2019-10-03 - Update Meeting

Tessa Chen walks into the precinct and looks for Charlie. Spotting the woman, she checks the conference room, before turning her attention towards the other officers.

"GOOD MORNING, Y'ALL! Officer Morgan has some its and bits of information that might help with the Krueger case! Conference room in 5! Five -seconds-! Haven, Garcia, you too! You look to calm! Come on in! I've been meanin' to share some of my hypertension."

Detective Tessa Chen is one of those that knows how to interrupt a silent day in the police department to make everyone jump on their chairs. Like a Texan tornado, she is in the conference room, and there she drops a box of donuts for those who want them. Tough, but cordial. She addresses her fellow officers.

"All y'all know what I am talkin' about when I say workin' here in Gray Harbor is hard as all git-out! I, for one, am tired of the nonsense goin' on, and I am tired of reporters asking what is happenin' and bein' all hat and no cattle! I say we knock this one out of the park. Lets do this one, and it will be raising cane for a whole week, I promise not complaint."

She eyes Charlie, and nods, going to lean against a desk somewhere. "Floor is yours, Morgan. Hit us with the good stuff."

"Ah, yes, the murders where we try to catch the murderers rather than the murders where we just shrug and say it's another day in Gray Harbor." That is Gabriel. He is being sarcastic. But he likely would be, as the murder cop and all. He reaches over and takes one of the donuts, and then moves to lean against the wall (which is not going anywhere, he is here holding it up) to hear what might be going on with these murders.

Detective Sarah Stevens is wearing her 'I'm not in the mood' sunglasses indoors today. That means she is probably hung over in some fashion or another. Maybe a sleepless night. Either way, it doesn't matter. She is what she is, and that all kinds of run down.

As Chen begins to bellow, the blonde looks at her from where she sits with her feet propped up on her desk, a frown on her lips. She mouths across the bull pit 'Do I have to?' before standing with a sigh and closing the case file she'd been reading. The pen she was just chewing on is tossed down to the desk.

Making her way into the room, the former LAPD wears her badge around a chain on her neck, her white, wife-beater tank top hugging her athletic frame as she enters the room, eyes the donuts for a few seconds too long. She searches with those baby blues for a bearclaw, before looking away once she doesn't see her particular brand of cocaine there.

Sarah doesn't find a seat, instead standing against the door, leaning on it with one arm, a thumb in the beltloop of her jeans while she waits for everyone else to file in. Once they have, she shuts the door behind them, a bit too loudly as it slams.

"You got it, Slick." The blonde flashes her Hollywood smile and shoots a finger-gun at Gabriel. Tess won't appreciate humor, but Detective Hollywood is game.

Silent day interrupted, indeed. Either way, Charlie gets up and gathers up her things before she heads into the conference room, tossing her files onto the table where anyone can reach them. But her coffee cup she keeps for herself, taking a sip from it as she stares at Tessa, then she sets it down, "Right..." She looks a bit thoughtful before she shakes her head, "Honestly? There wasn't anything out of the interview...I rattled a few cages, waited to see what might fall out. The daghter, Elise Kruger, didn't know of her parents involvement with Monaghan. Wasn't aware there was anything but good business being done at the motel, and that her parents were fine, upstanding citizens. I've no reason to disbelieve her. Now.."

She taps her fingers against the table, "The boyfriend works for Monaghan, as a bartender. No hard evidence that he does anything else, but I floated the idea that the shooter was about his height, just to see what reaction their might be. No go, really. If it was him, or if he knows more than what he's saying, he's really good at keeping it all locked down. But I did get an interesting item in an envelope the next day, something about endangered carp, and a comment that fishing was about more than Felix. I'm running down information, still...So, that's really where I am at, currently."

Somewhere off to the side, Haven was looking over some paperwork. She's been off recuperating from the flu that went around the last week or two. Back today, she's wearing her duty uniform, the beat cop in the land of the gumshoes. When Tessa enters and puts Charlie on the spot, she looks up from her paperwork and pays attention, hands folded over her belly, right above her gunboat. She stays silent, having nothing to add.

Tessa never loses her frown as Charlie talks, to the point that even if she is nodding the Chinese-American woman's face is so rigid one would be excused to think poor Detective Morgan kicked Chen's dog or something. At the end, she exhales sharply, obviously frustrated that the interview didn't quite take anywhere, but sympathetic to Morgan who did God's honest work.

She even claps briefly and unironically, polite to the point of cringe in that soccer mom sort of way. Too much righteous energy!

"That was solid work, Morgan. Sometimes there is nothin' we can really do but keep pokin' until something comes up. Me and Stevens also did some research on the case, asked around, but much of what we found was like a drum with a hole in it. Stevens, share what we have with the class if you would be so kind and lose the glasses, you are not shootin' a commercial."

Tessa motions for the blonde Hollywood and folds her arms again. Doesn't touch the donuts, doesn't drink coffee. "From what I've gathered this Monaghan fellow is a slippery sunovabitch. Everywhere we knock about him is closed doors, and the only thing I know for sure is vermin like him like money, and killin' the Kruegers would be more trouble than it was worth it if they were payin' up. Do we know of anyone movin' into Monaghan's territory? What's the word on the streets?"

"It would explain the letter. Someone getting upset that we're bothering Monaghan's territory and slipping us a tip to try to get us on the right course, code of the streets notwithstanding. Or someone wanting us to help take out his rivals that are moving in." Gabriel folds his arms over his chest as he speculates, looking out over the other cops in the conference room. He tosses his head to Hollywood, though. At least someone appreciated the quip.

"If it was him, then he's an experienced enough killer not to let anything slip. I still like him for it." Sarah pipes up from her position near the door, still not looking directly into the donuts. Down that road lies too many calories. "We got nothing better at the moment, and even if the daughter isn't in the know, he could rub two braincells together and figure out she stands to inherit."

The news about the envelope makes her push her sunglasses off of her nose, resting them up in her hairline, revealing the dark shadows around her eyes. "Sounds like a veiled ass threat. Monaghan telling us to stop looking his way? 'Carp' is sounding awfully close to 'cop'. Not the first time we've been warned off of Monaghan's scent on this case. Though at least the last warning was..." She glances towards Tessa. "...friendlier."

When Tessa motions for her to share, Detective Hollywood winks at Chen, shooting her the Stevens Grin before she moves away from the door, leaning a hip against the conference table instead.

"What we know is the Kruger's were in debt to Monaghan, but keeping up with payments. Means and opportunity, but no motive. Maybe he thinks he can squeeze the daughter for more, but I doubt it's enough that he'd draw unwanted attention when his two currents were already meeting his every demand. Security camera footage is pretty garbo, nothing useful there. They were shot in the head, then the perp fled."

"We brought in Alexander Clayton as an outside consultant, but so far he's turned up nothing, either. Could be a rival gang moving in, but the Kruger's are such a low-level, peripheral target that it makes no sense. Could be a message from out of town, in which case we're fucked, because the SO is about as helpful as, and I'm quoting Chen here," She gestures towards the Texan. "'As useful as tits on a boar hog.' I still like the boyfriend for it, but as far as I know, no one's gotten around to questioning quite everyone who was at the motel that night."

Her chin lifts, indicating Haven. "But Rook here found the car, right? Your turn, Penelope."

"Except she wasn't aware of the debt, and if she wasn't...she could sell, and he's out nothing." Charlie points out with a shake of her head, "I'm not worried about being warned off the case. Not going to happen." She lifts her coffee up, taking another sip from it before she glances at Haven, tacking onto the situation, "Do we have forensics back on the car? Also, I've spoken with Clayton, meeting him sometime this week about it...I'll give a heads up if he provides anything more."

Haven clears her throat when she's verbally prodded and notes, "The suspect didn't drive the vehicle very far. No plates. The VIN confirmed it was stolen from Ms. Jensen on Elm the same night of the murder. Probably taken solely to use for the crime. So far the forensic evidence hasn't come back, so no new information there as yet." She looks over to Charlie and says, "It would make more sense, given what we know about the Kruger's relationship with Monaghan... that someone who had a bone to pick with him and knew about the payments decided to throw a wrench in the works and draw a lot of unwanted attention from the Police Department Monaghan's way."

"So the girl didn't know about any debt, but she still inherited. Is it possible she is just a dumb little girl who thought she could get away with it, Morgan, and found herself in all of this mess?"

Tessa Chen folds her arms, reaching for a hat she isn't wearing and combing her hair back instead. She paces about, frowning. "I hate to say this about a scummy man like Monaghan, but I think this got hot as a two dollar pistol and he had to know this would be happen. Not sure he would want none of it for some motel. Are we ready to consider him a low priority suspect in this?" She looks around, seeing if her fellows agree so they can build a working theory.

Talking about Clayton has Tessa go silent, shaking her head. Obviously not a fan. Hands go into her back pocket. "All y'all are doing great work on the case, and I know we are all busy as a one-legged man at an ass-kicking contest, but we can't let go of this one. We need to turn this tide around."

And at that, Tessa Chen goes towards the door, looks outside, and closes it, before she turns towards the other cops. She seems to hesitate before going on.

"Did any of you run into... weird, suspicious situations during the investigations that you couldn't explain?" Tessa eyes the other policemen and women, in the eyes, as if looking for that familiar look that they know exactly what she is talking about.

"Look, I don't know about the boyfriend. This is a professional hit. If this guy has no rap sheet for violence, he's not going to go in there and gun down his girlfriend's parents and do it execution style." Gabriel emphasizes the words. "This is a business thing. And no indication the daughter would know how to hire a true hitter like the one he got."

At the question about weirdness, however, he goes silent.

Did you know that Taco Bell sells breakfast? Well, they totes do and today detective Sergeant Andy Géroux is thinking outside the bun and living dangerously all at the same time. When he sees the troops all in the conference room he drops off his jacket at his desk, straightens his suspenders and heads in that direction. Everyone gets raised eyebrows in lieu of any actual greeting, given that people are talking, and then Andy is dropping his bag and finding a place to sit. Don't mind me, he all but says aloud, just eatin' my breakfast Crunchwrap® combo complete with that most treasured of breakfast beverages, a tall cup of Mountain Dew® Kickstart™ "Orange" Citrus flavor drink. It's all so healthy it might as well be vegan. Though when he realizes he's walked in on 'weird, suspicious situations' he stops shy of eating, what with all the crunching a crunchwrap can do, and listens. Listens while slurping his orange(-colored) drink.

One of the blonde paramedics walks into the conference room after finding the break room dry of donuts. The PD break room, that is. Fire's break room has an Xbox and giant tray of lasagna. Which is probably why H. Everly Sutton showed up here. She slinks in to liberate two donuts. Stealthily."This whole town is a suspicious situation I can't explain." Not stealthily at all.

"The daughter isn't involved, unless she's the best actress and the most cold hearted individual in the world." Charlie replies with a shake of her head, finishing the coffee she's got before setting it down, "And despite the fact I'd like to bounce the boyfriend's head off a table and wipe the face of his face....I don't think he's involved, either. Not knowingly, on either part, at least. Now, ask me if they might have heard or seen something and aren't aware of the meaning? Still possible." She has no response on the weird question, just letting that slide right on by, "I also don't think Monaghan is stupid enough to have done this. If he'd done it, I suspect we'd never have the bodies...so I'm willing to say we need to widen the search. I'd be interested in seeing if anything bounces back from forensics on the car, but not holding my breath, either."

Stevens nods to Charlie, making a small grimace and looking away. "Nothing really holds water right now. But... still on the boyfriend. He's the most likely suspect, has the record for it, works for the right kind of guy, and, c'mon, it's always the most obvious suspect. We've seen enough familial homicides to know that. So until something better comes along..."

As Haven talks about the car, Sarah nods her head, rolling her shoulders in a 'whaddaya gonna do?' kind of way. Damned forensics takes foreeeeeever. Why can't it be like CSI, where they get it by that afternoon? Sarah eyeballs Andy as he comes in, smirking at the late kid. But at least Ruiz isn't here to harp on him. There's another pair of eyebrows raised at the donut theif. But the more donuts vanish, the less temptation for her!

She lifts a shoulder. "Other than Clayton, nothing too weird so far."

Some consideration is given by Haven to Tessa's question. She uses that time to track Sutton's entrance into the room and movement towards the donut box. Rolling her eyes, she looks back to Tessa again and shakes her head. Silence, mirroring Mr. Gabriel.

Andy's crunching and munchings draw her attention. Something smells delightful. Crunchilicious, really. She looks at the Sergeant and smacks her lips.

"The boyfriend is some thug, not a professional killer. So Garcia thinks he is out. Morgan has talked to the girl and thinks she is out as well. I can't believe it, but Monaghan would need to be stupid to do anything like this, and men like him ain't stupid. So far, is this what we got?"

Tessa is working hard to get to the bottom of it when Andy walks in with those magnificent suspenderns, which get a tip of her imaginary hat towards him.

"I will talk to Monaghan. I want to know if there is anyone who would want to light a fire under him. I believe he will sing if he sees an opportunity to point us at his scorned business partners. It will fall on us then to make sure he is not playin' us for fools."

At the general silence in regards to weirdness, Tessa eyes her fellow cops in disciplined disappointment. She has mastered the look. It is basically her normal stare. "It must be just me, then. Very well, y'all! Haven, stay on the forensics' ass and fax it to us when you get it. Morgan, do you think you and Garcia can look more into this execution? Who could have done it, if there is any buzzin' around town about some outsider or a contract? Come on, everyone, there's no hill for a stepper! Lets get this on the closed case column!"

She eyes Andy and Sutton, but especially Sutton. She seems confused at the woman's presence here. "Does that sound good for everybody?"

"I've tried to get to Monaghan." Charlie points out to Tessa, lifting her fingers up, "I've talked to people at the club, I've run into his lawyers. He's not available." She then reaches for her cup once more, letting her eyes slide over Tessa once more before she starts to reach for her files, collecting them, "So I'll stay on Monaghan, and Gabe and I can keep checking into the shooter, and why they were targeted, if they were just convienent, or if there is something more beyond this that hasn't turned up yet." She straightens her files out, giving them a quiet tap against the table, "Considering the inroads I've been making, honestly I'd rather you not try to talk to Monaghan and fuck up my good work."

"So, all right, our plan is to knock on some more doors and try to close the case. Good meeting," says Gabriel, pushing off the wall and nodding to Charlie. "But yeah. We'll see what we can do." He seems on Team Charlie there, nodding in agreement as she speaks of the attempts to get to Felix.

Sutton fumbles one of the two donuts she just took from the box. The third donut was so dexterously procured that probably no one saw it. She pauses in leaving when she hears Clayton mentioned. The blonde takes a big bite of a powdered sugar donut filled with icing. A poof of white powder speckles across the chest and shoulder of her dark blue GHFD tee.

The paramedic lingers by the door, leaned against the frame, her radio turned down. She spent a good couple of months dispatching for the PD, while she was on desk duty for recovery from injury on the rig. Her face is fairly well known in the cop shop, her voice moreso. Since January, she's been the bane of the donut supply at GHPD.

That lipsmacking is the most alarming thing to happen to Andy since he woke up that morning. Lest he chance losing a finger to a hungry beat cop, Andy slides the bag and its final treat down toward Haven. Taco Bell also has a dollar menu as part of their breakfast menu. So have a grilled breakfast potato burrito and Doritos dusted hashbrowns on the sarge, officer. But if the worst should happen, this is definitely considered suicide. Sarah's look just gets a mildly chagrined smile, but the mildness of that chagrin is pretty mild, since when one joins a meeting late and one is the ranking officer there, one is technically on time and the meeting started early. "Might help to specify what weirdness concerns you, Detective. Without some guidance the question's about as weird as any answer it might get. Like, there's weird and then there's weird. Ties to the Dolgoprudnenskaya mafiya would be weird, but if you suspect someone's pet turtle, that'd be /really/ weird. So what's weird?"

"In between faxing and generally pestering forensics, I'll lean on some of my late night regulars and see if they've heard anything in relation to the Krugers. The weirdos don't generally come out in the daytime," Haven offers before the bag slides down the way from the Sergeant. She flashes the man a genuinely happy smile, fairly amazing given her chronic and powerful RBF. "Sergeant, you're still a cop's cop, sir. Thank you." The bag? It's opened and the potato burrito and also the faux cheese coated hash brown potatos are eagerly dug into.

It's a little like watching a large predator tear into a carcass.

"Wish I could help with what sort of weirdness, Sergeant, but truth is that I am fairly new to Gray Harbor's brand of weird myself. I guess it is just one of those things you cannot miss once are starin' at it in the face." She seems fully aware that her isn't exactly being helpful, but that is as much as she is willing to disclose.

"As for Monaghan, I guess we will have to roll the dice and see, Morgan. I am sure you have done great work with him, but I need to ask him a few things myself. I am sure his lawyer will be as helpful to me as he has been to you."

Only then Tessa reaches to get a donut from the box, reaching for the door. "I will see y'all out there. IF you need help, you scream and I am sure someone will hear. Good work, everyone!"

And at that, she's out!

There is just this look at where Tessa was once standing that if looks could shoot daggers, there might be daggers happening right now. "Well. Now we know." Charlie comments, tucking her files under her arm before she glances towards Haven, "If you need any help, let me know. Otherwise..." She gestures, evidently indicating that at least she trusts her co-workers to handle their own shit. "Anyone need me for anything else?"

"I will," Haven says, thankfully swallowing the mouthful of burrito she's working on before she answers Charlie. "Thank you." The exit of the other ladies went unnoticed when she went headfirst into Taco Bell for breakfast. She blinks twice and looks around. "Meeting adjourned?"

Andy watches Tessa and Sarah head out and clucks his tongue. "Every detective a captain." He nods to Haven, offering a "Meeting adjourned," with a half a half, then pushes himself to his feet and makes his way back out to the main room. "Desk isn't going to man itself. The struggle against paperwork is very real." A quick perusal of the remaining donuts gets an unimpressed grunt, then he's out.

Sutton slips her phone out of her back pocket, quietly turning to step out into the hall as she responds to a radio call. "Medic 24." She disappears around the doorframe, her words quiet.