Sam Kincaid 01 - The Commission

wait until tomorrow morning?”
    Before I could answer, an unsuspecting McConnell sidled up next to him, also barefoot, and wearing a long-sleeve yellow shirt and a pair of blue jean shorts. Her hair was wet as though she had just showered. The look on her face ranged somewhere between surprise and terror.
    “Sam,” she stammered. “I take it we’ve got business to discuss. Come in. Excuse me for a second while I dry my hair.”
    Stoddard ushered me into the living room and then disappeared into the bedroom. I could hear Kate and him arguing, but I was unable to make out exactly what they were saying. I couldn’t have walked into a more awkward situation. So much for acting on impulse.
    After several minutes, Kate joined me in the living room. I apologized for the intrusion and offered to postpone our conversation until the next day. Stoddard hadn’t returned, but I sensed he was nearby and probably in a position to eavesdrop.
    I explained the substance of my conversation with Walter Gale, including my suspicion that he might have known more than he had told me. I apologized for a second time in the span of a couple of minutes, this time for failing to recognize what should have been obvious from the get-go.
    “Don’t be too hard on yourself, Sam. No one, including me, gave a thought to the possibility an inmate forged that suicide note. The important question now is what do we do about it?”
    I spent the next few minutes bringing her up to speed on the plan that had been taking shape in my head for the past couple of hours. In turn, Kate informed me that she and Vince had each located two of the three forgery suspects assigned to them. They hadn’t been able to find the other two. That eliminated seven possible suspects from our original list.
    I was anxious to find out what Salt Lake City P.D. Vice had discovered from the weekend surveillance of the Starlite Motel, since part of my plan involved Sue Ann Winkler. Not caring much for Sue Ann, Kate seemed almost giddy as she described the weekend’s activities.
    “We had vice teams watching the place Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and again on Saturday night. According to the report, on both Friday and Saturday nights there was a lot of activity around the place. We’re talking about johns checking in for one or two-hour dates with several different girls. Very little action on Saturday during the day until late in the afternoon, when business started to pick up again. The surveillance team identified the mother, Lou Ann Barlow, and her live-in, Frank Arnold, working the front desk and collecting money as people came in and out. Although they weren’t sure, they didn’t think Sue Ann was among the girls meeting dates at the place. The motel was definitely taking in revenue from prostitution activity. How do you think we should play it?”
    “Let me pay a visit to Sue Ann right away and see what level of cooperation I can get from her. I want her to look at the enhanced videotape of the people who attended Levi’s funeral. If she’s uncooperative, then a raid on the motel might give her a reason to cooperate. I assume your vice unit would enjoy hitting the motel with a search warrant. If Frank and Mama get popped, maybe Sue Ann becomes a little more helpful,” I said.
    “That works. The vice unit took surveillance photos and license plate numbers of the vehicles coming in and out of the motel. They’re busy identifying the girls and visiting a few johns. As soon as they’re finished, they should be able to get the warrant. I imagine they’ll go in, seize business records, and bust some folks. Customers will receive citations, but Frank and Lou Ann will probably get booked into jail on felony pimping charges. In all likelihood, some of the girls will turn out to be dancers from Satin & Lace,” said Kate.
    She paused momentarily, lost in thought, and then continued. “Sam, we both know Sue Ann may not have been totally forthcoming in our interview with her. But what exactly do you hope to get from her?”
    “Two things. First, I want to find out what, if anything, she’s held back from us. Second, I want the identity of the guy who Vogue included in his sexual liaisons with Sue Ann. It’s just a hunch, but if we can get our hands on this guy, I somehow think he might hold the key to solving our case.”
    “God, I hope you’re right. Worst-case scenario, it’s another dead end. And by the way, more good news. The state crime lab found