Chief
Keene, I need you on a case.
Chief
Middle-aged woman. Multiple stab wounds to chest, neck and abdomen.
Chief
Nothing found inside or near the subject’s Mercedes.
Chief
Hard to tell. The subject’s purse is missing, but her phone is in the console.
Chief
You know that’s very rare in upscale Rancho Palos Verdes.
Lyle
All in broad daylight?
Chief
Yes, and in a mall parking structure.
Chief
The press is asking for a statement.
Lyle
Because the victim is wealthy?
Chief
Yes. A homeless person killed downtown wouldn’t be a story.
Lyle
I know. The press sells fear.
Chief
And it looks like our favorite video stringer has identified the victim.
Chief
The punk tried to get details from me. Then he auctioned the clip to the TV news.
Lyle
Okay. I’m on my way.
Chief
No, I need you to notify the husband before they leak the victim’s identity.
Lyle
Another death notification?
Lyle
You know this kills me.
Chief
But you can tell when they’re lying.
Chief
Your radar hasn’t failed me yet.
Chief
Whatever skill it is. You can read people.
Lyle
I can’t today. I’ve got plans.
Chief
I know it’s your day off, but I need you.
Chief
Notify the husband before he’s tipped off. You need to gauge his immediate reaction, right?
Chief
Don’t make me pull rank.
Lyle
Fine. Send me what you’ve got.
Lyle
What about surveillance video?
Chief
Pulling that now. See if the husband has an alibi.
Lyle
Okay. What’s his motive?
Chief
We’ve learned Joseph and Leslie Connor were estranged, divorce pending.
Chief
Yes. Or possibly revenge.
Chief
I’ll forward his office address. Get there before Daniel.
Chief
He has scooped us before.
Lyle
I know. It makes my job more difficult.
Lyle
But you’ve got to admit he’s a crafty bastard.
Chief
For your radar to work, you need to be there moment the suspect is informed, right?
Chief
Well, Daniel’s shot video of the bloody windshield.
Chief
He probably wants get an emotional reaction from the husband too.
Chief
Because then, he’s hit the evening news jackpot.
Lyle
TV producers need to stop encouraging him.
Chief
I don’t see him. Hopefully you can get to the husband before him.
Thirty minutes later, Lyle arrives in Century City.
Before he enters the building, he texts his old friend Janice.
She’s assigned to the Sheriff Department’s Cyber Crimes Division.
Lyle
Can you run me a profile? I just emailed you the details.
Janice
Homicide Division can’t provide you one?
Lyle
Nobody is as good as you.
Janice
Flattery will get you nowhere.
Janice
Maybe. What’s the deal?
Lyle
Rich lady murdered. Chief Fleming suspects the ex, our person of interest.
Janice
Statistically, most women are killed by either a former or current romantic partner.
Lyle
I guess Chief’s playing the odds.
Janice
Got your email. Give me a sec.
Janice
I’ll put it on your tab.
Lyle
Make it a double. And add a generous tip.
Janice
One of these days I’m going to collect.
Lyle
If you get tired of fighting fraud, you know the Homicide Division could use you.
Janice
And you know I get queasy at the sight of blood.
Lyle
You didn’t have a problem when we worked the jails together.
Lyle
Could have fooled me.
Janice
All that carnage. Inmate fights. Blood. My knees got weak.
Janice
I’d hyperventilate but never show it.
Lyle
But isn’t your sister a surgeon?
Janice
Yup. That’s blood AND guts. She’s stronger than me.
Lyle
Chief says there’s plenty of blood on this case.
Janice
Spare me the details.
Janice
Results are now in. The husband, Joseph Connor, is in commercial real estate.
Lyle
History of domestic violence?
Janice
None. And no priors.
Janice
His firm had a bankruptcy a few years ago.
Lyle
Were the creditors paid back?
Janice
Looks like it. And no pending lawsuits.
Lyle
What kind of commercial real estate does he do?
Janice
High rise office buildings.
Lyle
Makes sense. I’m at one now to meet him.
Janice
Anything else you need?
Janice
So are you doing another death notification?
Janice
Hang in there. And call me if you need to talk afterward.
Janice
It really hurts you, doesn’t it?
Janice
What’s your condition called again? Hyper-Empathy Syndrome?
Lyle
It’s both a curse and a blessing.
Janice
But it helps you catch the bad guys, right?
Janice
Because you can tell what people feel and see who’s lying.
Lyle
True. But it still feels like a curse at times like this.
Lyle
I’m going to be in as much pain as Joseph Connor when I tell him the sad news.
Janice
I know. Chin up though. And go find the truth!
Lyle enters the marble lobby and signs in at the counter.
A delivery guy is waiting by the elevators. Lyle recognizes him.
Lyle
What are you doing here?
Daniel holds up his paper bag, a menu stapled to the rim.
Daniel
Doing the Uber Eats takeout thing.
Lyle
You don’t have a video camera in there, do you?
Daniel
No, bro. Chow mein. Egg rolls.
Lyle
I heard you were just in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Lyle looks carefully into Daniel’s eyes.
He feels an emotion wafting off of the man next to him.
And it makes his stomach twist.
Daniel
What makes you think that?
Lyle
What floor are you going to?
Lyle
What a coincidence. Me too.
Lyle turns to the Security Guard and flashes his badge.
Lyle
Excuse me, sir… LASD.
Lyle
You might want to have a look at the lunch this man is carrying.
The Security Guard approaches.
Security Guard
Is there a problem?
Lyle
This delivery boy is not who he appears to be.
Daniel
Who said I’m delivering anything?
Lyle
A death notification needs to be delivered with dignity.
Lyle
Nobody wants a camera in their face.
Daniel
Cut me slack, bro. I’m a journalist. I tell stories.
The Security Guard takes Daniel’s paper bag. There is indeed a video camera inside.
Security Guard
Who are you here for?
Daniel
Joseph Connor. Eighth floor.
Lyle
How’d you determine the victim’s identity?
Daniel
License plate on the Mercedes.
Lyle
Don’t release her name until we make a statement.
Daniel
The public has the right to know.
The elevator bell rings and the car door opens.
Lyle
You compromise our investigations.
Daniel
People die. It’s a living.
Lyle
A living based on dying isn’t much of a living.
Daniel
I could say the same about you.
The elevator door closes. Lyle braces himself for the painful task ahead.
