don't think we've met yet," Miss Moss says, confused as to why he's here. "Is this about some evidence for a-a case?"

Carpenter nods. "It is. There was a recent case I dealt with in regards to the Triads. Were you contacted recently in regards to taking bribes from them?"

"No, I wasn't," Kelli says with certainty.

Carpenter nods. "If you were, you would be helpful as a witness. The men responsible have been caught, and the bribery offer was usually followed up by a murder attempt if it was refused."

"I-it is?" There's a slight tension in Kelli's jaw. She takes a looks around to see where her co-workers are. Apparently on scene or on break, since it's just them. "I..." she starts, then stops, still not looking back at Carpenter yet.

Carpenter nods, "You accepted it, didn't you? I'm not looking to charge you with anything. I just want witnesses to help put these guys away."

Kelli's head whips back so fast to Carpenter when he says that, it's a wonder her glasses stay on. She looks horrified. And guilty. And scared. "I-I didn't know what to do. They came to my apartment. Said bad things would happen if I didn't take the money..." she tries to explain herself, believing he really won't charge her.

Carpenter nods again as he listens. "Are you willing to give a full statement to the district attorney about it? I understand you were put in a difficult situation. And I'm sure the DA's office knows it as well." They damn well should, given what happened with Tamara.

"Am...am I going to lose my job...?" Kelli asks fearfully.

Carpenter takes a deep breath. "I don't think so? I'll put a good word in. You're being honest, after all. That means a lot."

Kelli takes a deep breath. She doesn't come across as someone who's very brave. "And you've got them all in custody...?"

Carpenter nods. "We do. Both hit men, and hte person who ordered it."

Kelli sighs with some relief. "Okay, I-I'll give my full statement," she agrees after some thought.

Carpenter nods. "Thank you. I'll make sure they get in touch with you. You can relax. Just be honest with them."

Kelli nods, looking relieved, but also still nervous even after he tells her to relax. "Alright, Detective Carpenter. I'll tell them everything," she promises.

Carpenter smiles. "Thank you again. I'll let you get back to your work." He then goes to speak to the other person on the list.

The Last on the List

One last person to question concerning the list. Well, one person who's alive, anyway. Night shift Sergeant Eliot Silvestri. He starts around the time Carpenter's shift ends, but is in a meeting with the day shift Sergeant to go over the logs for the day.

Carpenter waits patiently for the meeting to end. No point in asking Eliot while someone else is around. That'll guarantee the man clams up entirely.

It's an hour past Carpenter's end shift as he waits. Detective Halloway makes a crack as he passes by, "Joining the night shift, Carpenter? Or is it one of the looney cases keeping you here?"

Carpenter grins. "Just wrapping up a case, Halloway. You know...closing them out, like you should be doing." He chuckles.

"Yeah, yeah," Halloway gripes. "After I get my coffee. Don't work too hard," he fires back with a grin and makes his way to the breakroom.

Silvestri picks up the paperwork from the log update from the dayshift Sergeant and starts walking out of his office to head to his own.

Carpenter intercepts Silvestri, "Sergeant, I need to have a word with you in regards to a case. In private. If you have about five minutes?"

Silvestri's a broad guy. Heavy set but muscular underneath some extra pounds. Not quite forty, with sandy blonde short hair that's close cropped. "Uh, sure, Carpenter." He leads to his office a few doors down. It's plain, small, with a corner desk and lots of paperwork piled on it. "Don't know I can do much to help your kooky cases, but you got five minutes," he says as he sits down and sets his logs next to his keyboard. The chair creeks as his heavy frame settles into it.

Carpenter nods and steps into the office and closes the door. "It's not a kook case. It's a Triad one. Remember the incident when Assitant D.A. Garcia was attacked? That's related." He waits a moment, considering how to word this. "There were two hit men who were assigned different names on a list. They went around to the people on them, offering bribes if they'd play ball. And if they didn't agree to it, the person was targeted for elimination. Both of the Triad hit men and hte guy who ordered it are in custody."

"Yeah, some of my guys picked up the perp at the hospital," Silvestri recalls as he leans back in his chair. "You don't say. Sounds like you managed to wrap up the case."

Carpenter nods. "Almost. There's one last thing I need to deal with. You were on the list. And your name was checked off. That means they likely came to speak to you. What happened?"

Silvestri leans back a bit in his chair. "Nothing happened. I'm still here, aren't I?" Though his eyes narrow a little at the implication.

Carpenter raises a brow. "I'm looking for witnesses to make sure they get put away and stay that way. Not willing to help with that?"

"I don't know how I can help you with that, Detective," Silvestri shrugs, seeming brusque. "If you know of any, I can send one of our units to pick them up for ya."

Carpenter smiles slightly, "I see. I got it. You're too concerned about appearances to be willing to take the stand. Is that it? It sure is interesting that the Assistant D.A. put up a fight. It makes a real contrast."

Silvestri glowers at Carpenter. "I don't. Know. What. You're talking about," he reaffirms as he bristles at the insult. "And I don't think there's anything my men can do to help you with this case, Carpenter." Also potentially a veiled threat.

Carpenter smirks. "Sure you don't. I'll see you around, Silvestri." He goes to open the door and head out, "Have a good night."

"Night. Watch yourself out there, Carpenter," Silvestri gruffly replies, eyeing the doorway once Carpenter's left before looking to his stacks of papers. He's left to think things over.

The next day, Internal Affairs begins their investigation of Sergeant Silvestri.