2019-11-11 - Planning Meeting: The Kruger Case

De la Vega's office appears to be the gathering place for this little impromptu meeting. It's not particularly large or well-furnished, but he's dragged in a couple of extra chairs, salvaged a box of donuts from the break room, and put some coffee on. At present, the captain is slouched in his chair, absently flipping a pen between his fingers as he discusses something over the phone with someone.

Alexander isn't a terribly unusual sight in the copshop, although he's been there less often since Penny's death. And he rarely gets to go beyond the reception area - the desk cops know well enough to keep an eye on him, most of the time, lest he be found idly reading something he should not have access to. The sensation of being invited is a new one, and he slinks past the desk cop with head bowed and shoulders hunched. He shows up at Ruiz's door, and gives him a quick, flickering smile, before slinking inside and taking up a position in a back corner, more like he's hiding than anything else.

Gabriel makes his way into the Captain's office, reaching down and grabbing a donut from the box. As he does, he checks his six for donut thieves (i.e Sutton) and looks around for Charlie. "Hey! Partner!" He waves to her. "This is your show. Come on in here."

"I'm coming." Charlie calls back, taking a moment to gather up a few things, one being her half finished coffee, and head in the direction of Ruiz's office, "Captain." She greets, pausing briefly when she spots Alexander, her brows twitching upwards a fraction before she drops herself into a seat.

Today, the officer manning the desk waves Alexander on up. Once his escort's arrived, of course, to take him to the captain's office. Ruiz pushes to his feet as the others start filtering in, shoulders hunched, voice dropping low. He finishes off his call a bit abruptly, and shoves his phone back into his pants pocket. He's wearing one of those off-the-rack suits today, of course; dark blue, pinstriped tie. Jacket thrown across the back of his chair, because the thing drives him nuts. "Thanks for coming to talk to us, Clayton," he greets the slinking man with a faint smile. Gabriel and Charlie get a glance and a nod. "One of you want to start with an update on where we're at with the case?"

"Thank you. For the invitation. Captain." The reply is awkward, Alexander's gaze skittering to Charlie and Gabriel then resting there with a flat stare. "Hello." A pause. "Hope you're well." And then his teeth click shut and he waits for an update with a rapt intensity.

"Hey, Clayton," says Gabriel with a little upnod to Alexander, as he captures a place on the wall, holding the "murder book" that is the case file in his arms. He then looks over to Charlie when there is a request for an update. Her show.

"Mr. Clayton." Charlie is baffled by this, but isn't about to start asking questions about why Alexander is here, and being included. Instead she drops her file into her lap, giving Ruiz a blank look for a moment before she sighs, "Right. Well. We're pretty much exactly where we have been....spinning our wheels, getting good, solid leads that end up leading to piles of shit. Currently, that is the Bulldog Security situation, we've run employee records, looked for any special forces training, seen if anyone had records, pulled DMV information for heights that might match the estimated height of the shooter."

Ruiz does not explain or excuse Alexander's presence here, nor look much in the mood to apologise for it either. Must have had a rough night, judging by the weary expression on his face. He sinks back into his chair, nudges the box of donuts toward the others, and listens to Charlie give her update. "So we've got eight possible suspects, and not a single frontrunner at the moment?" His gaze slides to Alexander, then back again. "I can have a word with the Chief, and see if we can spare some manpower to follow them around or bring them in for questioning. Thoughts?"

"Problem is that we could maybe bring down the shooter by going hard on Bulldog Secuirty. Get the run sheets, the time clocks, the information on the van. But if we do that, then we end up tipping off Foster and then he destroys any link with the crime," says Gabriel, putting it frankly. "So we don't want to do that unless we have to."

Alexander listens, his fingers drumming against his arms from where they're folded. "I agree with the detective," he says, quietly. "If you put pressure on Bulldog, they'll know you have something, and that'll make them start burning evidence, just in case what you have is enough to get a warrant." He breathes out, thoughtfully. "Any luck leaning on the lawyers that the Krugers were supposed to talk to about what, exactly, the evidence they were going to give was? I only know that it was supposed to be something they saw during the construction."

"Following them around might work, but at the same time...not sure it'll prove to be as useful as we hope. If we can get the man power, it's the least invasive of the options at the moment." Charlie shrugs her shoulders, slouching in her chair before she glances at Alexander when he asks the question, "Lots of attorney client shit there...but no." She glances at Gabriel to see if he might magically have another answer to that.

Gabriel shakes his head. "We talked not to the attorneys, but to the clients. Apparently, they were going to talk about the impact of construction on the trout. But even the Pursleys admit that the fish stuff is bullshit for a bleeding heart environmentlist judge." He clucks his tongue. "So that's a red herring. I think tailing is where our options are. See if anyone has a new boat or a sports car."

Ruiz slides out a notepad and a pen, and starts jotting some things down as the others talk. "I agree. We'll put some eyes on those suspects, then, and try to stay hands off with Bulldog. Tipping Foster off would be the worst possible outcome here. Any ideas on some avenues we can pursue for charges that'll stick with him?"

Alexander makes a soft noise. "I don't think you take out an incredibly unsubtle hit on people over a red herring. The fish, sure, that's a Hail Mary play that it sounds like everyone knows wasn't going to pan out in court, in the long run. And if it did, it'd be a reach by the judge. So if you want to kill someone, you kill the judge." He breathes out. "You don't kill the sympathetic old couple unless they have something that makes you need them not to talk to people." A shrug. "Or that's what I'd do. I understand it's an open secret that Foster funnels drugs through his other casino. Which would make him competition to," a pause, "certain local concerns. You'd think. But DeWiit at the meeting seemed supportive of the casino. Maybe they're cutting a deal?"

"No, it sounds like Foster thought they were going to testify about something else, not the fish situation. Or was at least worried they were, enough to call this in." Charlie pauses a moment, "Assuming that it was Foster and that that isn't yet another dead end and wrong turn. But if..." She lifts a hand, "If Monaghan and Foster are in bed together, and the Kruger's were in Monaghan's pocket, why kill them instead of just...tell them to shut their mouths?"

"We know the Krugers were literally laundering money for Monaghan, so I would think the motive is to take out some of Monaghan's resources. But, as Charlie and our friend," a nod to Alexander, "say, Monaghan's lawyer wasn't opposed to the casino." A beat. "If our tails get a better suspect, we pick him up, maybe flip him. That's my best idea."

"Unless the Krugers' murder was what brought Monaghan to the table," Alexander suggests, quietly. "A show of strength from Foster, perhaps with some sort of overture of cooperation." He tap tap taps his arms. "Either way, if Foster deals drugs through his casinos, then he has to have a distribution network, unless he's using Monaghan's. But even if he is, might be able to get one of them to flip on Foster where they might not on Monaghan. And if he's not...might be able to catch product in production or delivery."

"It might be, but if Foster can command that kind of fear from Monaghan we'll never get anything to actually stick, and this is a match made in hell." But then Alexander is talking about drug networks, and she shakes her head, "I'd bet he was using his own, it's worked for him so far on the rez, it's gotten him here. Even if he might eventually use Monaghan's, I bet he's already using his own here during this move."

"This is all great speculation," points out Gabriel from his wall. And that isn't sarcasm. It is good speculation. "But it doesn't give us new investigative leads. How do we prove any of this? The six-foot secuirty guards are actionable. We go on that. And from there."

Alexander opens his mouth. Then he closes it, and rolls his shoulders in a shrug, his expression blank. "Of course, Detective. It was only a thought."

Charlie glances at Gabriel, frowning at him, "Actually, it does." She points out patiently, "If we're looking for people in positions to be transporting and distributing drugs, and we find one, that gives us probable cause for a warrant. If we get in on that before Foster gets wind of it, we can find evidence of the murders, too. Hopefully. I get that it's not chasing the Kruger murder directly, but it is a valid method."

"So, what. We keep eyes on the construction project, look for boats coming in with product? But how? All the materials being brought in, it'd be easy to slip in some powder in a concrete bag." Gabriel seems open to it, while being frustrated. It's a Hell of a combination. "I get this casino is going to be a hub, but I just don't know how to get Foster."

"If he's a crime boss, then 'getting to him' may not be possible," Alexander says, bluntly. "He'll be insulated from any actual dirty work with layers of fall guys and lawyers. The best we may be able to hope for is making it too much of a pain in the ass to operate in Gray Harbor. Tying his people to a high profile - for Gray Harbor - murder regarding his construction project would be a good start, but so would proof of drugs being shipped to or distributed out of the casino. Right now...shipped to is probably our best bet, since the damned place isn't open, yet. But you might be able to find if any dealers or distributors have been taking new orders - or noticing new product where it shouldn't be." He stops. Makes a thoughtful noise. "Um. Talk with Chen. I gave her a thing. I can't guarantee it'll help, but."

"Chen?" There is a flicker of a frown at that, "When'd you give her a thing?" Charlie taps a finger against her file, looking thoughtful, "It's hard to get these kinds on most stuff, but hassle them enough? Might be a valid option in the end, if we just can't get him."

Gabriel at least nods his head in agreement with the sentiment, at least. But as murder police, he seems to he focused on the killings. As one is. At the question about Chen, he arches a brow, sharing the curiousity.

Alexander looks embarrassed. "It was a while back. I was trying to apologize for...a thing." He clears his throat. "Didn't work. But it's a box with a bloodstained handprint. And quite a lot of stolen Adderal." Because that is definitely Alexander's idea of a 'I'm sorry' gift, far more than flowers or chocolate. He clears his throat, sheepishly. "Identify who the handprint is from, and you might have some leverage against that person. About recent changes in local drug distribution networks."

Charlie stares at Alexander, then she glances at Gabriel before she grits her teeth, "I'll talk to her." It's clear that there might be something more than talking happening in response to this information.

"That's. Uh. Weird. But okay." Gabriel just rolls with it, apparently. "Not sure how we're going to figure out who it's from unless we get a DNA match, but." But it's something, at least.

"It's a handprint. In dried blood. There are fingers," Alexander offers, blandly. "I'm not saying you'll get enough for a warrant or anything like that? But it might help you put some pressure on someone. If you're delicate about it."

"Prints." Charlie offers helpfully to Gabriel, "Their prints, or DNA maybe, might be in the system. And then we move on from there, figure it out." She shakes her head, glancing at Alexander, "You remember that thing we talked about the other day? I think that might be useful now."

"All right," says Gabriel after a long moment. "It is something at least. So we get uniforms on our suspects. Run prints and DNA on our handprint. Check for product on the casino. What else?"

Alexander flashes a grin at Charlie. It's plainly delighted and takes ten years off his age, although the gleam of sudden and intense interest in his eyes might be worrisome. "Yes," is all he says.

"I think that sounds like all the blood we're going to wring out of this stone for now," the captain puts in, after having been quietly taking notes while the others talked. "I'll handle speaking to the Chief about putting eyes on those suspects. Who wants to start sniffing around about product?" His dark eyes flick to Charlie. "Do you mind connecting with Chen about the handprint?"

"If we can get access to the print." Charlie points out, because she's not hanging all her hopes on it turning up anything either, or even being something that they can access. But she points at Alexander, "We'll talk." She seems to be implying an 'after' somewhere in there. When Ruiz asks her about connecting with Chen she shrugs her shoulders, "I'll try."

"I could look into it, the product," Alexander says, quietly. "Some people might talk to me that won't talk to you guys. And if my snooping gets reported upwards," he rolls his shoulders in a shrug, "it shouldn't interfere with your investigation. Because I'm just a nosy asshole."

Ruiz stares long and hard at Alexander, when he makes that offer. Doubtless, the captain's thinking that it was questionable bringing the guy in in the first place. But, in for a penny, in for a pound. "Si," he acquiesces, finally, and digs some papers out of a pile on his desk. "Then you're going to be paid for your work. You'll be considered a private contractor, and I'll have to run it up to the Chief. If you think you can handle that, then yes. You can look into the product. Charlie's given a tip of his brow when she gives him that diffident response, but he doesn't comment further on Chen.

"Just don't piss off anyone enough to get shot." That'd be a messy reaction to clean up. Either way, Charlie gets to her feet, tucking her folder beneath her arm, "I should get back to kicking things, see if I can't track Chen down."

Alexander just goes very still at the offer, or possibly order, of payment for his work. His face slack with surprise, and his dark eyes burning with some complicated mix of emotions. He blinks a couple of times, then looks down at his feet. "Um." A long pause. "Hold off on that for a couple of days?" A sidelong glance towards Charlie. "Just a couple of days. Then, um, if you want. Yeah. I'll sign whatever papers you need." A longer, even more awkward pose. "If you want to make something official. Like that." He pushes himself off the corner when Charlie gets to her feet. "Um. No promises? But I don't usually try to piss people off. Just happens. People are frustrating." Still, he offers the detective a brief, friendly sort of half-smile, then nods to Ruiz. "Couple of days. And, uh. Thanks. For the invite." He starts to slink out.

Ruiz frowns slightly at Alexander when he starts going on about needing a couple of days. Apparently he doesn't have the energy to argue this tonight though, as he simply grunts, "Fine," and starts rifling through the stack of paperwork he's got in progress in front of him, to resume wherever he left off. "Two days. And you're welcome." His eyes tick up briefly as the other man heads for the door. "And thank you." He exhales a breath, then gets back to work.