Chapter 23
Kerri picked up the picture and looked at it, “Isn’t that the same picture from earlier? I don’t recognize it.”
“Thanks.”
Luke shook his head slightly, “I’m afraid she’s not the one we’re looking for.”
Paul shrugged, “Then I can’t help you.”
Luke continued, “Any of the dancers who have left in the last month fit those criteria.”
“White, blonde, 170cm……” Paul muttered as if remembering something, “There was such a person, her name was Alyssa Moore and she left last Saturday.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“Friday night, she was beautiful in a blue bikini with a thin waist and long legs.”
“Why did she leave her job?”
“I don’t know.”
“You didn’t ask her?”
“Saturday morning, I got a text from her leaving, that’s all.”
“I want her cell phone number and home address.”
“I don’t know where she lives, her cell phone number is 626 863 8532.”
Luke dialed Eliza’s cell phone number, prompting a message that the phone was temporarily unavailable.
“Is there any other way to contact her?”
“No.”
Luke asked rhetorically, “Doesn’t it strike you as odd that Alyssa quit her job by text message and neither said it in person nor called?”
“That’s just the way it is in this industry, the paychecks are daily and not very binding. A lot of dancers don’t want people around them to know they’re in the industry.
Many even leave without saying a word and just play disappearing, I’ve seen it too many times to have been surprised by it for a long time.”
“Is there anyone at your club who is closer to Alisa.”
“Alyssa doesn’t really fit in, she usually leaves after the show and doesn’t really interact with the other dancers, I do buy her a drink and talk to her once in a while. That’s about it.”
“Any idea of her family situation?”
“No.”
“Thanks.” Luke got up and shook the other man’s hand.
“Is Eliza the person you’re looking for?”
“Not sure yet, excuse me.” Luke got up and excused himself and left the club with Marcus.
Marcus asked, “You think Alyssa was also a victim of the ‘Taser Robbery’?”
“It’s a possibility.” Luke sent a text message on his cell phone, “Hey Matthew, I need your help with someone.
Alyssa Moore.
Cell phone number, 626 863 8532.
Need all her info by tomorrow morning, hard at work.”
Marcus asked, “Dude, where are we going now?”
“Home to bed.”
The following morning, nine o’clock.
Robbery-Murder Division.
Luke entered the office yawning, “Good morning guys.”
The lieutenant snickered, “Luke, I heard you worked late last night? That’s rare.”
Luke looked over at Marcus who grinned with thick lips.
David snickered, “Going to a club like that and working overtime is really something.”
“David, don’t say I didn’t ask you, you’re the one who didn’t go.” Luke pulled up a chair and sat down, “Matthew, find out what happened to Alyssa?”
“Yea, I just saw the info this morning, I was at the police station after seven, and I’ve had several cups of coffee poured into me.” Matthew handed over a file, “Here’s what you asked for.”
Luke took the information and looked it over, “Yep, that’s her.”
The lieutenant took a cup of coffee, “What did you find out at the club? Tell us about it.”
David laughed, “Or maybe learned certain dances that she can show us, I’m looking forward to it.”
Luke looked at David’s shiny bald head and wanted to give him a brain dump.
“These days, I’ve been wondering why the suspect removed the victim’s clothing and left the words ‘YOULIKE’ at the scene, and at first I thought the suspect might have a special fetish.
Or maybe he was provoking the police.
Later, I made a bold guess, what if the ‘youlike’ was not provoking the police but questioning the victim?
What kind of person likes to take off his clothes? And what kind of person does that in public?”
Just as Luke was speaking, Susan came out of the captain’s office as well, signaling Luke to continue.
“I checked the two crime scenes of the ‘Taser Robbery’ and realized that there really was a strip club, Club Pol, between the two crime scenes.
I got Marcus to go to the club with me and checked out someone named Alyssa, white female, mid-thirties, long blonde hair, 170cm tall, last show last Friday, texted to leave Saturday morning.
Cell phone unavailable.”
Saying this, Luke handed Susan the information in his hand, “After that, I asked Matthew to check Alisa’s profile and found that Alisa’s cell phone number had sent two text messages on Saturday.
The first was a resignation text ”Boss, I’m resigning, I won’t be going anymore, thank you for taking care of me this time.”
The second day was a goodbye text ‘Steven, I’ve had enough, I’m leaving here and leaving you. Don’t contact me again.’
The cell phone number hasn’t been used since then.
I suspect she’s probably the third victim of the ‘Taser Robbery’.”
“Kind of interesting.” The lieutenant walked over to Susan to review the information.
Jenny said, “Although Alisa matches the victims’ physical characteristics, the modus operandi is not quite the same; the first two victims were quickly discovered by the police after they suffered robberies. Whereas in Alisa’s case it’s more like a disappearance or kidnapping.”
Luke replied, “That’s something I’ve thought about as well, I’ve reorganized the cases and connected the three cases. It gives me the impression that the first two cases are more like the suspect practicing, and the suspect’s real target is probably Alisa.”
Susan asked, “Matthew, can we get in touch with Alisa?”
“No, that’s the only cell phone number in Alyssa’s name.”
“Meet in the conference room.” Susan went into the conference room and put the information on the projector.
Name, Alisa.
Date of birth, June 11, 1988
Family Relationships, Husband, Parents
Home address, City of Los Angeles, 106 Leen Neighborhood
David pointed to the projector, “Alyssa texted on Saturday, today is Wednesday, four days have passed.
If Alisa had been kidnapped, her parents and husband would have called the police.”
Matthew: “There’s no record of a police report about Alyssa.”
The vice squad analyzed, “As you can see from Alyssa’s text messages, Alyssa didn’t text her parents, either her parents know about her leaving or she doesn’t have a lot of interaction with them.
As for the one named Steven, he is most likely her husband, and from the content of the text messages, the two won’t be on good terms.
It’s even likely that Alyssa’s departure was because of him.
I think it’s necessary to check on Alyssa’s situation, whether she’s the victim of the ‘Taser Robbery’ or not, her current situation can’t be too good.”
“Luke, well done.” Susan encouraged, then instructed, “Ramon, contact the tech team to locate Alyssa’s cell phone.
David, Luke, you guys go to Alyssa’s house and investigate.
Matthew, find out the contact information and addresses of Alisa’s husband and parents.
Everyone else stand by at all times.”
“Yes, captain.”